The Rich Hill tribune. (Rich Hill, Mo.) 1903-1911, 1906-05-31
Washington Letter.

eNNHH1@ ~ ANHAA 10
now the prospect before Con
gress. At least that is the way
that Senator Aldrich sized up
the situation after his visit to the
White House in the middle of the
week. 1t was the first time that
he had been to the White House
for about three months, and af
ter nearly an hours conference
with the President he gave this
as his opinion of the situation.
He said that there was only one
question in Congress that prom
iscd TO produce much delay.
That was the type of the Panama
Canal. The Senate has announc-
ed its conviction that the sea
level type will be the proper one.
The President and the House are
both committed to the lock level
tpye, and it is possible that there
may be a prolonged wrangle
when the matter comes up for a
settlement,
The other matters, Senator
Aldrich thinks, ear be disposed
OF in short order. There is not
much likelihood of delay over the
Pure Food Bin. 1t is thought
that the measure will be passed
at this session, though there are
strong interests against il and
they will use all their influence
to emasculote the measure so
that il will be of no effect or else
to prevent any action at all. II
is thought that the Free Alcohol
Bill also will be passed at the
present session, though some of
those who are in a position 20
know say that there will be
enough influence used TO keep il
from coming TO a vote. The con.
ferees on the Statehood Bill will
either come TO an agreement on
the measure within ten days or
else agree to let il die for the
session. And as the Santo Dom.
lingo treaty is practically dead
and the Speaker is willing 10 nd
iourn, there seems no reason
why Congress should not get
away by the middle of June.
Senators, members of Con.
gress, the Commissioner Of Pat
ents and many patent attorneys
are hearing almost daily from in
yentors throughout the country
in bitter complaint az the'delay
of their applications for patent.
The Patent Office was probably
never before so far behind with
is work. In some OF the divisions
from five 10 eight months must
elapse under present conditions Doe.
fore an application that has been
filed can even be looked at by the
Commissioners % Patents as repre-
scented by his corps Of more than
one hundred principal and assistant
examiners. There II no good excuse
for this condition. Far from cuus.
ing the government a cent the Unit
ed States Patent Office, the largest
Ia the world. pays It's own way and
IL "a source Of revenue TO the govern
ment. The fecs paid by inventors
making application for patents pay
uli the expenses of the Institution
aud bring a surplus to the public
treasury which nov amounts 10 sew
eral millions. No wonder there f.
clamor on the part OF inventors
against this delay.
There has been "A series OF confer.
ences between Secretary Of State
Root and the senate Committee on
Foreign Relations with "a view 10
cleaning up "A number Of pending
foreign questions, especially with
Great Britain. There are the fish
Ing disputes OFF New Foundland. the
northeastern boundary question,
the friction on .he Great Lakes aud
several other mntters that are con.
slant cnuses ot friction, though
none promise 10 ho very serious.
The worst cause Of unensc was ne.
moved when the Alaskan boundary
dispute was terminated IN London
three years ago. But the decision