The Sisseton weekly standard. (Sisseton, Roberts County, S.D.) 1892-1929, 1912-03-22
AFFAIRS AT
WASHINGTON
Matters Concerning the Law
Makers and Events of Import
ance at the National Capital.

ance at the National Capital.
Washington, d. c., March 21,-
Congress has been somewhat ex-
ercised by recent decision of
the supreme court, which midi
Gates that the greatest monoplies
OF the nation are the off shoot of
the patent laws. A number of rep
resentatives are pressing measures
to overcome tbs ''legalized mono
poles. OF course everybody has
known for great number Of
years that the patent laws d.
these very things, but the impo
tance of the transgression r.
borne In on congress by the dis
closure that the patentee of ii
machine for fastening buttons ON
shoes with metallic fasteners, sell
such machines subject to a con
EDITION that they be used only with
Fasteners manufactured by the
ler. In this instance a purchas
of the machine becomes mere
licensee, and the use of it by
him contrary to conditions, would
not only be breach Of contract,
but a violation of the patent mo-
nopoly. The same conditions exist
in the operation of mimeograph
machines, wherein the purchaser
binds himself to use only supplies
manufactured by the company
which makes the mimeograph.
Congressman claim the purpose in
tended by the patent laws is not
to extend beyond the matter of in
fringement upon a manufactured
machine or appliance, and this
thing of using the patent laws as
blanket to shut off free compe-
tition, that otherwise exists, in the
matter of supplies, is the 'Swood
chuck" that must be ferreted out
Judging from the number of
Oklahoma and Minnesota Indians
and those from other states be-
yond the Mississippi, who have
been in Washington during the
past few months, it is reasonable
to suppose that the red men are
dealing fairly successfully with
Uncle Sam, otherwise, their dele
cations would hardly show the
marked increase in numbers.
A part Of the general plan OF
the southern commercial congress
which is unqestionably the larges
organization for the development
of any portion Of the country in
existen$se, includes good roads
conference to be held in Tennes-
see next month and a roundup OF
the southern states is being made
to secure attendance Of road s1l
peryisors, legislators. and county
officials, to bring about practlca
discussion that will result in i'm
proved methods of road construc
tion. in campaigns for raising
road funds. and in legislation fol
highways. 1t NAV be somewhat
surprising to people in the eas1
and middle west to learn tha
seven southern states rank anon!
the eleven that have shown The
greatest progress of road il
Aprovement in the last five years
The eleven states that have takel
front rank in this work are Geo'
gia. Missouri. South Carolina Al
ALBANIA, Tennessee, Florida, Mary
land. New York. PENNSYLVANIA
Washington and New jersey.
The republican members of TIL
house committee on banking an'
currency who are to take part il
the investigation Of the so-calle'
money trust have been named
They are Representatives McMol
ran, of Michigan, Hayes. of Cali
fornla. Guernsey, Of Maine. an
Heald. Of Deleware. Represent'
tlves Vreeland, MsCreey,
pennsylvania. and Mckinley 9
illinois, will serve on the sub
committee which win make a
inquiry and report on the AID
rich banking and currency plan.
There is no question but WIN
Washington is somewhat uneas
over the continuation of MeSi"a
revolutions and the action inst
tuted in the senate, making if II
possible hereafter for Mexlea
"a reVOll1tiOnists +o roooivo aid thr