Greene County herald. (Leakesville, Miss.) 1898-current, 1916-06-23

The court of claims has already held that the
members of the National Guard do not become
troops of the United States until they are
called out and mustered into the federal service by
the president. Hence this court has declared that
the Southern railroad ought to be paid the extra
$2.4477O. To this judgment the department or
justice demurred and is now asking the Supreme
court for review of the case.
That little vest-pocket stamp book with dozen
stamps in it. price 25 cents, is the subject of law
suit in which Uncle Sam is asked to pay more
than 100000 damages 1t is declared to be roy
aties due the ps.entee of the stamp-book idea.
The case goes back to 1898. In that year,
through Senator Penrose. two models of stamp
book patented by Frank G. Farnham, together with
printed pamphlet explanatory of the device. were
referred to the then third assistant postmaster
general. John A. Merritt third assistant at
the time and replied that "the department deems
1t inexpedient to sell postage stamps in the way
proposed. However. after July /, 1S99 the then
third assistant postmaster general Edwin G. Mad
den, designed without knowledge Of the existence
of the Farnham patent the stamp book now
used by the department. The bureau of engravi
ing and printing evolved methods for it's manu-
facture and the post Office department began the
public sale of two-cent stamps in book form
Farnham wants the alleged profits of the gov
eminent on the sale Of the stamp books during the
tenyear period from 1900 to 1910. The govern
ments sells IL two-cent stamps for quarter,
charging cent for the book. The contention'is
that the profits the sale of the books during the
ten years have exceeded million dollars.
Farnhams attorneys have appealed to the SUI
preme court, where final decision is now expected
Another interesting suit is that brought by the
contractor who constructed lock and dam No. 81,
Ohio river, which cost. approximately $1.250.000.
The contractor wants additional $147,000
This lock and dam is located about ten miles
below Cincinnati and at the time of its compile
ton about five years ago the largest movable;
as distinguished from the stationary. dam in the
world, being 900 feet across the navigable pass
alone, with the lock the Ohio side and three
bear traps each so feet wide on the Kentucky
side Of the river A bear trap consists Of two
concrete piers or walls with wooden shutters at
each end hinged to the bottom of the dam
structure
The shutters may be raised or lowered for the
purpose Of allowing surplus water to escape, thus
obviating the continual raising and lowering of
the dam proper in the navgabe pass. The dam
is movable. in that it's construction Is OF Chanone
weirs, which consist of wooden wickeeb about Is
feet high and 3 feet wide. and are upon hinges
substantially fastened to sill embedded in the
concrete foundation extending to bedrock. When
up during low water the wickets in the navigable
pass resemble high board fence. and vessels
then pass through the lock- and when the river
rises sufficiently they lowered and boats pass
right over them. The suit grows out of the al,
legged Misrepresentation by tne government OF the
depth to which the contractor would have to excar
vete to bedrock