The Monticellonian., 1916-06-22

The court of claims has already held that the
members Of the National Guard de not become
troops Of the United States" until they are
called ont and mustered into the federal service by
the president. Hence, this court has declared that
the Southern railroad ought to be paid the extra
S2s447.74. To this judgment the department OF
justice demurred and is asking the Supreme
court for review of the case.
That little Eest-Poeket stamp book. with dozen
stamps in It. price p cents is the subject OF law
suit IN which Uncle sam is asked TO pay more
than Sl.t0e.0u9 damages. Il IS declared to be roy
alties due the patentee 81 the stamp-book idea.
The case goes back to 1898 In that year
through Senator Penrose, two models Of a stamp
book patented by Frank G Farnham. together with
printed pamphlet explanatory OF the device. We're
referred to the then third assistant postmaster
general. John a. Merritt was third assistant at
the time and replied that "the department deems
It inexpedient to sell postage stamps in the way
proposed However, after July l. 1893 the then
third assistant postmaster general. Edwin c. Mad
den, designed without knowledge Of the existence
Of the Farnham patent the stamp book now
used by the department The bureau of engrav.
ing and printing evolved methods for its manu-
facture and the post Office department began the
public sale of two-eent stamps in book form
Farnham wants the alleged profits OF the gov
eminent on the sale of the stamp books during the
ten-yeaF period from 1900 10 1910. The govern
ments sells i two-cent stamps for quarter,
charging one cent Ter the BOOK. Inc contention IS
that the profits the sale OF the books during the
ten years have exceeded million dollars
Farnhams attorneys have appealed 10 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. $1,25o,0o0.
The contractor wants an additional $4,000
This lock and dam is located about ten miles
below Cincinnati and at the time of its compile
tiou about five years ago was the largest movable,
as distinguished from the stationary, dam in the
world, being 900 feet across the nayigable pass
alone, with the lock the Ohio side and three
bear traps each 50 feet wide on the Kentucky
side of the river. A bear trap consists of two
concrete piers walls with wooden shutters at
each end hinged 10 the bottom of the dam
structure.
The shutters may be raised or lowered for the
purpose of allowing surplus water to escape, thus
obvaung the continual raising and lowering of
the dam proper in the navigabe pass The dam
is movable in that its construction is of Chanoine
weirs, which consist of wooden wickets about is
feet high and 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 are lowered and boats pass
right over them The suit grows out OF the al
legged Misrepresentation by the government of the
depth TO which the contractor would have TO exca-
vate to bedrock