The Monticellonian., 1916-06-22

by which the torpedo is propelled that the com
pressed air IS heated to high pressure before its
eHergyis utilized. Its use increases the speed and
range of torpedoes.
The question now is whether the United States
must pay the F. ". Bliss company S500 per tor
pedo purchased by the United States during the
last five years containing this device The total
amount at issue is S225 GOO It is an intricate pat
ent case the decision of which depends upon
whether patents held by the Bliss company cover
the type of "superheaters used n the American
torpedo
Litigation over sixteen years old involves the
question whether the United States government
must dtsgorge more than $4,000 in addition u
the million already paid for the government dry
dock At the=L League Island Navy yard, PhiladeI-
phia- The contractor claims he vas compelled To
make much greater excavation than was specified
in the terms Of the contract covering TIE werk.
The answer of the government IS that the con
tractor did not follow the method recommended
by the board of naval engineers which had studied
the matter and hence was himself responsible and
liable fer HE extra cost
The court of claims has sustained the contrae-
tor and the department Of Justice is now asking
the Supreme court to oveFrule the court OF claims
Whatever the government may have to pay for
generally Is valued al astonishiuEly high figures.
A submarine case involves 100000 It hinges
upon a string Of patents on buoyanceregulating
apparatus for submarine boats. The Electric
the invention described and claimed in said sew
era letters patent. and each OF them are and have
been recognized 70 be OF great utility and value
in the construction and operation of submarine
boats" The original inventor, Lawrence Y. Spear.
assigned his rights to the Submarine Boat com
pany. L IS carefully pointed out that Spear was
The original. first and sole inventor of the i'm
rroyements and it is then declared that the Init
ed States has used the inventions without license
and has neglected and refused 70 pay royalty.
About the right thing FOR Uncle Sam 10 do. it is
alleged Is to pay the Electric Boat company $780,
coo per submarine boat containing the Spear ap-
paFatus. II the date of the fling of the brief, De
eember 10. 1915 four such boats were in use. The
case, however, involves demand for another
100000, for each boat built subsequently by the
United States in which the inventions are used.
Land grant railroads, under the terms of their
charters are required to carry troops OF the United
States free. The question has now come up
to whether the National Guard when transported
the annual maneuyers in various parts OF the
United States are troops OF the United States
As the test case stands the Southern railroad asks
for S2,44I9o for the payment OF railway fares for
the transportation OF officers and men Of the Ala
hama National Guard and the Mississippi National
Guard from points in Alabama and Mississippi to
the United states military post and camp at
Chickamauga Park. Georgia. in 1895 and 1910.
When finally disposed of however, much larger
amount will be involved 1t viii set a precedent
under which If the Southern railroad is successful.
other of the landgran railroads Will come into
court and ask pay for porting the militia
The established practice of the war and treasury
departments l. that the organized militia when
participating with the regular army a military
camp at joint maneuyers and field instructions are
entitled to the pay, subsistence and transportation
allowances of the officers and men OF the
regular army; that said organized troops when
so transported are travelling under orders of the
department and payment Tor their transpor-
tation can only be made the same basis appli-
cable TO the regular army This would mean that
transportation for militia Immigrant railroads
would be subject to the landgrant deductions
made for the transportation of regulars. It is
held that the expression, troops OF the United
states. used in land grant acts is sufficiently
broad TO include organized militia when travelling
under The orders OF the war department.