The Washington herald., 1919-01-18
BUREAUS MAKE
HASTE SLOWLY
Holland Alleges U. S. Gov.
Iernment is Indifferent As
to New Inventions.

war began a representative OF the
corporation in Europe which was the
owner of the patents under which the
krag-Jorgensen rife was manufac-
tured, approached one Of the bureaus
pof the Federal government for the
purpose of offering this rifle to the
! government. This representative was
! familiar with some OF the predominant
Ing characteristics OF washington bu-
reaus and government commissions.
[ Nevertheless, as this rife was looked
kupon in Europe as the best gun then
manufactured. it seemed to be ap-
propriate to make offer OF II to the
United States. The particular bureau
% which the rife was offered for
hspection turned the proposition
pwn. 1t did not originate in the
United States nor was any member
the commission associated directly
br indirectly with the invention of 1t.
Krax-Jorgensen Contract.
This action was not unexpected But
1 a few weeks later the representative
received a call from some one who as
kserted that he brought a message
|from the government officers to whom
the proposition was made that II one
half of the royalties, which were to
be a dollar gun, were taken of then
rifles. This seemed to be in the ma
ture of an apology or an explanation
|of the reason why the board had re-
Fused the rifle. The suggestion that
cents be taken from the dollar roy
Alty from each gun was accepted and
hen the government contracted for
hearty 10000 of these rifles.
As the days since the war ended
pass and some Of the heretofore mys-
erious decisions reached by members
the government bureaus or COM
rssions are explained, it becomes
|ident that there are many almost
hgic, certainly unfortunate, ,romances
sociated with the decisions of the
ireaus which will from time to time
made public.
Lewis Machine Gsn.
ALREADY some of them are known.
hey Illustrate the difference be-
een the governmental authorities in
Fe United States and those of Eng
nd, France and Germany respecting
Pction taken upon inventions tnat
fere asserted to be OF Importance and
lave since proved to be of great
aIue
ALREADY much comment has followed
action OF government bureaus in
gYQ- Personally Capt Lewis was
" concerned over this action
had already accepted the
|hdinE il admirably qualified for
he gun purposes. But the gov
ent bureau members or boards
pot favoTably disposed toward
un. No other reason has been
rned- for this reluctance to accept
gun than that members of the
I'd or bureau found II not associ-
with anything Of which they had
pus knowledge. Capt. Lewis was
F1ng large orders from Great Brit
nd his gains on account of these
facts were sufficient to bring him
nsiderable fortune. whether the
eited States accepted the gun or
FngIsnd Beats EN- to IL.
bfhcer of the navy invented and
ted little apparatus which was
he'd to prevent superheating of
IS and for kindred purposes
in use upon torpedo boats. The
Washington bureau dismissed, with
Fomething like contempt, the offer OF
he inventor to turn this apparatus
bver to the nited States But when
the English naval officers saw it and
InelT
pedo boats they said: This is a most
valuable invention; we must have
it." and they did equip their torpedo
boats with il.
Before one Of the bureaus or boards
at Washington there was put a prop
psition which. IL accepted. would have
Established in the United States many
IehydTating plants. The food situa-
on a t that time was critical. The
roCess OF dehydrating would. it was
aid. serve greatly to increase the food
.pply. because, by use of it, vege-
es. perishable food and fruit could
observed. But the bureau officers
no heed to the proposition.
h England was already using the
IS: so was France. and Germany
Tetying upon it almost entirely.
long delay. and the winding OF
red tape. several dehydratine
were established in the United
but these were inefficient ana
Of pounds of vegetables which
HSumed to be dehydrated were
Ne worthless and were cast
heson LuhrIcator.
months after the United
|ame one of the beIIigerents
lard Goodrich Acheson offered
"a for fabrication to the gov
believing that many demon
actual practice had proved
not only the best of lubri-
$50 would serve greatly TO
he oil resources OF the
IS. DR.. Acheson was not
at. because he offered this
the government at net
yernment itself through its
tablish what the net cost
the bureaus took hold
-osition. They could dis
in it which agreed with
hes of their members The
Dr.. Acheson met with was
kects similar to that which
offer which was made to
nent bv the French. free
the plans and specifica-
ich the French manufsc-
now historic. I5 centimeter
gun has been of almost
service to France, both
oive. and then when Of
was carried on by the
rope. The offer was made
Acheson's. upon the basis
e for the service. or for the
Y patents. But again the
ssed it over. The weapon
quare with any American
or conform to the rules of
soks.
ne Turned Down.