Congress Simply Does Not Change When It Comes to Patent Appropriations - 1880 Version

by Steve Reiss

Mr. VANCE:

...

At the present time it is very important that the Committee on Patents should have control of the appropriations, from the fact that I hold in my hand the report of the Commissioner-of Patents which states that he has not under bis control a sufficient force to do the work of the office, and it is alleged to be a fact, and I believe it to be true, that at this time the inventors of the country are compelled to wait a month before they can receive their patents after the application has been filed.

[Here the hammer fell.]

The committee divided; and there were-ayes 39, noes 82.

So the amendment was rejected.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES: CONGRESSIONAL RECORD (46th Congress; 2nd Session) (Feb. 11, 1880) Vol X, p. 824.


Robert B. Vance (D-NC ) (April 24, 1828 – November 28, 1899) was the four-term Chairman of the Committee on Patents. President Grover Cleveland appointed Vance assistant commissioner of patents.