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Story
January 17, 1870
The Evansville Journal
Evansville, Vanderburgh County, Indiana
What is this article about?
President U.S. Grant vetoes Senate Bill No. 273 on January 11, 1870, denying extension of Rollin White's 1855 patent on repeating pistol improvements, which expired in 1869. Chief of Ordnance opposes due to White's $71,000 royalties and government interests.
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The President's Veto.
The following is the text of the
President's veto message:
To the Senate of the United States:
I return herewith, without my ap-
proval, the Senate Bill No. 273, en-
titled "An act for the relief of Rollin
White, for reasons set forth in the
accompanying communication, dated
December 11, 1869, from the Chief of
Ordnance.
[Signed.]
U. S. GRANT.
Executive Mansion, Jan. 11, 1870.
The communication referred to is
addressed to the Secretary of War,
and states that in 1855 Mr. White
made an improvement in repeating
pistols, among other things ex-
tending the chambers of the ro-
tating cylinder through the rear,
so as to enable the chambers to be
charged at the rear by hand or by a
self-acting charger. The patent ex-
pired by limitation on April 3, 1869,
and thus the invention became public
property. The validity of the patent
has been a question for some years,
and it is understood it was affirmed
by the Supreme Court only by a tie
vote. The bill authorizes the Com-
missioner of Patents to re-hear and
determine the application of Rollin
White for an extension of his letters
patent, issued in 1855.
The applicant urges the renewal
upon the ground that he has not been
sufficiently compensated. Smith &
Wesson, the manufacturer of the
arm, have returned an income
amounting in the aggregate to about
$1,000,000, on which White has re-
ceived a royalty of nearly $71,000.
For these and other reasons General
Dyer opposes the extension, as it
would be detrimental to the interests of
the Government, by compelling it to
pay for the use of the pistol, the in-
ventor having already realized a large
sum of money and the patent having
expired.
The following is the text of the
President's veto message:
To the Senate of the United States:
I return herewith, without my ap-
proval, the Senate Bill No. 273, en-
titled "An act for the relief of Rollin
White, for reasons set forth in the
accompanying communication, dated
December 11, 1869, from the Chief of
Ordnance.
[Signed.]
U. S. GRANT.
Executive Mansion, Jan. 11, 1870.
The communication referred to is
addressed to the Secretary of War,
and states that in 1855 Mr. White
made an improvement in repeating
pistols, among other things ex-
tending the chambers of the ro-
tating cylinder through the rear,
so as to enable the chambers to be
charged at the rear by hand or by a
self-acting charger. The patent ex-
pired by limitation on April 3, 1869,
and thus the invention became public
property. The validity of the patent
has been a question for some years,
and it is understood it was affirmed
by the Supreme Court only by a tie
vote. The bill authorizes the Com-
missioner of Patents to re-hear and
determine the application of Rollin
White for an extension of his letters
patent, issued in 1855.
The applicant urges the renewal
upon the ground that he has not been
sufficiently compensated. Smith &
Wesson, the manufacturer of the
arm, have returned an income
amounting in the aggregate to about
$1,000,000, on which White has re-
ceived a royalty of nearly $71,000.
For these and other reasons General
Dyer opposes the extension, as it
would be detrimental to the interests of
the Government, by compelling it to
pay for the use of the pistol, the in-
ventor having already realized a large
sum of money and the patent having
expired.
What sub-type of article is it?
Historical Event
What themes does it cover?
Justice
What keywords are associated?
Presidential Veto
Patent Extension
Rollin White
Repeating Pistol
Royalties
Government Interests
What entities or persons were involved?
U. S. Grant
Rollin White
General Dyer
Smith & Wesson
Where did it happen?
Executive Mansion
Story Details
Key Persons
U. S. Grant
Rollin White
General Dyer
Smith & Wesson
Location
Executive Mansion
Event Date
Jan. 11, 1870
Story Details
President Grant vetoes bill for patent extension to Rollin White, whose 1855 repeating pistol patent expired in 1869; White received $71,000 royalties from Smith & Wesson; Chief of Ordnance opposes due to sufficient compensation and public domain status.