§ MR. A. D. PROVAND (Glasgow, Blackfriars)I beg to ask the Secretary to the Treasury, as representing the Postmaster General, whether the post office paid anything, either by purchase or as royalty or otherwise, for permission to use patented instruments in the Post Office telephone exchanges; and, if so, how much was paid, over how many years and for what patents, giving the total sum paid for each patent?
§ *MR. HANBURYThe Post Office has not at any time purchased or paid royalty for the right to use a telephone patent. Such instruments as it required before the expiration of the patent in 1891 were all of the Gower Bell pattern, and were obtained by purchase under agreement with the holders of the patent.