“ A fundamental obstacle stands in the way of appellant's claim, whether it be rested upon an express or an implied purchase of pneumatic devices, or of patented inventions relating thereto. We refer to the lack of power on the part of the Postmaster-General to contract in behalf of the government of the United States for such a purchase. ”

“ He designed some of the terminal apparatus that was first used in Philadelphia; and a system of tubes and devices which carried mails pneumatically was constructed under his direction and supervision. While in the employ of said Company, said Batcheller extensively investigated the subject of pneumaties, and subsequently applied for and was granted letters patent for various improvements in pneumatic tube delivery devices. Ten of such patents were granted before the filing of Beach's petition in the court of claims, and they were used, applied, and operated by the Pneumatic Transit Company. ”

“ The appellant, by his amended petition, asked for a recovery against the government in the sum of twenty million dollars and interest, as the purchase price upon an alleged assignment and transfer in the year 1893 of certain inventions pertaining to pneumatic transportation for which letters patent had been theretofore issued to him as mentioned in the findings. His first insistence was and is that these inventions and patents had been purchased by the Postmaster-General under an express agreement to pay him the sum mentioned as consideration. ”

“ For like reasons, subsequent statutes that are referred to (act of June 13, 1898, 30 Stat. at L. 442, chap. 446, U.S.C.omp Stat. 1901, p. 2720; act of March 1, 1899, 30 Stat. at L. 963, chap. 327; act of June 2, 1900, 31 Stat. at L. 258, chap. 613; act of July 1, 1898, 30 Stat. at L. 615, chap. 546; act of March 3, 1899, 30 Stat. at L 1092, chap. 424) must be rejected. ”