The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-01-31

To ths Editor Of Me Unio"'
am aware that you cannot desire 10 have the columns
OF paper filled with alterations about the Patent
ofee or the patent laws, and therefore VIII come TO
the point once
lew days since communication appeared in tho
Union, upon the subject OF the patent laws sgnod "
RAN Man In the Union OF day another wnter~~An
Eye Wltnessappesrs, oontrsdctng the statement Of the
other correspondent in single particular, but making
many more mssiaeens himself with regard 10 the issue
OF The woodwork patent for planning machine. Your
hrst correspondent was mistaken in saying the extension
OF the Woodwork patent made during the absence
OF the late Commissioner; but he was not much mis-
taken with regard 10 the circumstances OF lis reissue
The following the circumstances attending that re-
issue. ihy "e proceed by The flies and records Of the
Patent OGise, anything stated TO The contrary by An
Eye. Witness" notwithstanding
After the Woodwork paten, was extended by the
board provided by law Tor The purpose OF extending
patents and during Mr. Ellsworths administration Of the
Patent Office, the patent surrendered Tor reissue Ii
proposed 10 reissue il in three several patents. and
many specifications were hled Tor that purpose
The application taken up and examined and Mr..
Ellsworth the 9th 10Th day OF February, lS44, ad
dressed letter either the applicant or his agent. not
obecuag TO the form OF application, as your second cor
respondent states. but innaung that the old patent was
Tor original invention, and not Tor combinations as was
attempted TO be claimed the specifications and fur.
he suggesting that the original patent itself was vod
and that he should so decide, and withhold and cancel
the patent. II he WAS pushed to final decision
On this very pregnant and significant hint the patent
again agtaed until riesn months afterwards, and after
Mr.. Ellsworth had retired from the office OF Comms-
sone, and Mr. Burke had been appointed TO his place,
and then not until M Burke returned to NsW Hamp-
shire 10 his famiyto Mis city While Mr. Burke
absent this very important patent was returned 10
the office taken up, and passed in two days, without Mr.
Burke's knowledge
In the mean ime Charles NJ Keller. esq, had
signed his place as principal examiner, aud hs old as
sstant. Mr. Fitzgerald had been appointed 70 his place as
acting examiner Mr. Keller became the agent OF Wood
worh's assignee, prepared the new CLAIMS and Mr..
Fitzgerald passed them
do not undertake say that anybody was corrupt in
this matter but these the facts, and no one who
knows anything about them, and is man OF truth,
would assert to the contrary.
Thus new patent was issued to the administrator oil
person who there the strongest reason to believe was
not the original inventor OF the principal elements Of the
Woodwork machine, covering, my belief an lnven-
ton " hch old Mr.. Woodwork made, and never
contemplated and which is the instrument by which
least quarter of million OF dollars s exacted from
the community every year, wrongfully and unjustly
"An Eye Witness says the Woodwork patent has
been sustained by courts OF justice for the last six
years thus proving that the transactions complained OF IN
the Patent Office were proper, correct, and legal.
il is indeed true thai, far, the courts oil justice have
sustained the Woodwork patent in ills ressued form !;
but your correspondent negects inform the public
what grounds Ii is on this ground, and this only, viz
that The courts Of justice haze the porcr 10 inquire into
the acts Of The Patent Office u, such cases-,he law con-
hdng whole matter to the Commissioner OF Patents
Therefore they that the reissue was in due and
proper form, and on that ground they sustain it
Does this single tact show the necessity OF amend
ing the law this particular at leasts think and
trust may be done. have not cents interest in
ONE WHO KNOWS,