The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-12-06
THE INVENTIONS OF THE NATION,
Annual Report OF the Commissioner OF
Patents.

Annual Report OF the Commissioner OF
Patents.
PATENT Oyr1cx, Nov. !, 1854.
SRI have the honor TO report you that the BUSH
ness Of the Patent Office Is in satisfactory
condition than at any previous period since my connec.
The number Of undisposed Of in the ONCE on the
first day Of January last was reported to be Ave hum
drsd and eghtytw That number now :" was s:csr
BY actual count the number Of hand at that
time ascertained to be eight hundred and twenty
three correct mode Of computation was then intro
duced that the condition Of the business Of the
Office hereafter be readily calculated from the month
ly reports. 49,.
much less than il had been six months previous,
such that several months always elapsed after the max
ing of On application before it could be disposed Of,
which sourse Yof great dissatisfaction to all app
During the three FIRST months Of the present year the
sensible dimnution in the arrearages was effected In
to accomplish desirable object 1t was deemed
xpedent to place Of the assistant examiners in
the performance Of the duties of principal examiners
that manner the end sought is now almost and will
soon be entirely attained
Instead of SIX principal examiners each with two as
ssants we have since the first of April had practically
eleven principal examiners, each with assistant
Most of the now entirely filled up with their
work. and all will probably be by the first day Of De-
cember next We have already, since the fest Of Janu
airy last issued upward of sixteen hundred PATENTS and
nineteen hundred which viii be about double the num-
her patented last year. Applications generally act
ed upon within a few days after they are made, and
have doubt that the arrangement by which this re-
suit has been produced judcious and has proved
satisfactory to the parties interested think 1t should
be continued the only method Of disposing OF the in
creasng business of the Office with the proper prompt
tude and despatch.
About one year since had the honor to invite your
attention the importance Of several proposed amend
ments to the patent laws The then given for
the aItera tons suggested remain in full force now and
the recommendations then made are now repeated
The amendments of most immediate and pressing me-
cessity those making provision for taking testimony
those in relation to appeals and those prescribing
Many questions Of great moment are frequently pend
ing before the Patent Office, depending for correct de-
cison upon the testimony of Witnesses and there is no
Nothing than for witness to refuse to
attend examination, to refuse to give testimony
after he has attended to the great Of the ends
The law now allows any person who appeals from the
decision CT the Commissioner to select which of the three
judges of the Supreme Court he chooses before whom TO
bring the appeal The Chief Justice Of that court will
probably again be able to entertain an appeal
that bringing appeal before him Is tantamount to ts
posponcment during the term of his natural ife and
after his death there may be question as to
whether the delay will be at an end. By an abuse of
near two years and is threatened with indefinite post
ponement to the great detrmcn of the party who is
probably entitled to the patent
The rate of fees was fixed at . time when the real
value Of money much greater in proportion to its
nominal value than at present The pay OF the clerks
and aborers employed in the Office has been very much
increased by Congress- and in various other ways the
expenses Of the Office have been greatly augmented,
while the fees remain unchanged In addition to these
causes the force of the Office has been considerably in
creased during the present year. in order to dispose Of
the accumulation Of business above referred to.
The consequence Of all these causes has been that
during the current year the expenses of the Office have
been continually exceeding the revenues and such will
continue be the until augmentation of these
revenues shall be provided for.
Tie permanent augmentation Of the examining corps,
rather such reorganization 40 viii place all its men,
bes proper footing, Is subject worthy Of conse-
ration. The assistant examiners, who performing
the duties Of principal examiners justly expect at
distant the compensation attached to those duties
and responsibilities. 1t would not only be highly graft
flying to me- but would be nothing than justice to
have the and the authority TO make their
compensation with the grade and charac
ter OF their actual services.
bill was framed by the Senate committee at the last
session Of Congress- providing for these and many other
amendments; rather, it amounted to general reor
ganizaton OF the whole Patent Office system including
the above named provisions portion thereof The
passage of that bill Of other which shall At least
embrace the features above alluded to- to be
object prime importance to the proper administration
of the affairs of this Office.
beg leave to commend these matters to your favor
able consideration, in you deem them Of sufficient
consequence to merit place in your annual report
remain, sir, very respectfully, yours. &C.
CHARLES MASON.
Hon. ROBERT NOCLELAND Secretary of the Interior