Daily American organ. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1856, 1854-12-06

Of too great magnitude for individual enterprise;
and that no State can accomplish it, as none can
90 outside Of its own limits. *
The report also referees to the recommendations
made last year, and renews them In general terms.
synopsis Of the Patent Office Report.
PATENT OFFICE, Nov. i, 1854.
Sin: have the honor to report to you that the
business Of the Patent Office Is now in salts
factory condition than at any previous period since
nv connection with It.
The number Of cases nndisposed Of in the office
on the first day Of January last reported to be
five hundred and eighty-two. That number, how
ever, was ascertained through an erroneous method
OF computation. BY an actual count, the number
of cases on hand at that time was ascertaned to be
eight hundred and twenty-three. correct mode
Of computation was then introduced, 80 that the
exact condition of the business of the Office can
hereafter be readily calculated from the monthly
reports.
This arrearagc In the business of the Office,
though much less than 1t had been six months pre-
yious was such that several months always elapsed
after the making Of an application before 1t could
he disposed of which source of great dissatis
faction to all applicants for patents.
During the three first months Of the present year
the increase in the business of the Office was such
that no sensible diminution in the arrearages was
effected In order to accomplish 30 desirable an
object II was deemed e1pedient TO place several of
the assistant examiners In the performance of the
duties Of principal examiners. In that manner the
end sought is almost and will soon be entirely
attained
Instead of six principal examiners, each with two
assistants we have since the first of April had
practically eleven principal examiners, each with
one assistant Most Of the rooms are now entirely
filed up with their work. and all win probably be
40 by the first day of December next. We have
already since the first day Of January last, issued
upwards of sixteen hundred patents. and within the
year the number win probably reach the nineteen
hundred, which win be about double the number
patented last year Applications are generally
acted upon within few days after they are made,
and have no doubt that the arrangement by
which this result has been produced judicious,
and has proved satisfactory to the parties interest
cd. think II should be continued as the only
method Of disposing Of the increasing business of
the Office with the proper promptitude and dispatch
About one year since | had the honor to invite
your attention TO the importance Of several pro-
posed amendments to the patent laws. The rea-
sons then given for the alterations suggested re-
main In full force now and the recommendations
then made now repeated
The amendments Of most immediate and press
ing necessity are those making provision for taking
t,stimony-those in relation to appeals, and those
prescribing new rate Of fees.
Many questions of great moment are frequently
pending before the Patent Office, depending for
correct decision upon the testimony of witnesses,
and there Is no power provided to compel wit
ness to give testimony. Nothing Is moro common
than for witness TO refuse 10 attend an exanina-
ton, or to refuse to give Testimony after he has at
tended to the great pervcrson Of the ends OF JUS
uce and the object Of the patent law.
The law now allows any person who appeals
from the decision Of the Commissioner to select
which of the three judges of the Circuit Court he
chooses before whom 20 bring the appeal The
chief justice Of that court win probably never
sgain be able 10 entertain appeal so that bring
ing an appeal before him Is tantamoun 10 its post.
ponement during the term Of his natural life, and
even after his death there may be some question
as to whether the delay viii be at an end. BY an
abuse Of this law has been suspended In this
manner for near two years, and is threatened with
indefinite postponement, TO the great detriment OF
Che party who Is probably entitled to the patent.
The rate OF fees was fixed Mt a time when the
real value OF money was much greater in proper
ton 10 It's nominal value than Mt present The pay
Of the clerks and laborers 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 have re-
NAMED unchanged. In addition 20 these causes
tho force OF the Office has been considerably in
creased during the present year. in order TO dispose
Of the accumulation OF business above referred 10.
The consequence OF all these causes has been,
that during the current year the expenses Of the
oice have been continually exceeding the revenues,
aud such win continue 10 be the until an aug.
nentation Of those revenues shall be provided for.
The permanent augmentation Of the examining
corps, or rather such reorganization as will place
AL it's members ON proper footing Is subject
worthy of consideration. The assistant examiners
Who are performing the duties Of principal cxami-
Ders, may justly expect, at no distant day, the
compensation attached to those duties and respon
ibilities. II would not only be highly gratifying
70 me, but would be nothing more than Justice to
them TO have the means and the authority to make
their compensation commensurate with the grade
and character Of their actual services
bill was framed by the Senate committee At
the last session Of Congress, providing for these
and many other amendments; or rather, Il amount
cd to general reorganization Of the whole Patent
Office system, including the above-named proyi.
sions as portion thereof Tho passage Of that
BILL or Of some other which shall at least embrace
the features above alluded 10, seems TO be an OBJ
ject of prime importance TO the proper sdminstrs-
ton Of the affairs Of this Office.
/ beg leave to commend these matters 70 your
favorable consideration, in case you deem them OF
sufficient consequence to merit place in your an.
nusl report
Iremain, cir, very respectfully, yours, &C.,
CHAS MASON.
Hon. RopKsr MoCLgLLArp,
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