Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1854-12-11
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF PAT
ENTS

PATENT OFFICE, NoA. J. 1854
Sill the honor repor to you that the business
OF the Patent Office is in satisfactory condition
than any previous period since INV connection with IT,
The nun Der OF cases undsposed Of in the office the
rt ds! OF January last reported he five hundred
aud eightytwo. That number, however sscertanca
through erroneous method Of computation By gu
actual count, the number Of hand that time
ascersined to be eight hundred and twenty three
mode con putAon then introduced that
the dtion Of the business of the office here
after be readily calculated from the monthly reports.
This arrearsge in the business OF the Office though
much less than had been SIX months previous. ouch
that several months always elapsed after making of an
april cation before il could be disposed Of, which
OF great dissatisfaction all applicants for patents
Daring the three FIRST months Of the present year the
increase in the business OF the Office such that
sensible dininution in the arrearages effected In
der accomplish desirable object was deemed
eIpedient to place several of the assistant ,nuers in
the performance Of the duties of principal examiners In
that manner the end sought is almost aud will
be entirely attained
Instead OF s;I principal examiners each with two as
sstan have since the FIRST of April had practically
eleven principal examiners, each with ASSISTANT
Most OF the rooms entirely filed up with their
work, aud all will probably be By the frs, day of De
cemoer next We have already since the first Of JLnu
last issued upwards Of sixteen hundred patents aud
within the year the number will probably reach the nine
teen hundred which vii be abou. double the number
patented last year. Applications generally acted up
on "ihin few days after they made and have
doubt that the arrang by which this result has
produced was judicous aud proved satisfactory the
parties interested. thuk it should BIO continued the
only method Of dispons OF the increasing business Of the
office with the proper promptituje and despatch.
About one year since had tho honor invite your
attention to the importance OF several proposed amend
the patent laws The then given ,r the
alterations suggested remain in fu! force now and
commentators then made repeated.
The amendments of most immediate aud pressing
sity are those making provision for taking es.imony-
those in relation TO appeals, and thUsc prescribing
! rate Of fees.
Many questions of are frequently pending
before the Patent OHca depending 70 decision
the testimony Of Witnesses and their is no power
provided to compel witness TO give testimony. Moth
ing is common than for a refuse attend
cKimnaton Or 10 refuse to give testimony after he
has aiended to the great perveron Of the ends Of JUS
tice and the object OF the patent law.
The Law now allows any person who appeals from the
decision Of the Commissioner select which Of
judges Of the Circuit Court he chooses before whom
bring tho appeal, The chief justice Of that court will
probably never again be able entertain appeal, so
that bringing appeal before him ia tansmount ta
posponmeDt during the term OF his natural fe and
after his death there may be question whether
the delay will be at and and. BY abuse OF this Law
case has been suspended ~ this for two
years, and is threatened with Indefinite po,,poDment,
the great detrnent Of the party who is probably entitled
| to the patent.
The rate Of fees Ied at time when the real value
OF money was much greater in proportion TO nomsl
e than at presn The pay OF the clerks and liborers
employed in the Office been very much increased by
Congress and Ia various other tho cIpcnss OF the
Office have be- greatly augmented while the fees have
remained ugc' angel In addition to these the
force Of the Office has been considerably increased during
tho present year. in order dispose Of the accumu tion
OF business above referred 10.
The consequences Of all these has BEEN that dur
ing the year the expenses Of the Office been
continually exceeding the revenues and such will continue
to be the case unit augmentation Of those
| .hall be provided for.
| Tie permanent augmentation Of the examining corps
or rather such Reorganization will place all s mem
beers on proper footing, is subject worthy of consdsrA
ton. Tho assistant examiners who performing the
duties Of principal examiners, may justly expect at
responsibilities. IL you'd only he highly gratifying
me. but would no nothing than justice them
the mems and the authority TO make their
commensurate with the grade and character Of their
services.
bill was framed by the Senate committee al the l,s
session OF Congress providing for these and many ohc
amendments; rather il amounted 70 general or
g,nziiiDn OF the whole Patent OlIre SYSTEM including
the above Damcd provisions as portion thereof. Tn
passage Of that BILL Of other which shall at leas
embrace the features above alluded TO- 10 be OBJ
ect Of prime importance to tho proper administration
she affairs Of this Office.
beg leave to commend these mtlters TO your fyoabl
consideration in you deem them Of sufficient
q1ence TO merit place In your annual report.
lremain, sir, very respectfully, YOU'RE, &c.
Cnas. MASON.
Hon. Robert IcCellnnd, sec'y Of the Interior.