Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1854-12-12
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER
or PATENTS.

PATENT OFFICE, Dec. !, 1851,
SRI have the honor to report TO you tina. the bu-
siucss III the Patent Oiiicc il in moro saisfnc-
tory condition than at any previous period since ny
connection with il.
The number of cases undisposcd of in the Office OH
the lst day OF January last, was reported to bc five
hundred aud cighiy.twO. That humber, however.
asccrtancl through erroneous method oi COM
putation. BY an actual count the number of cases
hand Il, thnt time ws ascClaInc To be- eight hun
rrl and twcnrv..lIrcr. \ correct mode nt Coniputa-
ton then introduced, 50 that IN" exact condition
Of the business OF the Office hereafter be readily
calculated from the monthly reports.
This arrcaragr in the business of the oilce, though
much less than il had been six months previous, was
such tina: several months always elapsed after the
making Of all application before II could be disposed
oi, which was OF great dissatisfaction 10 oil
applicants iur patents.
During the three r-t months Of tho pre-lnt yenr the
mcrrt>c in the business of the Office such that
sensible dmiMuitiun in the GrrcarHges was Effected.
In order tu accomplish desirable nu object, II was
deemed cXpc'iicnt III place several OF the assistant
examiners i'll the performance OF the duties OF princ
pal examiners. In that manner tho end 5ough; l. now
almost and will SOON be entirely attained
Instead of six principal examiners, each with two
ASSISTANTS we have since the first of April had prac-
nchl!y eleven principal examiners. each with one aa-
sstaiit. Most of the rooms entirely filed up
with their work, and all will probably be 80 BY the
first dav Of December next. We have already, rHcc
The first of January last, issued upwards oi sixteen
hundred patents, and within the year the number will
probably rcnch nineteen hundred, which will BE-
about double the number patented last year. AppI-
cations are generally nc:cd upon within few days
after they urc made, and have doubt that the ar
rnnsemcnt by which this result has been produced
udicous, and has proved satisfactory To tho par
ties Interested. think it should he continued as the
only method of disposnS Of the increasing bu. iness
Of the office with the proper prompitude and des-
patch.
Abou, one wear since | had the honor tn invite
Your attention 10 the importance OF several proposed
amendments To tho patent laws. The reasons then
given for the alterations suggested rcnIan III full
lorce l,ow and the recommendations then made arc
now repeated.
The amendments OF most Immediate md pressing
necessity are those making provision Tor htng tcsii-
nOny-those IN relation 10 appeals, und those pre-
scrib:uc new rate q: fccs.
Many questions Of great moment are frequently
pending before the Pn;cn. Ol;cc, depending for
correct decision upon the testimony Of witnesses, anl
there is no power provided 70 compel witness 10
give testimony. Nothing Is more common than for
witness 10 refuse Ia attend examination, 10 re.
fuse 10 give testimony after he has attended, TO the
great rerverUn Of The ends OF justice. and the oLcct
Of the patent law.
The law allows any person who appeals from the
decision Of the Commissioner 10 select when of the
three judges OF the Circuit Court be chooses before
whom to bring the appeal. Inc chief justice oi tnai
court will probably never Hgain be hblo To rC!cr.aia
appeal, 30 that bringing ali appeal before bin il
antanuunt To its po-:pOnrcut during the term Of his
natural life, and eve: acr his death there may be some
question as to whether the delay will bc nt M erd-
BY an Rbuse of This law case has been suspended IN
this manner for nonr two years. and is threatened with
indefinite pOstpouc.eu., the grea: dctr!cn: ot the
party who is probably entitled 10 the patent.
The rate of fees was fixed CT time when the real
value of money much greater in proportion 10 rs
nominal value than AT present. The pay OF the clerks
and aborers employed in the Office has been very
much increased by Congress, aud in various other
ways the expenses OF the office have been greatly
augmented, wllo the foes haze remained unchanged.
In addition these the force OF tho Office has
been considerably Increased duri3g tho present year,
i'll order TO dispose Of the accumulation OF business
above referred 70.
The consequence OF nj these has been, tha.
during the current Year the expenses OF the Office
have been continually exceeding the revenues, aud
,uc!, will continue 10 be tho case unit! an auSnen;a-
ton of those revenue shall nc provided for.
The permanent augmentation Of tn: examining
cofrs or rather such reorganization Us will place all
it, members proper footing, is subj rct worthy
Of consideration. The assistant examiners who are
the duties OF principal examiners. may
Justly expect, at distant day, the compensation Mt
tached TO those duties and res possibilities. Itwnnld
not only be highly gratifying to me, but would be
nothing moro than justice to them, TO have the means
and the authority To make their comPensa ation com.
with the grade and character OF their actual
services.
A bill was framed by the Senate committee at the
last session Of Congress- providing for these Rnd many
other amendments; rather, il amounted to general
reorganization of the whole Patent Office SYSTEM in
cu,,ing the above named provisions, as portion
thereof The passage Of that bill, Of some other
which shall at least embrace the features above au
ded to, seems to be an object of prime importance
TO the proper administration Of the anirs of this Of
flee.
beg leave TO commend these ra,ters 20 your favor
able consideration, in you deem them OF sufficient
TO merit place in your annual report.
! remain, sir, very respectfully, yours, &C.
CHAS. MASON.