The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1859-02-02

duoiion ol which il Is morlIy Just and politically wisc
70 burden with taxation. ust you would thus burden
the importation Of foreign poisonous drug IheTe
is loer view this question and deemed in
harmony with the progressive spirit Of the agoa view
which halls the fruits OF the inventive genins, ia what
ever cline matured the common property Of the
world and gives them corial welcome the common
blessng IS q tle whose ameoation they de-
voted
Since the month Of November, 1857, board tempo
raTiiy organized and consisting Of three examiners, e
caliy detailed for this duty have been occupied in the
examination OF appeals from the decisions OF the primary
examiners 10 the Commissioner During the past year
they investigated and disposed Of 535 cases. ia most o
which they have Submitted eaboIately prepared reports
The results Of their action have been cmnenty stisfac
tory and have commanded, IL Is believed the entire
con Aaence Of the country The withdrawal OF these e
GERS from their respective classes has practically reduced
the examining corps 60 nine instead of twelve, the mum
Der at which il fixed in 1856 The applications OF
that year amounted 90 g60, those Of lS5s amounted
10 35i that with reduced force, there l. heavy
Increase OF the labor 10 be performed This is uufortu
nate and 10 be dcpored in reference alike 10 the public
and the inventor The Ormer has deep interest la that
thorough and faaI oxassinatio u applications
tempated BY the patent laws in order that rights which
belong TO all may not be uniusily monopOzed by
the latter has the same interest lest patent hastily
and incautiousy granted should prove in his hands but
lure 10 draw him into harassiR and imp0yerishing lt
CATION The legazatioh Of this board and the TestoEa
ton OF examiners 20 the three classes virtually de-
priyed of them would furnish at the relief required
Since the establishment OF this temporary board Of
appeals, the classes from which lis members were re-
spectiyely Withdrawn have been In charge Of those who
have the rank and pay of assistant examiners only In
the position, however, assigned them, they have
had imposed upon them the responsibilities of examiners
in chief and it Is due TO them 10 say that they have d
charged their duties with zeal and fidelity. In my udg
ment il is but Just that they should be compensated
oordng 20 the character of the services they have rendered
Assistant examiners similarly ciTcumstAnced pro
vided or b Congress in ls6 and commend the claims
Of those referred TO TO yOur favorable consideration
There are now on file in this Office upwards Of twenty
thousand models belonging 10 rejected For
Tes Of wears they have for want Of sufficient been
kept ia condition little favorable to their preservation
useilness They present chaotic and partially di
lapidated OF mechanical devices Of value
pared with the space they will occupy, and the expense
their repair arrangement and preservation " involve
The fact that they illustrations Of Inventions which
have been determined be patenabe generally for
Of novelty is proof conclusive that they are in a.
feet but duplicates Of illustrations previously existing
and large portion Of which already preserved by
the Office in patented There would SEEM therefore,
TO be adequate motive for permitting them longer TO
cucumber the building. The west wing Of the Patent Of
fee to which, if retained they be transferred Is
approaching completion and the present moment-be
fore the heavy pense incident to their restoration and
custody is ncurrei-is deemed appropriate for deciding
the dnal disposition which shall be made Of them.
The defects in the existing patent laws have again
and again been pointed out in the annual Reports OF this
Office are believed to be thoroughly understood and
appreciated by the country The subject has been Of
ten and earnestly pressed upon the consideration Of
Congress, that cannot regard it my duty if indeed il
would be privilege TO the discussion at this
moment. 1 cannot however, forbcar expressing again
with emphasis my conviction 70 the necessity Of change
in that feature of the existing law which wthhold from
OF subpoena for compelling the attendance of Witnesses
and the production Of papers Every Judicial tribunal In
the iaEG, nOE sh Lisost 60 tEe Lowest matter how
palty the in contest armed with this authori
ty without which, indeed the administration Of public
Justice would prove but little better than mockeTy
With the issues of fact to be tried here often bound
up the entire fortunes Of inventors and the interests they
involve 20 he estimated by thousands and hundreds OF
thousands of dollars Under the pressure OF legislation
the parties to these issues driven into this Office and
compelled to have them investigated and decided here
while at the time they denied the only instru
mentality by which their rights can be vindicated and
maintained They thus forced To beg their testimony
aims buy it they would their provisions upon
the shambes OF the market They completely at the
mercy OF those witnesses who sell the TRUTH and Of
course often subjected to the most onerous and not u
frequently 10 the most infamous exaCons 1t is grcss
and injustice which admits Of defence, Of
paation, and which cannot fail to shock the moral
OF all Who il the hedy of political life,
be indaoed TO pause long enough to contemplate It's
voting features. IL may well be doubted whether
evil Of such deoty and unTeecmed ii is by any pre-
tence Of right reason would, if exposed this has
been, under any other form of government upon the
earth have been permitted to endure for single day
In view Of the frequency with which the proposed
changes in the patent laws have been urged upon the
notice Of Congress, il has been with extreme difhdence
that have venttred passing alusion to the sub
ject just estimate the magnitude Of the issues Of
which this Office has charge and conviction Of the vast
ly increased efficiency which these changes would
TO its administration, must be my apology class of
men who have given TO their native land and to the
world the cotton gin, the steam engine, the electric
telegraph the reaper the planning and the sewing
chinesnyentions whose benefcent influences tell with
measureles power upon every pulsaton OF domestic
social and commercial enay wen be pardoned for be-
lieviug that their wants should not be treated with
tire indifference by that body which represents alike the
intellect and heart it docs the material interests Of the
great country Of which they are citizens j. HOLT