Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1869-01-22

THE PATENT OFFICE-From the animal re-
port OF the Commissioner OF Patents, Just is
sued we learn that during the year ending
December 81, lsGs, there have been filed in tine
Pa'ent Ofice 3,1O5 caveats, and ~, AS applica-
tons for patents; LIS $50 patents have been is
sued. al9 have been reissued, and 40 extended
compared win other years, the business of the
Office has been greater than that Of any pre-
ceding period. The number of patents issued
has been more than double the number Of 1865,
and more than three and one half times that of
1853. Since the Patent Office was first estab-
lished its business has had a rapid growth in
amount and IN importance. In 1886, eight or
en- persons were enough to transact all its bu-
siness. Now between three and four hundred
are required. This increase has arisen in par;
from the growth OF the country but more from
the stimulus that our patent laws have given
The Commissioner recommends that the
Examiners salaries be increased. He also
recommends establishing a machine shop to
repair models. and 90 other necessary work;
and Photographic establishment 20 copy
drawings.
The receipts of the Patent Office from July
last to the lst Of January have exceeded its
expenditures by about S53,VUO 1t is confidently
expected that for the year to come the excess
viii not be less than SlOO,O0O BY strict econo-
my and system IN the management of the
ONCE, IL is believed that salaries may be raised
necessary changes and improvements made,
and evtry needful expenditure to raise the
office up TO the highest state of efficiency and
usefulness incurred, without any charge or tax
upon the public. The large and growing bust.
ness Of the Patent Office has thrown more labor
on the Comm issioner than any one person can
perform. As some relief, il Is recon mmendPd
that appeals from the board of examiners.in-
chief be made directly to the chief Justice of the
supreme court OF the District Of Columbia.
SAATOR HARLAN has written a letter to the
New York Tif5une king that that paper shall
publish his remarks in answer to Gen. Boyn.
tons charges. and In conclusion says:
Your editorial Of the 18th instant, referring
TO the same subject, and mentioning my name,
does not, as / think. req uire any reply. do
not question your right to assume the cham
pionship OF the lobby portion OF the press,
bers OF the Senate. Of epithets which others
may think that class Of correspondents de-
serve, your readers will Judge"
PETITION OF THE PRovrDHNr AID SOCIETY
Mr.. Harlan presented In the Senate this morn.
ing the petition Of the Proyident Aid Society
OF Washington, d. c.. signed BY Messrs. VIM.
DIXON, A. X. Browne, and James X. O'Beirne,
asking an appropriation. The memorial states
the society has already distributed &3l5 in gro.
ceries, $50 cords OF wood, 30 tons Of coal
and 10 articles Of clothing, and the treasury
have bsen relieved daily by food, and 500
daily by fuel The petition was referred to the
District Committee.
The CORPORATION or GHoReRrowS AND
HARBoR FHEs.-In the House this morning,
Mr.. Koontz, OF Pa, from the Committee on the
District OF Columbia, reported back the bill to
amend the charter OF the Corporation of
Georgetown. SO as to allow said Corporation
20 levy and collect tonnage tax, not to exceed
e45o on each vesse I. and 81 Is as ballast fee
After some discuss ion, the bill was laid on the