The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1875-09-16
AN OPEN LITTER TO THE COMMITS
SIONER or PATENTS.

SIN: have direct pecuuiary interest
in the good conduct OF the Patent once but
wish II distinctly Understood that do not know
personally and have no personal malice to-
ward, any past OF present officials there; ana
am only sorry, both on their and my account,
that the files Of the Office show so many Of them
to be wholly disqualified for duties so impor-
tant to our national progress.
Though majority OF voters are sovereign the
liberty aud property OF each In the hands Of i'm
beetle or rascally officials are as much beyond his
control as though he were a chattel slave. But,
thank God, he has eventual protection In the
honest. Independent press, which, ably and fear
lessly conducted, makes and breaks Govern
ment officials, from Presidents OF the nation to
Custom House weighers. Aud have been So
llcited by persons deeply interested In Industrial
pursuits 20 ask the powerful aid Of The SUN,
with Its million readers, through whom its ex-
posures Of fraud reach the whole American
people, In demanding reform In the Patent
Onice.
1 know no intelligent solicitor or inventor
familiar with the recent conduct Of the Patent
Once who is not disRusted with the stupidity.
obstinacy, and discouttesy OF many OF its
officials. Furthermore. the law requires all APP
pllcations to be kept secret until they are either
finally rejected or patented; but the remafka-
BILE coincidence has repeatedly occurred in my
experience, that between the filing of the ap-
plication and It's Notwithstanding In be-
logged objections-a circular is sent me from
some solicitor or patent lawyer In WASHINGTON,
soliciting the successful "or no pay" manage
ment OF my case. have a case now pending in
which this circular received, and then the
examiner, as I understand him, repeatedly de-
MED mathematical fact forming the basis OF
l.e.. l.. -.
schoolboy possessing rudimentary knowledge
Of dynamcs, would send him TO the foot Of his
class. asked an explanation, and my only
reply was the audacious request, "In order to
save unnecessary argument, TO accept this action
as 6nsl on the part of the Office"
The statute explicitly requires that each ex-
aminer be scientific expert In that class OF In
ventions OF which he has charge.
The statute and courts Jointly leave very little
discretionary power to the Commissioner Of
Patents. The office Is required to issue a patent
on the formal application OF the inventor for
any invention that Is new and useful" And
the courts hold that the word " useful" Is used
only In con,radistinction TO that which is obvl-
ously frivolous or Injurious" But notwith-
landing this undisputed law, held by the lmmor-
tai Story, and confirmed by all jurists since his
time, Official letters dated respectively August
n and August y, as l understand them, require
me TO build a steamship to demonstrate a math-
ematical problem the solution OF which Is as
simple and positive as product In the multi
plcation table, before the OH ,e would even ex-
anime my case. Aud an official letter of the 7th
instant makes the monstrOus proposition that
prove positive mathematical fact by disprov-
ing another equally positive mathematical fact
which 1t calls generally accepted theory"
These are specimens from the Ales Of the Office.
Eek. Representative r. n. Duell, now appointed
Commissioner OF Patents. you are an intelligent
lawyer. VIII or will you not make a record in
the Patent ONCE that will bear exposure by the
press, insure your confirmation by the Senate,
endear your name TO the thousands Of anxious.
intelligent solicitors and inventors throughout
this country, and give you. through our Centen-
NAL Exposition next year. world-renowned
fame az the leader OF a reform which directly
tends TO the industrial progress Of the whole
civilized world2
Presuming that you will not, In the words OF
your illustrious predecessor In his Official letter
to me of Jan. 10, 1876. regret to Ind you Imel
| attempting to influence the Commissioner aud
other ofiicials in the Patent Once by communi-
eating to newspapers" and will not. like him, re-
gard such exposure OF official action as repre-
hensiole." am, sir, very respectfully yours,
TEsAFIY, ". j., Sept, 1870. A. ARNOLD.