The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-12-27
ABUSES IN THE PATENT or FICE

WASHINGTON. Dec. 26-The Patent Office
has been sealed hook to the outside world.
Sections 1893 and 1914 Of tho Revised Statutes. in
regard to the accounting Of moneys spent
therein have never been obeyed in regard to
the expenditures Of appropriations for the
Patent ONCE since 1860. Az little attention has
uniformly been given to some twenty other
sections OF the Revised Statutes by the Secrc-
tary Of the Interior since 1860. No hope can be
expected from the Democrats in Congress-. As
soon rs an investigation OF the rascaitics in
tho Patent ONCE is about to be commenced. i'm
mediatcly net is spread by the Federal officials
and by Republican members Of Congress 10
catch the Democrats and stinc any inquiry into
the alleged evils.
The Republican officials nre altogether too
smart for the Democratic Congressman. A
notable example OF this smartness has Just
come to light. Last January official facts show
ing gross official corruption were brought to
the attention Of the Chairman OF the House
Committee on Expenditures in the Interior De-
partment. A subcommittee was Immediately
formed to investigate these Patent Office mall
fonsancos. The chairman OF this sub-com-
mittee was young lawyer from western New
York, THIS member was made chairman 81
this investigating committee because he hat
nothing else to 90 ana was repor'9I 10 h9 ',n
his attention great amount OF official crooked
ness in the Patent ONCE ~ soon IA Il was pub
lished that this subc committee WIS formed:
Although he talked very loud and often bonstcd
Of what he would do, yet he never did anything
about the work assigned to him.
At last. Just as the session was about TO close,
this New York lawyer, being pressed by some
leading members who. had discovered mo
misconduct commenced n secret Investigation
in one Of tn" rooms OF the Patent Onice. This
say say Patent once ofie,asl that the consdera,
ton for that heroic choking OF investigation
was the appointment OF a few ladies To office 10y
tho Influence" Of that doughty New Yorker
Whatever the consideration" may have been.
thu stubborn facts remain undn"suoned ON -.
has been n sinecure for years past. The only
really useful duty that this valuable officer has
TO perform is to draw his salary OF about 500
other bureaus Of the Government bears no
analogy to the same Office in the Patent Ofnce.
| Formerly the Chief Clerk OF the Patent once
| performed tho duties 81 the uommissluner IN
| the absence Of that officer. He also art~l "a
treasurero Of tho moneys paid into tho Potent
| ONCE. In 1870 the office OF Assistant Com
| missioner OF Patents was creltcd and q few
years subsequently, tho office ot flnan rial Clcrk
was created. This lett the chief Clerk OF the
| Patent once with nothing 10 do The Chief
| Clerk has two clerks TO assist him IN his labor.
| Gus business. HIS two assistants get salary OF
| 81 200 and 5000 respectively. In lSlO tho Com
| missioner Of Patents had one il 400 clerk de-
| tailed TO assist him. His duties then were
| sion cnscs to be heard now. His stan now con-
sists Of financial cletk, with two or thrce as
sistants; nm Assistant Commlsslpner, VINO nus
one clerk To- assist him. and law clerk, VINO
| also has a clerk to assist him. In justice 10 the
| Chief Clerk IL should be stated that lie has four
| clerks instead OF two clerks. TO assist him. II
| should be understood that all examinations lol
| patent applications ars conducted 10y twenty
| two examiners. who have about four assistnnis
| each-making an examining corps ot over 100
| This has nothing whatever 70 do with the Com
missioner's statf above described. Now. the bar'
statement Of these facts Is enough to make
| mule laugh
J. w. Bahson. friend Of Eugene Hale, draws
salary OF 81 .sOO-and does literally nothing. III
Ia called editor Of the Gazette. " but he has n,
more to do with the editorship Of the Gdzet
than the man in the moon.
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM