New-York tribune., 1878-05-25
ABILL THAT INTERESTS INVENTORS

A BILL THAT INTERESTS INVENTORS
THE CHARACTER AND EFFECT OF THE NEW MEAS.
URE TO ESTABLISH COURT or PATENTS.
To the EdttOr or The Tribune.
I SIR: On March IL, Mr., Booth, by unaDi-
nous consent obtained leave in the United States Sen
ate to bring \ bill TO establish the Court OF Patents,
and for purposes which was read twice and re-
ferred 10 the Committee on Patents. This bill is now
before the committee and although IL has attracted the
attention those who most deeply interested In the
proper administr tOn OF the affairs of the Patent ONCE
and although 1t meets with their general dsapprobaton
still it appears that it may be successfully carried
through Congress unless public attention be directed
some of It's very Objectionable features.
The ostensble object of the bill is TO effect such
change in the Organization Of the Patent Office will
operate abolish the prasen system OF appeals to the
Commissioner In person. and from the Commiss oner 10
the Supreme Court Of the District OF Columbia were
this the sole purpose and effect Of the mea re, few
would raise any objection to its passage But It's real
object is TO gslate out Of Office three competent ana
experienced officers now constituting what Is recog
nzed under the present law board Of three exani
nersin-chief and to provide for the appoint
ment, under the proposed law, OF "t three
judges" to constitute tribunal within the
Patent Office. and be known the Court Of Pat
ents" This court Is to perform precisely the duties now
performed by the experienced examiners in-chief az
salaries aggregating $4,000 annum less than the ne"
bill proposes to pas the judges Of the new Patent Court
The effect of this BILL should it become law, would
be
Fys-Jnnecessarily 10 increase the expenses OF run
ming this Bureau OF the Interior Department
Seeond-To substitute for experienced officers trained
TO thorough understanding of the intricate question:
involved in patent and removable at time fol
cause three Judges who are hold Office for life, no
matter how incapable any OF them may prove 10 De-
poed by the bill before Congress must satisfy the Oh
server that the jurisdiction OF the proposed fat.m
Court will be substantially the same as that OF inc
present Board OF EXamnersnC Chief The present board
exercises the same jurisdiction and performs all tue
duties which would be exercised and performed by tue
proposed court and therefore the OstensDe purpose Ol
the bill before Congress be accomplished by simply
repeating those sections of the present law which pro
vide for appeals from the Board 10 the Commissoner
and the Commissioner TO the supreme Court Oh the
District. -.
The proposed law provides for special qualifications
i'm the Judges tO be appointed other than that they
shall have the qualifications OF the judge
of the District Courts OF the United States while under
the present law "The EXaminers-n-Cnlef shall be per
IN is seleydent that the purposes Of intelligent
and Just disposition Of the that must be passed
upon in the Patent Office "scientihlc ability
Is an indispensable qualification The best lawyer
| NAV be found wellnIgh incompetent to cOmpreben1
thoroughly all the scientific questions OF mec1aues
which into many cases requiring adJuucauoh al
| the Patent Office "a
Is supported wholly by the contributions of inventors
and they are almost Unanimously opposed TO the pi9
posed change in the personnel OF the once. ~ Son.
seem only matter OF justice that their wishes III
| matter should be consulted, II not respected A
| Nelc- u Iork, May H. 1873.