Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1888-03-31
WASHINGTON LETTER.
WASHINGTON, MAR. &c,

WASHINGTON, MAR. 26, 1888.
Mr.. Villas, late Postmaster Gener-
al. was appointed to the place yaca-
ted BIZ Dir. Lamar when the latter
took bis seat on the Supreme bench
The new Secretary found the busl-
ness of the Fafent Office in depior-
able slip-shod condition. The work
was very much behind; the work
men, examiners OF inyentiols) we're
demoralized from habits of idleDess
and lack of supervision; the OfficeI
was, in fact, without head in Tar
too literal sense.
The first Commissioner oil PATENTS
appointed by Dir. Cleveland vas a
criminal lawyer. Conscious OF his
ignorance of patent law and prae-
tice, he was naturally dependent
upon bis subordinates whose action
heaffirmed with automatic certainty.
thus depriving applicants for patents
of the benefit of appeal, and resolv-
ing the Patent Office into twenty
nine Star Chamber Courts where as
many examiners gossiped, joked,
read newspapers and rejected applI-
cations for patents with noncbal-
ance bred of knowledge that the
Commissioner of Patents, the nomi-
nal head, was only the tail of their
hydra.
This Commissioner CT Patents was
finally made judge Of the Washing
ton Criminal Court, and all Patent
dom rejoiced. Surely the President
would now appoint real Commits
sioner of Patents and not a mere
figure head.
1t was an excellent opportunity to
apply the civil service legend. There
were at least q dozen men in the Pat
ent Office of first rate ability and
ripe experience they were acquaint-
ed with the Office from actual ser
vice in every branch. But no politl-
cal end could be attained by such
appointments. They were all repub-
licans.
Mr.. Cleveland appointed an ex-
member of Congress from Iowa, who
has signalized his brief engagement
by series of contradictory rulings
and decisions, which have quite
thrown the complicated practice of
tie Patent Office out of gear and
made thousands of applicants for
patents weep, pray. and swear.
Tt is not every one who knows the
extent of the Patent system of the
United States. In recent speech
a member of Congress remarked that
we were born on patent beds, rock
ed in patent cradles and laid to rest
in patent collins, and that in the
journey from the cradle TO the grave
We seldom touched anything that
was not patented or made by patent
process.
More patents are granted by the
United States in week than are
granted in either France or Ger
many in six months, and more pat
ents are yearly taken out in this
country than all the rest of the
world. The money exacted by the
Patent Office from inventors. $50 on
every patent granted, has created
surplus fund that amounts to mil
lions of dollars. BDt. notwithstand
ing this enormous tax on inventive
genius, it is impossible, owing to the
mismanagement of the Patent Office,
to have prompt and fair examina-
ton of their applications for pat
ent.
1t is notorious that the Examiners
refused to allow patents, rejecting
applications on the f1imsiest pre-
texts, keeping all the while a list of
the names and addresses of the APP
plicants, then opening Office as pat
ent attorneys, they write to the
wronged inventors, offering TO secure
patents on the very applications
they have dishonesty rejected.
Several bills to abate this swindle
have been introduced in Congress
making ex-Patent Office Examiners
ineligible as attorneys until two
years have elapsed from the date of
their resignation, but the examiners
have in every instance been able to
prevent the bill becoming law.
There are numbers of Examiners
acting as patent agents now who
have set up Oh no other capital than
the names and addresses of inven-
tors whose applications they reject
ed as examiners in order that they
might secure retainers in the same
applications as attorneys.
The new Secretary, Mr.. Villas, has
issued very stringent order forbid
ding gossip, letter writing, newspa-
per reading, etc, by employees of
the Patent Office during Office hours,
and there is at present an outward
show OF work. But all the examin.
ers sit behind closed doors and
mammoth desks. The outward show
of work is deceitful in too many in.
stances.
Senator German, of Maryland, has
introduced a bill to remodle the
Patent Office and establish therein
court of Patent Appeals. There are
indications that Congress is becom-
ing awakened to the wretched state
that has characterized the recent NAL
administration of the office.