Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-01-31
COMMISSIONERS HALLS REPORT.
Great Need OF More Room for the Pat.
ent Onice-Other Recommendation.

COMMISSIONERS HALLS REPORT.
Great Need OF More Room for the Pat.
ent Once-Other Recommendation.
The commissioner of. patents, Benton ,.
Hall, to-day, i'm accordance with Law, forwarded
10 Congress his annual report The report
commences with reference 10 the exciting
presidential election" Just passed. and then
proceeds TO renew q number of suggestions
made In previous reports. He complains Of
the utter inadequacy Of room and facilities foe
conducting the business Of the patent Office.
Complaint is made Of the condition which
allows the Secretary of the Interior and the
pass upon the space which should be sacred to
patents only. The result is that none OF the
ofhcers have sufficient accommodations.
The various divisions of the patent Office"
says the report, ARE crowded into narrow. in
convenient, and, In many instances, unhealthy
iimits The records and drawings and other
material. which should be conveniently ar
ranged ana made accessible in proper rooms,
are stored in corridors and by-way places.
where classification is almost impossible and
where access can only be had 10 the particular
subjects desired after long search and DELAY
Mot only this, but great quantities of valuable
records, descriptions, specifications and draw
ings are constantly
EXPOSED TO THE DANGER OF ooSf1AGRArroxs
involving the safety Of the entire building
The rooms used by the Office are scattered an
over the building, and there is great waste
OF time and labor in necessary conn
munnication between the various divisions
III the force were more compactly arranged
enough money could be saved thereby 10 paw
the rental of a building which would be large
enough TO accommodate the land ONCE
nraGNN
tographing for the Patent Office Gazette
the commissioner says that careful inquiry has
established beyond q doubt the fact that such
work Is done in this city for less than would DO
demanded by photolithographers in any other
city in the country
Congress is again asked for an appropriation
with which 10 establish a laboratory 70 con-
tam the necessary apparatus for testing inven-
tons relating TO electricity. and 20 conduct ex-
periments pertaining to processes and products
involving chemical results
THE BUSINESS OF TIE OFFICE
is constantly increasing. The number Of an
plications requiring examination which were
received during the last year was Al, s55, or an
average of 500 per week. The number Of patents
and certificates Of registration OF labels and
trademarks during the same period was q. s92,
an average OF 42l per week Nearly 50
per cent. of these applications were rejected
The question Of room is again touched upon
~
the rooms occupied by the employees are poorly
ventilated, unhealthy and are only adapted for
storage.
NUMEROUS RECOMMENDATIONS
are made for legislation, and attention lie d.
rected to the fact that steps have been taken
which will, it is believed, effectually prevent
further defalcations by financial officers Of the
bureau.
MORE PAY FOR EXAMINERS.
The commissioner says that the compensa-
ton now allowed the corps Of examiners are
insufficient The present salaries will not hold
men any length of time, because with their
knowledge of the workings of the Office
they can secure more renumerative positions
outside. Increased salaries for these men OF
high educational and scientific attachments
would be to the best interest of the govern
ment and the public.
ON THE SUBJECT OF TRADEMARKS
the commissioner wants an amended Law.
The definition of a trademark is substantially
the same in all commercial countries but
practice varies in the application of these
definitions, and in respect to the character
OF marks which may be protected. For in
stance, the usuage in southern Europe in re-
spect to the employment Of sacred names and
symbols warrants their adoption as trade
marks in relations which would be
offensive, and, perhaps. sacriligious TO
much OF the American sentiment In n
case where representation of the Virgin
Mary was claimed for soap this Office held that
Its use in such connection was offensive 10 a
great proportion Of the people of the United
States, and therefore that il was not entitled to
protection; vet IL is actually protected in
France, where different sentiment prevails"