New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-03-01
PATENT OFFICE SYSTEM.

IT is ORGANIZED TO DO JUSTICE TO ALL IN
TEREsTs.
To the Editor OF The Tribune
Sir. Your correspondent from Illinois wishing pat
ents couf be kept may represent large num-
ber and is W rthy Of an answer The patent system
is for tho benefit of the general community, and II
other than the blttom inventor earlier and bet
ter bring out any given improvement the world cam
not afford to wait.
1t is not practicable for obvious reasons. 70 grant
and maintain exclusive right TO first inventor.
and refuse inform any inquirer what it is that 10
granted. Our Government goes further than this:
do several other progressive nations. 1t is uni
versally recognized as politic. England charges
shilling each to exhibit the original papers in patent
cases. | paid that for the privilege Of inspecting
number some years ago: and she prirts and sells at
a reasonable price-a few pence shIllings-a fuu
printed copy II the entire drawings and specinca-
lions, as finally accepted. our country does the
same CT better, furnishing full printed by Of any
fer a Decent coupon. The English Govenment pub
shes low-prced serial. si;mg the dates and tiIies
of all issues. and q ernnient issues weekly
volume OF some POO pages, haf-inch thick giving
for ~ cents to regular subscribers CT snGly ful
copy Of the claims Of each patent issued week.
but usually giving very tolerabe knowledge OF the
invention, Dudes may sheer, but 1t is a record OF
the worlds progress.
1t is painful = .nsrr how poorly cur race has
often judged what is worthy Of riding. The Ella b.
crate hiercgiyphcs on the obelisk in Central Park
The historical por.ons Of our sacred writings omit
much that would be # immenS' value. The Book
of Esther gives half-page 10 the rebuke TO tie
Queen who dared 10 refuse wnen the King wished 10
show her beauty. but only four lines to the first
worlds fair: "W.el he showed toe riches OF his
glorious kingdom and the honor Of ris excellent ma
jesty many day, even hundred and fourscore
days"
our Government has and Is (except the Germany
the only GJvernmen which tries to have. just sucn
commission "a vour o. respondent implOrrs, made
up f exp re9ced. expert rgBeers, 10 receive and
examine into the rits 4 the lnyensns, and to de-
eide T. the inventors honest discovery and right
his claim originality" II Is not easy to 'sa;er
descrb, the work # tie corps n I'D examiners and
assistants, arranged in thriy-two divisions. in the
United States Patent Office AZ Washington. With
all that f rec fairly well dir cited tner' were last
week $3.50 applications FIR patent and Tor trade
mark registration aWaiiifs action
Austria has long Il on her stat'te books q pro-
vision for taking oui secret grants-the word pat
ent," meaning public, woul' b. m cTidont mis-
nomer-but the difficulty Il erf rciog them, AMI at
the time rendering justice = ~! concerned tan
essential I'm all modern CIVILIZED legislation. has
rendered them Tx thc local grants by the Captain
General for the control inventions 'I -" s'and Or
cuba, when the island is ia terms included IN Span
isa paten'. merely Ornamental Dlprs. - io real
import y valid patent must y" or ~ Improvement,
or what bids fair 10 be- an !nDr ,t"in ~, In some
useful art and must be clearly described so that
others Of reasonable skin in that branch % the
arts can know what II IS. and must be easily ac-
cessible THOMAS DREW STETSON
w-Yorl Feb. H. 1871