Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-05-10
P ATEN IT IAWYE S
The First Banquet of the Local Asocia-
ton.
Prominent Guests Present and the Ad-
dresses Made>-Letter From MIR.
Buttcrworth.

inston held Its inaugural banquet Saturday
night at the Raleigh. having In attendance
about forty members besides distinguished
guests from this city, Philadelphia, New
York. Buffalo and San Francisco. Gen.
Ellis Spear. the president of the associa-
ton. presided. and in his opening remarks
stated that the objects of the association
are to raise the standard Of professional
practice among patent law specialists. to
promote closer social and business rela-
lions between its members. to secure need
ed reforms in the patent laws and to es-
tablish and maintain a scientific and law
library. with special reference to the needs
and convenience of resident and non-resi-
dent patent attorneys. In addition to Presi-
dent Spear the association has for Its
officers Mr.. Edgar NJ. Marble. first vice
president; William D. Baldwin, second vice
president: Jas l. Norris. treasurer; Fred
erick Benjamin. secretary. The AFFAIRS Of
the association are governed by a board II
managers. composed Of the officers and
Ernest Wilkinson, VIM. Cranch McIntire,
Jesse H. Whitaker. w. H. Doolittle, Robert
]. Fisher and VIM. G. Henderson.
The guests present were Mr.. Justice
Shepard. Mr.. Justice Bradley. S. T. Fisher.
assistant commissioner Of patents: A w.
Greedy and j. P. Bnckenstein of the pat
emit office board of appeals. Profs. Otis
Mason and j. E.-Watson Of the Smithsonian
Institute. Messrs. John Weidersheim and
Jerome McCarty Of the Philadelphia bar.
Edmund Wilhelm of Buffalo. John Howard
White of Boston. L. Warren Seeley of San
Francisco. Mr.. Frank B. Noyes and Mr.. w.
S. Hutchins. The commissioner of patents
was unable to be present, but sent a let
ter which he indicated covered what he
would have said had he been able to be
present. In the letter Mr.. Butterworth eI-
pressed himself emphatically as to abuses
by alleged patent solicitors who had neither
the legal nor technical training to equip
them for the profession. and whose prac-
tees in obtaining money from inventors
or those who thought they were inventors.
he scored. He assured the association that
both he and the Secretary Of the Interior
would cooperate with it in any practical
measures which would protect inventors
from harmful practices. -
Informal addresses were made in re-
Spouse to calls from the chairman by JUS
tice Shepard. Mr.. Marble. MIR. Weidsrsheim,
Mr.. Wilhelm, Mr.. Fisher, Prof. Watson
Prof Mason, Mr.. Whitaker. Mr.. Rogers
and Mr.. Baldwin. the speakers addressing
their remarks to the history and growth
of patent laws, the need for changes IL
the laws and the abuses of practice before
the patent office. which have become es-
pecially prominent during the past two or
three wears
Mr. Baldwin related many interesting In
cidents of the conduct of the patent Office
in the early days of its history. Mr.. Fish
er said that he believed that the organiza-
ttcn Of the patent attorneys marked new
era in the profession and meant many re-
forms in the patent laws and rules among
ough Redistribution of patents on chrome
logical lines. Justice Shepard paid a high
tribute to members of the profession who
had business before the Court Of Appeals.
good lawyers should always be. Of great
assistance to the court. Mr.. Marble
thought that the government fees In patent
cases should be graded according to tho
the various classes Of inventions. and that
part of the largc surplus earned by the
patent office might be used to help poor
inventors who had inventions Of great
value. Prof. Watson and Prof Mason ex-
pI essed their admiration for men of crea-
tive minds who had contributed and were
contributing SO much to the worlds adj
vaECement and Improvement, and said that
the best friends Of the inventors were the
respectable and skilled patent lawyers. Mr..
Whitaker referred to the clap trap meth
DDS Of alleged patent agents. who take ad-
vantage OF the fact that the law fixing the
qualifications for practice before the -paten.
Office Is somewhat vague, and cited an in
stance Of recent experience where one of
these agents had been compelled to refund
moneys obtained from an inventor because
Of fear that he would be criminally prose-
cuted. Mr.. Rogers speech was extremely
witty.
Altogether. the affair was a great sue
cess. and reflects credit on the committee
having 1t in charge. which was composed Of
Messrs. Doolittle, Rogers and Somes. 1t Is
the intention of the association to have
other banquets during the year. The mem
bers present were T. H. Alexander, Joseph
c. Atkins. L. g. Bacon. w. D. Baldwin, F.
BENJAMIN. A. T. Brown, Frank L. Browne,
w. H. Doolittle. Arthur e. Dowell, J. c.
Dowell. Frank L. Dyer, Leonard II. Dyer,
Joseph r. Edison. Robert J. Fisher Max
Georgia. W. @. Henderson, Scion c. Kemon,
H. 8. Knight, w. c. McIntire. E. NJ Mar
BILE. James L. Norris. John C. Pennie F..
w. Ritter. Walter R. Rogers, Ellis Spear.
! H. A. Seymour, F. c. Sones. E. B. Stock
| irg. c. L. Sturtevant., Boyd B. Wright,
| Ernest Wilkinson and J. H. Whitaker