The times., 1897-05-09
PATENTLAWYERS BANQUET
The Specialists of the Bar in a
Pleasing Role.
Their Law Association Writes an
Entertaining First Cha pter of
Organized Life.

ne Gatenb Law AsSocidttOn, an organ
ization but recently formed in this city,
gave its first banquet last night at the
Raleigh, The company was composed of
specialists, as indicated by the name OF
the associations; members OF the bench and
of the rraternal bar, aud other guests from
civil aud professional life generally, not
only from Washington, but other cities.
The appointments of the banquet were
III excellent style and taste, the decora-
tions Of the table being particularly pretty,
consisting OF a row OF epergnes filled with
roses and carnations. The menu, very
appropriately, was made up in large part
OF the inventions of a Department. OF scien &C
and art which has been illustrated in u
very familiar quotation from owen Mere
dith
The object of the association Is to adj
vance the interests or the patent bar, to
elevate the standard of practice and prac-
tttioners and to bring the members OF the
association into closer social and business
relations with each other. Another object
is to watch patent legislation, 10 consult
with the Commissioner Of Patents and
the courts in relation to matters OF his
special practice. The association has to its
credit already the passage of important
laws, and has in progress the passage OF
others OF equal value to its members, In
which respect the Washington body Is ma
tional in fact and Importance, A similar
association exists in Chicago, but it is
necessarily local in character, and has
not the opportunity for the good OF the
service posse ssed by the local patent bar.
The association was organized about Two
months ago, when were elected as its
officers, president, Gen. Ellis Spear; vice
presidents, Gen E. NJ. Marble and W. d.
Baldwin treasurer Col James L. Norris. ,and
secretary. S. Benjamin. The banquet com
nittee was. W. H. Doolittle. W. F. Rodgers
and F. c, ,sSonIes.
Gen Spear presided, with him at the head
Of the table being Justice Sheppard and the
officers OF the association. Gen. Spear
made an excellent POSTMASTER. which was
emphatieally true, as all the toasts and
speeches. were impromptu- Justice Shep-
hard aman gotiler good things said apropns
of the literary quality Of the occasion, that
the only thing not yet patented was
banquet without speeches.
Gen. Spear had, however, a very able.
witty and Invaluable assistant IN Mr. w.
F. Rodgers, OF the banquet committee, who
appeared in role that certainly ought to
be patented. Mr. Rodgers not only made
clever speech himself, but he made suggeS
tions enough. for impromptu talks for the
rest of the evening.
Not TO be invidious, it may be permitted
to say that the most entertaining address
of the evening was by Vice President Bald
win, who is the Nestor of the patent prac-
tice In Washington, if not in the United
States. He entertained the company with
the progress of patent law and practice
since $50 to the present day. Reminiscent
and up-to-date speeches were also made
10y John Werderstein, of Philadelphia, and
Edward wilhelm. OF Buffalo.
Addresses relating TO improvements, both
In law and practice, were made by Hon
s T. Fisher, Assistant Commissioner OF
Patents; Gen E. NJ. Marble, Mr. J Fl.
Whltd ker, Mr.. Rodgers, and the presiding
officer. Profs. Mason and Watkins, of the
Observation-Disclosures made brief fspeeches,
and Justice SHEPPARD addressed himself
largely and entertainingIy to the object
OF the association and its effects on the
standing and usefulness of its members
Nearly all of the speakers from the
association referred to the need OF bet
ter classification OF cases at the Patent
Office; another stated reform being the
reduction of the number Of tribunals
The social features of the occasion were
well and pleasantly marked, so that the
banquet of last night will, no doubt, be the
historic one from which to count the
coming anniversaries OF the Patent Law
Association The discussions also made it
manifest that the educational side of the
association will he one Of its strongest
aud most interesting foundations
Among the guests were Mr.. Justice Shcp-
herd, Mr.. Justice Bradley, Hon. Ben ianin
Butterwortb, commissioner of patents, Hon
s. T. Fisher, assistant commissioner of
patents, A. w. Greeley, and r. p Brick
stein, examiners-in-cfief of the Patent
office; Mr.. w. A. Megrath, law clerk OF
the Patent office; Mr.. w. s. Hutchns,
Prof Otis Mason, and Prof T. E. Wat
kins, Of the Smithsonian Institution; John
Werderstein, OF Philadelphia; Jerome Nc
Carly, of Philadelphia; Edmund Wilhelm,
L. w Seely, OF San Fran cisco; John How
ard White, and represen tatiyes OF the press.
The following members We're present: T.
Il Alexander, F. w Ruth, JosephL. tkins,
Walter R. Rogers, L. s. Bacon, Ellis Spear.
w d. Baldwin, 81. A. Seymour, F BENJAMIN,
F. C. Somes, A. T. Brown, G. L: Sturtevant,
E. r. Stocking, Frank L. Browne, w. Fl
Doolittle. Boyd B. Wight, Arthur E. Dow