New-York tribune., 1898-01-27
WHA1 WAS TIVNE IN TIITs NJ r1r'''O
REPORT OF THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON
PATENTS AND PATENT LAwS-TO PRO
TEC,T AMERICAN GOODS

TECT AMERICAN GOODS.
Mr. Search again presided at the afternoon
session. Mr.. McDougall had not arrived when
the session began. and It was decided to hear
the report OF the Special Committee on Patents
and Patent Laws The report was read by the
chairman Of the committee. William c. Barker
OF New-York 1t contained resolution to the
effect that Whereas the business or the
Patent Office is seriously handicapped and
behindhand owing to the inadequate num-
ber os examiners and the number or IN
competent persons practising as agents lhe
association indorse the bill now before Congress
Of which the object is the increase or faclltes
for the transaction OF the business OF the rat
ent Office. 1t was also recommended that the
association indorse the other bill before Con-
gress for the registration of persons desiring 10
practise before the Patent Office
Mr.. Barker said that the question OF patent
laws was a most important one. and he Invited
~ill discussion of the subject the patent laws
,..re Intimately connected with immense
proportion OF the manufacturing interests OF the
country. and the bills now before Congress were
,,,,oI - ,be interests Of inventors and manu-
facturers.
~, c,euart Of MARYLAND recommended that
.ho Association of Manufacturers and the Asso-
o;o,,or NJ American Inventors and Manufactur-
or~ coonerate to secure the legislation Whlch
,,os so greatly needed. The Patent once at
Washington was unlike any other in the world
Not only did it possess specifications OF every
natent ever issued in this country but also those
invented in other countries. with complete
library OF American and foreign books on the
subject With all these facilities, the 1orce OF
the office was 40 small. and the number OF ap-
plications for patents so great that last year an
average Of only hour and fifteen minutes
could be devoted to the examination or eacn ap-
n,ication. He congratulated the committee on
The resolutions and recommended their adop-
tion.
g Seymour. Of Washington ex-Commis
sioncr ~ Patents. who is not member OF the
association. was invited to speak on ;he sub
iec, He explained the working Of the Patent
Ofice and the necessity for an increased appro-
nria,jon. The annual cost of the Patent Office
was not he said as great as that Of a irst-class
battle-ship and the Patent Office did, at present
at least more necessary work.
Mr. Scott Of Pennsylvania. and Mr.. Billings
OF Connecticut also took part in the discussion
The report was referred 10 the Committee on
Resolutions.
THE ALCOHOL QUESTION AGAIN.
Mr. McDougan having arrived the considera-
ton Of the presidents report was then contin-
ued. Upon the subject OF "Urtaxed Alcohol for
the Arts Mr.. McDougall spoke against the
proposed legislation giving manufacturers the
privlage Of using alcohol for industrial purp ses
He said there was too much change in legisla-
ton: What they wanted was to be let alone. a
number Of amendments TO the Dihgley bill were
being advocated. He hoped that 'he assoc'a-
ton would not ask for a single amendment: at
any rate until year had passed. Let them
give the bill fair trial. (Applause)
Henry W. Daley. Of New York. disagreed with
Mr.. McDougall. and read paper upon the uses
Of alcohol in manufactures, and the advantages
Of its freedom from taxation when used for such
purposes. Few people were aware OF the extent
to which alcohol used in manufacturing
Ii was employed In more than fifty different
trades in this country. In Germany free alco-
ho law had produced startling results the con-
ing twenty -four times that of the United States
Mr. Daley offered resolution TO the effect that
the convention support a measure TO be intro
duced in Congress doing away with the tax on
alcohol
The matter held over for discussion later
John II. Converse. OF Pennsylvania. pre- sented
the report OF the Committee on Resolution O.
did not recommend the adoption Of the resolu-
tion on Patent Laws. proposed by the Committee
on Patents and Patent Laws. as the copies o.
the bills before Congress which had been