Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-02-05
Mr.. DUELL SWORN IN
The Head of the Patent Office Takes the
Gath
Need of the Bureau for a Larger Force
Thirteen Thousand Cases Await
ing Action-Months In Arrears.

Charles H. Duell became the commits
slcner of patents this morning. Assistant
Chief Clerk w. H. De Lacy of the Interior
Department read the oath of allegiance
while the new head Of the patent office
held up his right hand and in a clear
voice solemnly swore to support the Con-
stitution of the United States. Assistant
Commissioner Greeley was present. The
bond was filed and approved, a surety
company of Baltimore certifying
After the ceremony he went into confer
ence with Assistant Commissioner Greeley,
and the greater part ofsthe day was spent
in discussing patent office affairs.
The new commissioner promises to be-
come very popular. He In of average
height. with clear gray eyes and a firm
n outh covered with mustache. His dis
pc sition is kind, ard being approachable
he has the faculty of making visitor feel
at ease.
There was nothing pew for him to say in
connection with the patent office, he ex-
piained to a Star reporter. He was now
acquainting himself with the methods Of
practice. and untfl he had become thor
oughly acquainted with the mechanism of
the big machine he did not care to dis
cuss the situation. He pleasantly referred
the reporter to Assistant Commissioner
Greeley, and that official said:
Needs of the Omce.
I'VE are deeply interested in the pend
Ing appropriation for the support of the
patent office during the coming fiscal year.
The appropriation bill, as reported, pro-
Vides for slight increase in the working
force Of the office, hut it is SO slight as not
TO materially affect the conditions which
even now are becoming Of mcnstrous pro-
ptrtions. The new bill, l. believe, gives US
l new principal examiner . assistant eX-
per Va oin n1Il "
estimated for principal examiners, 81
assistant examiners, 30 clerks and 10 mes
sengers. The Secretary cut this estimate
to principal examiners, IS assistants, IL
c!erks ard IA messengers. This matter of
additional help is a most serious problem,
mere important today than ever before,
ara becoming more SO every twenty-four
hours.
Even with the small increase allowed by
Congress, we would be better off, If only
the appropriation were made Immediately
available. But instead Of that the addi-
tional help cannot be utilized until next
july, and by that time this Office will be
seriously behind in its work. Today our
examiners ere from three to four months
behind In their work. and some divisions
are as much as six months behind.
Thirteen ThOusald Cases Waiting.
I'VE have on hand, In round numbers,
awaiting action, 1900 cases, of which
number 5000 have never been looked at.
In the next four months our business will
largely increase. March, April, May and
June have heretofore been the heaviest
months OF the year, and there is no reason
TO oouot the record will be kept up. So
you SEE. when July comes arounl we will
be hopelessly behind. 1 estimate we will
receive in that time 1900 new cases So it
Is easy to understand how important it is
to have an adequat, force to do the work.
It Is not generally understood what a
large proportion of the government reve-
rue comes from this office. Last year We
covered into the treasury, after paying the
RI nnlng expenses Of the. office. S317, .O5,
and the books Of the treasurer of the United
states show total OF s5O93,6l4.23 paid
to the general government by the patent
office after paying all IT'S expenses. The
Inventors are pEotes ting against the delay.
dbey claim, and very properly. too. they
are entitled to prompt and efficient SER
vice. The government requires them to
pay for the work in advance, and then they
are required to wait fer months before
having their applications ate ndad to. One
thing Is certain, the efficiency of the pat
ent pfhce demands, in the interest of its
clierlts. suitable force: of employees to
prosecute the work intrusted to IT.