Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-05-17
ROOM FOR THE INVENTORS
Need for Relieving the Crowded Condition
Of the Patent Office,
Commissioner DueI Declares That an
Entire Building lie Hanted-Ne-
chanicaI Engineers' RESOLUTIONS

The American Society of Mechanical En-
Eir.ers. at Its annual meeting, held last
week in this city, adopted resolutions
directing its members to urge upon Con-
gress the necessity of relieving the present
overcrowded condition of the patent office
and providing sufficient room. force and
facilities for the prompt and proper execu-
ton of its work.
Better acconmOda tons for the patent of
flee library were advocated and the use of
the entire building by the patent office was
favored.
What Comm fssiOner DueII Says.
When a representative of The Star called
the attention of Commissioner DUEL of the
patent office to the resolutions, the latter
said:
1t is a cause for congratulation to all in
terestcd in our patent system when such a
distinguished body Of men thus strongly
express themselves.
The society has a membership of nearly
two thousand and is representative Of all
the engineering and manufacturing estab-
lishmcnts Of the country. Their action Is
indicative Of the very strong sentiment now
existing among those who keep abreast of
tHs tlneS. that whatever is needed 10 keep
the American patent system at tine front
should be promptly and chcerfulIy granted
by Congress. Every intelligent man,
watching the increase of our exports of
manufactured articles. readily admits the
Ge'ut owed to the patent system Some one
has APPLY said that American inventors. by
their inventions and discoveries have made
the last fifty years the most remarkable of
recorded time
Referring especially to the needs of the
patent Office. I feel that the most pressing
reed is for additional room. We need a
bui.tLHg as large as the patent office build
ing II We cannot have that building We
should have one equally cummOdiOus. If
We had that building our present force
would be almost sufficient to enable US to
promptly do our work. Many of our rec
OIuS are almost Inaccessible. and by reason
OF Jack or sufficient space so arranged that
II requires double the time it ought 20 find
them Then. too. a freprOOf structure
should he erected in which to store those
records that cannot be replaced. The legal
title to millions Of dollars Of property would
be je0Pdrdized by the destruction OF our
assignment records. for many of the orig
maj assignments have heTn lost by their
owners. who depend upon copies certified
by our office. Many sparsely settled Coun-
ties provide firsUroof structures for the
housing Of their records relative To real
estate 1t surely IS not asking too much of
Congress to do as much for the safety OF
our more important records.
Scientific iibrary's Needs.
We need many additions to our scientific
library It now contains many books that
are Of no value to our special work and
Yet last winter Congress would not give me
authority To dispose of such books and use
the proceeds 10 purchase other books OF
real value for our special work. No active
opposition was interpgsei. but merely a
Discrimination 70 give any attention to Iegis-
lait"n relative to the patent office. This
spirit of apathy will disappear when such
organizations as the American Society Of
Mechanical Engineers put their shoulders
To The wheel.
TIE work required Of our examiners is
~ q tech:Hcal ana scientific nature. and in
adequate salaries are paid. with the result
that many resign 70 90 into active practice
In j." branch Of the pubic service Is It
more essential that the best talent attalna-
BILE should be secured and retained. This
can only he done by the payment of salaries
that command such talent
1t IS not tax on the public for the pat
ert "tiic" receives more money annually
than It pays out II Is sometimes said that
The federal government has but two sources
Of r-Eelue- taxation and the patent office
AZ all events ! am gratitied to note the in
irrt~t now being taken by scientific and
trade organizations in the efforts made 10
Keep this bureau abreast Of the progress
IN the mechanical and manufacturing arts
Of the day"