Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-03-15
RESIGNED HIS OFFICE
or PATENTS TO RE-
sUME PRIVATE PRACTICE.
of the Bureau Effected
by the Retiring COmmissioner-
Work Up to Date.

Charles H. Duell, commissioner of pat
ents rendered his resignation to the Presi-
dent this morning, to take effect upon the
appointment and qualification of sue
cessor. Mr.. Duell hopes that his success
sor may relieve him of the duties of the
Office by April 1.
The reasons prompting Mr.. Duell to re-
sign is his desire to return to the practice
of the law, which he says Is work more
congenial and remunerative than the du-
ties which as commissioner of patents he
is called upon to discharge. He will not
re-enter private practice at Syracuse, his
old home, but will go to New York city.
Mr.. Duell was appointed commissioner
time the work Of the Office was largely. in
arrears There were in round numbers
$4,000 applications awaiting action: upon
entrance into the Office Commissioner
Duell took immediate steps to obtain from
Congress authorization for an additional
force and through persistent efforts he
succeeded in June. 1898. in getting the in
crease of force required. This enabled the
patent Office to bring the work of examf-
nation up to date, and to keep 1t there.
With the additional force it was possible
to establish the division of classification.
This division is now engaged In reclassi-
flying the 100, 600 United States patents
and over 100000 foreign patents.
By the introduction of the book type
writer in recording assignments and other
papers Commissioner DUEL practically
doubled the efficiency Of the corps of clerks
engaged in that division of the labor of the
office
One of the improvements planned by Mr.
Duell contemplates new quarters for the
scientific library. This is to be fitted with
steel book stacks and other f1reproof fix
lures. 1t was upon the urgent recommend
alton of Mr.. Duell that Congress appropri-
ated 5000 for this work.
Mr. DUEL also secured an Increase IN the
annual appropriations for the law library
of the patent office and substantial In
crease In the salaries of the chief clerk.
law clerks and copyiStS.
Mr.. DUEL said to a reporter for The Star
this afternoon that such improvements as
had been made during his term of office
were to a large extent due to the cordial
support received from Mr.. Bliss while Sec
rotary of the Interior, from Secretary
Hitchcock and from all the members of the
Office force. He said: "a more faithful
and Jealous corps of officials than these in
the patent office cannot be found in any
other bureau of an executive department
of the government"
He said also that much remains to be
done to make the patent office more eff
Gent aid to inventors and manufacturers
Congress, he said, is awakening to the i'm
portance and value of the patent system,
and it would be possible for his successor
in Office to accomplish more than it had
been within his power to do.
Several important changes will be caused
by the retirement of Mr.. DUEL. In prac-
tice at New York he will have associated
with him Mr.. w. A. Megrath, for many
years, and at present, law clerk to the
commissioner of patents, and Mr. F. A..
Warfieid, an examiner in the patent office.
Walter H Chamberlin, assistant commits
sioner of patents, is an applicant for the
Office which Mr.. Duell has resigned. He
has long been connected with the patent
office, and his application is looked upon
with favor by representative inventors and
patent attorneys. He is recognized as a
man of ability In the matter of patent law,
and as one who is familiar with the BUSH
ness and methods of the office.
1t is understood that the new commits
sioner will be one recommended by the
New York senators.