The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-12-27

June 80, 1897. Al "a. June 50 1872 y IS
The falling OF In ISIS and 1893 IS attri-
buted TO the Spanish war. The commits
sioner of patents explains that when the
war broke out the inventors OF the cOun-
try directed their attention to guns. pro-
jectiles. torpedoes and other military sup
Plies. but before they had accomplished
anything the war was over and the in
osntive for such developments was re-
n.oved. Thus the time and labor en-
ployed by these inventors was practically
lost There was no demand for their in
ventions and therefore they hesitated TO
pay~the fees necessary 10 secure patents.
ard either withdrew their applications or
did not present them at all
Inventors are extremely sensitive 70
Public fads and fashions. said the com
missioner OF patents. The rage just now.
Tor example. is automobiles gas engines
and all forms Of horseleSs carriages. A
few years ago every Inventor in the
country was designing bicycles; then the,
trrned their attention To dynamos and
when the war broke out they dropped
electricity and began TO devise new guns
and forms Of ammunition They invaria-
bly, follow the fashions and whatever
Eappens TO be the rage. and the falling
of in the applications in 1898 and 1870
was because the demand for military
supplies had ceased
THE business of the office this year has
been larger thqa ever before. and particu-
larry in the lines to which YOU ailUde.
ir machinery. electricity. agricultural i'm
Elements. iron and steel Of I'll forms. IN
stead OF retarding invention the trusts
have encouraged IL. inventors are at
work harder now than they ever were
before. Competition iu improvements and
novelties was never so keen. The appli-
cations for improvements in agricultural
implements during the last year have in
creased about % per cent more than ever
before in the same length Of time The
applications for improvements in ma
chinory show on unusually healthy growth
and there is no prospect of its diminish
irg. The applications for improvements
in electricity have been so great that we
have had to divide the work among three
divisions where we only had one before
and 81 per cent OF the increase is in the
veTy lines Of manufacture That are con-
t,olled by what YOU call trusts.
we have another and very embarrass
ing evidence cf the activity OF the trusts
IL, different lines Of inventions" continued
the commissioner. for during the last
seven months they have coaxed away
thirty-fve OF orr best examiners - look
after their patent business. We cannot
keep the best men in this office because
the government pays very poor salaries
compared with those tiat the trusts can
afford TO offer. Nor have we been able 10
fiji the places Of those who have resigned.
although the civil service commission has
held six examinations and We have act-
ually advertised fGr men The ircreasS
/ in business has been so great that last
year congress gave as lot Of additional
examiners. bot The list remains untitled
because we cannot get the tner, J, is
not true that the trusts are discharging
their inventor and patent lawyers. ON
the contrary. they not only come here and
take away our best experts, but they 90
10 the techn0ioSical institutions
throughout the country and offer induce
n:ents % the most proficient members -
the graduating classes every year
Captain Hob<cu has lnally obtained
from the senate committee on naval AZ
fairs favorable report upon his appiica
ton to be retired from the navy with
the rank and pay of captain tie
has been working for this fer three years
and has had the indirect assistance ~
the navy department. although there 81
determined opposition IN corgrssr AKA inst
IL as esta bIishins n bad precedent Sob
cons plea for retirement Is based urou
poor health and weak ewes. bot the navy
department wants "a get r.d ~ him Since
his heroic adventure with the Mefrirnar
h has been ruined Tor practical service
~ public adulation The hcrors inaf have
been conferred upon hina have turned bic
head. and he f. not o7lY unwilling ~ PEI
form the ordinary DUTY % he r. ak. but
his superior officers say that they arc
afraid 10 intrust him with resporsibiii-
ties he IL row on sick leave sslflosci
be too lll n perform his drtles. huf =
srending his tlne ln the most aTlu11s
q occuuatione- that - = traveiirg l--
tlrer lie IS saiI 20 aspire to reef i1
congress. and = pIs ed on thc retired list
v!i q 70 HE cid horne in Siaharns and
s y,,ase a rarrr1fCr