The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-04-19
PATENT ATTORNEYS
COMPLAIN Of ALIENS
PUBLIC HEARINGS
Strong Feeling That Com
missioner Is Unjust.
DEPUTY is DlSREGARDED
Inventors Said to Be Spreading Dissat-
isfaetion Throughout the Country.
May Injure Administration.

Mutterings deep and earnest are heard
among the local patent attorneys be-
cause OF the way in which cases are
heard by Frederick l. Allen. the Com
missioner of Patents The volume of
The murmurs has been growing fer The
past six months. and it would not be
surprising if it eventually reached the
Secretary of the Interior and the Presi-
dent.
No concerted action has yet been
taken by the patent attorneys, but the
feeling OF unrest may very possibly pro-
dUee some result. according 10 those
who know. unless Mr.. Allen changes his
methods.
The principal grievance against Mr.
Allen Is that he is brusque in manner,
and that even in the most important
cases he does not allow the attorneys
more than a few minutes in which to
present oral arguments in support of
written briefs. The usual allowance is
half an hour
Oral Argument Unreasonably Limited.
The attorneys say that in intricate
ana Weighty trials the time granted for
argument is so short thar il is impos-
sible for an attorney 10 outline, much
less to elHcidate. the points upon which
he bases his contention. IN conse-
quenee the attorneys have to rely en-
tirely upon their briefs. and the HtiganJ
inventors are deprived Of the benefits
best legal talent.
Il has been pointed out by those inter
ested in the matter that the Conmis-
sIoner is trying more than his share OF
the cases, allowing bat few 10 be heard
by the Assistant Commissioner. aud the
attorneys say that this is chiefly the
reason The CommIss4oner finds il nsces-
saTy 10 limit the time Why the Com
missioner should desire 10 hear q dis
pordonate number OF cases. and 50 bring
upon himself more work than is neces-
sarg, IS not known.
Assistant DiSregaraed.
Another charge IS that The Comm:s-
sioner is deriving The assistant OF the
honor Of hearing many OF the cases
sistant is credited only with decisions
which are made when his superior IS out
% the city
One prominent patent attorney said
yesterday
We are nearly ready 10 revolt Al the
manner in which The Commissioner con
ducts hearings. Some patent trials IN
voive important points OF law. practice
and Patent Office precedence which can
not Be fully set forth in a brief. no
matter how clear writer the attorney
may be Furthermore. when an argu-
ment rests entirely on bricf you never
have any certainty how carefully the
brief was considered or whether the
Commissioner thoroughly understood the
contention.
The COMMISSIONS arrogates to him
self power III eurtaiIiag the time for
argument, which UouId be declared
Illegal in court Of law. Aa attorney
VIII be talking sIouE 4 particular line
whom the Commissioner aIIl say:
What Is the point ycu are trying .
explain WiI give rou just ten tor
fHeeul minutes 10 SCI ii forth. aad
that's all
The effect o. such an order is i'm
me5iat ely yss,lisastrous. for the attorney +
il many Instances realizes that ii Isl
impossible 10 do ms client justice iH .
so short time. and Ia some instances !
an uurcasonabIy- limited argument Is
worse than none at all.
Dissatisfaction Is Spreading.
The dissatisfaction Is spreading ali !
over the country. and Is not doing the
Administration any good. Prominent /
patent attorneys IRON Kew York and .
other cities have gone 10 great expense /
20 come 10 washington 10 argue before /
the Commissioner. and have been enraged /
10 fad the time allotted so short that the /
Trip was useless Tire bitter feeling
caused by these incidents ranklcs a long .
lime ana seeds OF discomfort are sown
which VIII be hard TO xiii
Inventors who suffer Al such bearings .
are even more violent In their GrnuBcla- !.
lion Of the ofiiee and the Administration +.
ihan the attorneys. An inventor who docs /
not via his case almost always thinks
the entire world is against him. and when
his attorney tells him fhas the plea WAS
injured because OF fHe Commissioner
action. he becomes sworn saemy OF
everything and everybody in Washing
ton"