Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-31
LAUDS CLERICAL FORCE
FEATURES OF REPORT OF COM
MISSIONER OF PATENTS.

In his annual report, recently published,
Frederick I. Allen, commissioner Of patents,
paid notable tribute to the working force
of his office. He says:
There has been no time in recent years
when the general condition of the work of
this Office has been so good as at the pres
ent time, and this excellent condition has
been brought about in part by the increased
force given to this office upon the LIST Of
July of the year just ended, and also by
systematic and generous efforts the
part Of the examining corps and clerical
force of this Office to improve the condi-
ton of the different divisions.
II feel it a duty to the examiners of this
office to say that many members of this
corps of 800 men have cheerfuIly worked
overtime to this end and have surrendered
leaves which In many cases were due to
Them and that without their personal eff
forts, which were in a high degree gener-
GUS and self-sacrificing, the excellent con-
dition of these divisions which 1 am now
able to report would not have been reached
for many months.
Growth Of the Office.
Attention is called to the growth of this
office during the last seven years. This is
shown by the fact that the number of ap-
plications and caveats filed has increased
in this period by 4S.1 per cent and that
letters patent issued and trademarks
prints and labels registered have increased
57.9 per cent Such regular increase fol-
lows very closely the increase in the num-
Der OF employees in manufa cturing estab-
lishments in the country, and the distribu-
ton of these applications among the differ
ent states and territories is very nearly pro-
portional to the number Of employees en-
gagged in manufacturing in such states and
territories.
1T will be necessary, If this service is to
be maintained in efficiency, to check the
frequent designations of skilled examiners
by increasing their compensation some
what above the present figures. In the last
year designations from the examining corps
OF this office amounted to thirty-two, dis
tributed as follows: Two principal exam
sistants, fifteen third assistants and seven
fourth assistants At the present time the
temptation to resign in order to accept en-
ployment with practicing attorneys or
which have patent departments is not able
to be met by any inducements which this
office can present in the way Of salary.
Asks for Building Adapted for Work.
''The space allotted to the patent office
at the present time is insufficient for the
economic transaction Of it's work and for
the health and convenience Of its employees
The space allotted to some divisions of this
Office Is unfit for their purposes in dimen-
sions as well as in the matter of light and
ventilation. If the patent office could &C.
cupy the whole of the building which it
now occupies in part it would no more
| than suffice for its necessities. I believe
that an amount equal to the accumulated
surplus derived from the operations Of this
office, which Is shown to be a little less
than six and one-half million dollars
might well be expended in the building Of
a permanent satisfactory building adapted
to the requirements of this service and
worthy of a service which is recognized
American national characteristics more
than any other branch of the government
SERVICE"