The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1910-04-08

are admirable" said Mr.. Fish. "The
United States has the finest patent
system in the world. Under the old
British system, which prevails largely
throughout Europe to-day, parliament
rewarded man who brought bust |
ness into the country. He might
have picked up the idea in France or
Germany, or anywhere else. but the
prime purpose of the law was to re-
ward him for increasing the business
of the kingdom. The United States
very wisely established the principle
that its citizens should be encouraged
to think. We granted a man the ex-
elusive right for II years to an in
vention OF his own, on the theory that
If the people were encouraged TO in
vent, the business would take care of
itself. AS result. we were made a
nation of inventors, and we have out.
stripped the world in the field of me-
chanics.
yet we have no system today
whereby inventors or the owners of
patents can be surely spared the
enormous costs and loss of time Incl
dent to endless litigation. would
venture to say. from my own expert
ence, that more than half the patents
which the people have tried to use
have been in litigation at their ex-
piration. The period consumed in
litigation, of course. comes out of the
| life of the patent, and every month of
delay is just so much loss not only
| to the owner. but to the public who
would get the benefit of the patent.
We have industrial concerns in this
country that spend from 100000 to
ss,oOO,00O a year developing patents.
| If the validity of these patents could
be assured promptly. not only would
the gain to their owners be great. but
the value to the people of the United
! States would run into uncountable
millions.
Salaries Not Adequate.
| with issues as great as this at
stake, it would seem that congress
should look broadly at the question
and establish the court on generous
basis. l believe Il salary of $4,000
for the chief justice and $1,000 for
the associate justices is not too great
If we are to have court of patent ap-
peals composed of the ablest Judges
in the country. The present bill pro.
vidcs salaries of $4,000 and $4,000
respectively. This appears to be
large remuneration, but it is not, un-
der the circumstances. fear it is not
adequate to enable the establishment
OF the court on proper basis"
Presidents Forthcoming Tour.
President Taft. who is apparent.
lily extremely fond of travel, not
so much, his friends say, for trav-
els sake. but because he has
thought that he ought to give to the
people personally and by word of
mouth his ideas of government, will
start from Washington March Is on
an eight days journey. 1t is perfectly
true that an outline OF the presidents
speechmaking program, as already
prepared, shows that as far as texts
are concerned, he has chosen only one
great legislative subject ON which to
speak, but if precedent counts for any
thing he probably will say great
many things concerning matters of
legislative moment while talking on
announced subjects that have no par
ticular bearing on legislative matters.
The president will go from Wash
ington to New York, where he will ad-
dress a meeting of the members Of
the Society of Foreign Wars He will
hOy 20 OH krs@%
ism in time Of war and this naturally
will lead to discussion of that high
er patriotism which induces men to
} take an active interest in their coun-
try's affairs in time of peace.
In Chicago the president will ad-
: dress the newspaper men, the Irish
Fellowship club and a great meeting
of persons interested in conserving
the natural resources of the country.
This conservation meeting is the only
one at which MI Taft, as far us his
announcements go, has intimated that
he is to speak on subject which is
before congress for legislation.
Firm Friend of Conservation.
Because of the widespread interest
the charges and countercharges that
have been made by the men who are
involved in the trouble, it is said that
Mr.. Taft fears the people will get the
!. idea that he is not the same firm advo-
cate of conservation that he once was
The presidents friends say it was be.
= cause of his absolute desire that the
natural resources should be saved
that he separated his messages to
congress and gave one over wholly to
: the cause of conservation. This mes
!, sage was sent by itself so that
2 there would be no other matter to
a draw the attention of congress away
' from the prime subject which the
;. president wanted it to consider.
: The president will remain two days
!. in Albany as guest of Gov. Hughes
K After leaving the capital of New York
:, state, Mr.. Taft will go to New Haven
n to attend a meeting of the Yale cor
i poration, of which he is member
: Then he will go to Providence, Rhode
s. Island, to speak to the manufacturing
Jewellers, and from there he will go t.
:. New York to deliver two speeches
e one before a Republican gathering al
S which his speech probably will have
!. a strong political tone. The presiden,
i will be at his White House desk agar
i at noon on March %, to take up once