New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-09-05
Welcomes the Delegates.

Then nc spoke TO them in the East
Room. and later went TO the lawn in
wheel chair Mr.. Taft said, in part:
! have much pleasure in welcoming
YOU ON behalf of the government ana
people Of the United States, 10 Washing
ton I sincerely hope that your stay IN
this capital may be an agreeable one
Yours is one of those important inter-
national congresses that mark the great
progress which has been made in re-
search and application of newly dis
covered principles i'm most important
science and art. II there be any Science
that goes 10 the heart OF the matter II
is chemistry. Dealing with atoms ana
molecules and their association and the
manifestations Of their action upon each
other, chemistry seems at one time thc
most al,stl1iSc 0t sciences, and then. when
We soc il applied i'm the great modern
factories OF Germany and other countries
IL the manufacture OF those elements
which are essential TO the success OF the
Industrial arts, We are made 10 know
that the extent Of the science from the
theoretical 90 the practical is wider than
that Of any other.
! observe that in your various DIVISIONS
YOU discuss many different questions not
PECULIARLY chemical I note cOnSidcra-
ton of the question # patents: what pat
eniS ought TO include, and what kind OF
patent system ought TO % adopted py
each government. Patents have played "a
very great part in the development Of the
United States. and We have given to pat
eutces q very valuable monopoly for the
purpose Of discovering By their industries
new methods Of accomplishing useful re-
suits Whether We have MADE tniT
monopoly TOO great or not is the sub
ret Of consideration by commission
provided FOR by Congress.
There Is certainly great room Tor I'M
prove nent in the machinery OF our pat
mi Office and il would be well If NOR"
7alue could inhere in the issuing OF
patent as an evidence Of real propSf'E.
Now. however. until . patent mas betn
fought through fine courts. people 90 MOI
seem 10 regard it as Of a great deal oil
monopoly value.
I may add that one Of the great OPP
portunities for reform. i'm my judgment.
Is IN the shortening of patent ntcaton
and the reducing Of it's expenditure.
know very little about chemistry, DIV
know good deal about patent ntlsa-
lion. ! know the amount OF money lhdt
has been unnecessarily wasted 5no inc
Inequality that has been produced BE-
tween the rich iitigant and tho poor litl-
CANT by reason of the unnecessary 'A
pense Of that litigation. This - one OF
Inc things that calls for an immcdlate
'cmedy
Il is not essential that VIC should make
, record Of 1900 printed pages AZ NJ 2
las for experts and 500 q day FOR patent
aNyers. have no objection 10 c%pern-
have no objection 10 patent iaWy"Tr.
BAT think VIC can have too much oi
10th OF them.
The secretary and regents OF the Smith
sonisn Institution gave reception at the
National Museum tonight with the visit
Ing chemists rs guests
American Chemists Praised.
The opcning session Of tho congress was
presided over by Or. William VI. Nichols
o. New York At this session Or. I;u-
dolph Wegschneider. Of Austria, declared
that American chemists had accomplished
in the last one hundred years as much as
European chemists had in two thousand
years. Rapid strides made by American
Chemists also were alluded to by Dr.
J. W. Morley honorary president Of the
congress.
European nations" said Or. Morley
had made wonderful advances in chem
siry at the time OF the discovery OF
America. america AT first was too busS
building mp nation TO study chemistry
but it now has some Of the greatest
SCIENTISTS Of the world within its borders.
President Nichols in his address to the
Congress spoke Of the work being CARR %
on by chemists and said that although all
branches OF science had gone ahead rap
aly In the last fifty years. he felt thal
none had shown greater improvement
'nan chemistry. He predicted that inc
senous work OF the congress, 10 begin IN
New York on Friday would he helpiui
70 The scientists Of all nations.
or William Ramsay Of England; Ut
SoEehiro Emori. Of Japan; Professor
walden, OF Russia; Commanditore Ga
come Ciamician. OF Italy; Or. Samuel
Eyado, Of Norway, and other scientists
made brief addresses.
The scientists will spend tomorrow In
ssntseeing leaving late in the day for
New York