The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-09-05
CHEMISTS GREETED
 BY TAFT FROM CHAIR
President Is Disabled By
 Sprained Ankle
AMERICANS
Austrian Scientist Says Americans Have Accomplished as Much in 100 Years as Europeans in
 2D0U--Nolable Spealels

Washington, September 1.-The Pres ident of the United States today greeted from wheel chair he delegates to the eighth International Congress of Applied Chemistry. which was opened here this morning. to be continued in New York, beginning Friday
 The principal event of the day was a garden party on the White House grounds in honor of the delegates fem foreign nations. There President Taft, disabled on account of sprained ankle and a slight attack of gout welcomed his guests. Late in the afternoon the President spoke briefly to the delegates in the east room of the White House. Later he was wheeled to the lawn, where he shook hands with the visitors, smilingly apologizlng because he could not rise to greet them.
 owing to his inJured~. .nkle the Pres ident was unable to address the dcle- gates In Continental han earlier it he day as he had planned to do imme- lately after his arrival from Beverly. The opening session of the congress was presided over by Dr. William II. Nichols of New York
 Tribute to American Chemists
 At this session pr. Rudolph Weg schneider of Austria declared that American chemists had accomplished in the last 100 years as much European chemists have in 2Oo0 years. Rapid strides made by American chemists also were alluded to by pr. E. W. Nor ley, honorary president of the congress. who was introduced by the president of the body. pr. William II. Niehols of New York.
 America now" he said. has some of the greatest scientists of the world within its borders"
 President Nichols spoke of the work being carried on by chemists and pre- dicted that the serious work of the con gross to begin In New York Friday would be helpful to the scientists Of all nations. FHt
 Sir William Ramsey of England, Dr. Jokichiro Emori of Japan Professor Walden of Russia, Commanditore Giacome Ciamcian of Italy, Dr. Sam uel Evade of Norway. and other scien- lists made brief addresses. Tomorrow the scientists will spend in sight see ing
 The President Speaks
 In his address to the delegates in the east room President Taft discussed the great importance of chemical re- search and It's value to the world, and he -dwelt particularly upon q discus sion of the patent question, obsery- ing that there is great room for i'm provement in the United States patent office
 .I observe" said the President, "thss in your various divisions you discuss different questions not peculiarly chem ical. I note consideration of the question of patents--what patents ought to include, and what kind of patent system ought to be adopted by each government. t.n
 Patents have played a very great part In the development of the United States. and we have given to patentees a very valuable monopoly for the pur- pose of discovering by their industries new methods of accomplishing useful results. Whether We have made the monolopy too, great or not Is now the subject of consideration by commits sion provided for by Congress There is certainly great room for improvement in the machinery of our patent office, and it would bo well if more value could inhere In the issuing of patent as an evidence of real property. Now, however. until patent has been fought through the courts. people do not seem to regard 1t as of great deal oi monopoly value"