Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-11-10
KAHN BILL SCARE
NEEDLESS, HE SAYS
Former Patent Commissioner
Moore Gives Reinsurance
to Manufacturers.
MAKES FOREIGNERS SAFE
AT SAN FRANCISCO FAIR
Their Inventions Cannot Be Copied
in This Country for a Period
of Three Years.

In a series of letters which almost give
the laugh to the contention of many
American manufacturers that the Kahn
law, providing for the free importation
of exhibits for the Panama exposition.
seriously interferes with the patent rights
of American inventors, producers and
factories, Edward b. Moore, former COM
missioner of patents, expresses the view
that the fears of Americans have the
texture of a nightmare and little else
Writing to Representative Kahn of Cali
fornia. Trainer of the law. Mr. Moore
says:
1T is our earnest opinion that the
hill in its present form is free from de-
fects. and that it safeguards American
interests, while RHording proper and
adequate protection to foreign exhibitors,
and that to change one word by amend
ment at this time, would be considered
an act of bad faith on the part OF the
United States government and would ma
terialIy interfere with. if not destroy, the
success of the Panama-Paciflc lnterna-
tional exposition.
Fears of Manufacturers.
In brief, the American manufacturers,
who have found so much to fear in the
Kahn act, claim that the law IS so writ
ten that a foreign exhibitor may exhibit
an article now made in America, reg
lister il at the branch patent office to be
installed at San Francisco, and by that
simple means prevent the rightful Ameri-
can manufacturer from making his own
goods
Mr.. Moore explains the necessity Tor
the act III these words:
The IanamaP Pacific exposition is an
international affair, and every effort has
been made in this country to stimulate
hibitors. To this end our government has
invited foreign nations to participate IN
this exposition, and has assumed the nos
pitable attitude of the host who under
takes to rovide protection for the prop
erty of the guests beneath his roof.
"As the result of former expositions, at
which the broad protection afforded to
exhibitors by the Kahn bill was lacking.
Widespread and deep-rooted dissatisfac-
ton had grown up abroad,
Threatened It's Success.
Foreign exhibitors claiming their ideas
had been copied and appropriated at
former expositions, were disinclned to
participate at San Francisco unless ade-
quate protection We're afforded. The
very success of the exposition was threat
ened by this unfavorable foreign atti-
tude''
To meet these conditions, 1t Is explain
ed 1.-THE Kahn bill was enacted W tn full
consideration and realization of the poll
cy which it initiated.
American manufacturers objections
We're recently stated to Representative
Kahn by an attorney named Bradford, a
pr me- pal one being as follows:
The bill as passed gives to the pro-
prietor of any certificate of egstration.
copyright, trademark patent issued By
any foreign government exclusive pro-
prietorship in this country in the article.
product or subject protected by such
foreign certificate for period that may
begin July l, 1914. and run until three
years after the date of the closing of the
exposition; and makes it unlaWfu! for
any one in this country to copy or
produce the article or subject matter of
such protection. under fine and impgison-
ment, conIscaton of his goods ana in
Junction.
To this former Commissioner of Patents
Moore replies simply that 1.-The Kahn bill
provides no such sweeping statements.
Provisions Of the Bill.
The fear that foreigners could exhibit
American-made goods and thus secure a
patent them to the detriment of the
manufacturers already dealing in these
same articles is put to rest by Mr.. Moore
in these words:
The Kahn bill provides that it shall be