Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-02-22
PATENT REFORMS
strongly URGED
Commissioner Ewing Cites
Needed Changes in Ad-
ministrative System.
INVENTIONS DECLARED
BASIS OF U. S. SUPREMACY
All Phases of Prevailing Conditions
Reviewed at Patent Law Asso-
citation Banquet. :

Free and frank discussion Of admiais-
trative reforms in the patent office and in
the court procedure dealing with patent
cases marked their addresses delivered At
the annual banquet Of the Patent Law
Association of Washington at Rauscher's
last night. Commissioner of Patents
Thomas Ewing, representing the admin
fstrative; Chief Justice Seth Shepard OF
the District Court Of Appeals. represent
ing the judiciary: Senator 'ndexter Of
WASHINGTON and Representative Morrison
OF Indiana. representing the legislative
branch, and several members of the bar
voiced the unanimous opinion that by CO.
operation alone could the evils that now
exist In the patent system OF the United
States be eliminated
But while criticisng the administration
OF the patent system. the speakers de-
clared that the system was the finest
patent system In the world: that its ad-
ministration was being conducted more
satisfactorily than ever before. and that
the commercial supremacy OF the United
States rested, not on the customs office.
but upon the patent office.
Ewing Cites Defects.
E. H. Bradford. president OF the as
ISOLATION. presided, and introduced the
speakers to the 10 guests about the
board. The first speaker was the COM
missioner of patents. Thomas Ewing
Mr.. Ewing frankly admitted that de-
fects still existed In the administration
he was doing all in his power to remedy
these defects. He said that what the
patent office needed particularly was
larger facilities for handling the work
Of the Office.
He insisted that it would be to the in
terests Of the patent ONCE and of the
general public IL the entire receipts Of
the office were expended upon the ad-
ministration Of this office. He showed
that a surplus OF these patent receipts Of
some $1O.OOO.O00 had been rolled up and
covered into the United States Treasury.
This really amounted to q tax upon the
American people. he said.
Mr.. Ewing said that the severest criti-
cism of the patent system grew out
of some seventy-five cases which have
been pending for the last fifteen years
and were still in the course of litiga-
ton. Let's get rid Of these cases.
and prevent such delays in the future"
urged Mr.. Ewing. "and We will have
done much to remove the criticism Of
the patent system.
Many Cases Handled.
He said that critics of the system did
not stop to consider that while these sew
enty-ive old cases were still tied up the
patent office was handling some 10000
patents q year. Mr.. Ewing asked that
the members of the bar join with the Of
fcials OF the patent Office in getting Con-
gress into the proper frame of mind to
do its share in developing the patent
system and the patent office. new
building for the patent office, or at least
all of the present building now occupied
in part by the office, was greatly needed.
he said. The present quarters are en-
tlrely inadequate. He said that some
100000 copies Of patents are at present
slowed around the building, In constant
danger Of destruction by fire. All this
should be rectified through generous ap-
preparation by Congress. he said.
Representative Martin A. Morrison Of
Indiana, ranking member OF the house
committee on patents in the absence Of
the chairman, Representative Oldfeld.
pledged his earnest support to the patent
office. He admitted that members of
Congress were too prone to pass upon
matters relating to the patent office with
out knowing anything about the system
or its needs.
Basis of Supremacy.
'I have no sympathy with the many
who would destroy the patent system Of
this country" said Mr.. Morrison emphat-
icaIly Abraham Lincoln said of the
patent system that it added .the fuel OF
self interest to the fire of genius. And
he was right 1 firmly believe that the
commercial supremacy of the United
States rests not On the customs Office
but upon the patent office. l will do all
in my power to help make the patent
office great, Independent bureau of the
government"
Chief Justice Shepard of the Court OF
Appeals urged the members of the asso-
citation to personally aid in reducing
the delay with which in many instances
patent cases now drag on before the
courts. The remedy for these delays. he
said. in the last analysis, rested in the
hands of the attorneys trying the cases
themselves. He said that the same could
be said of the delays in litigation of all
kinds today. The efficiency of the judi
ciary in handling quickly the cases be-
fore them depended largely. he said.
upon the attorneys assistance.
Wants Briefs Really Brief.
Tent think that you must spend
your entire life examining one witness in
a case" urged Judge Shepard arguing
against the piling up OF hundreds of
pages Of testimony. which must be gone
over by the members Of the appellate
court. He advised the attorneys to make
their briefs" really brief. as in >the old
days, not long printed arguments con-
tanning great quantities Of irrelevant
matter.
in conclusion Judge Shepard said that
he was inclined to agree with the opin-