Evening journal., 1915-03-30

Foreigners arc at liberty TO open
Offices in the United States and travel
over tho country with samples with
out registration, taxes or molestation
of any kind. Abroad, an American
traveller is not allowed TO put out a
sign, but must hide his personality
behind the name Of an agent. for fear
of the fisc compelling him TO pay taxes
prior TO his achieving any results.
Since the change in our tariff.
prior to the present war. foreigners
were certainly fighting for business
in this country harder than ever be-
fore; they were succeeding TO a great
or degree, their number was increas-
ing. and we put nothing in the way
of their success in building up a con-
tinuously charging business.
"EX-COnsul General Mason, a vet
eran of the Consular service. has stat
cd, that even free Switzerland, so
warm in its welcome when we go
there as tourists. imposes all kinds
of taxes when an American establishes
branches in that most attractive
country.
"The freedom accorded foreigners
from interference by our authorities
Is a decided advantage. which is not
accorded to the American abroad. and
while the foreign press continuously
voices adverse criticism of our GUS
/ tom laws and the method of their en-
/ forcement. they make no mention of
| the courtesy extended TO their travel
ers and other trade advantages, which
| should stand to our country's credit
in future commercial treaties
we should continually insist that
all American products are entitled to
at least the same treatment accorded
/ to those of competing countries. and
that nothing short of this can be re-
/ garded as satisfactory to American
interests.
In view of future commercial ne
gOtiations. the liberaliiy of our patent
laws seem to me to demand restric-
ton, since the leading industrial
countries of Europe have enacted pat
ent laws placing the American inven-
tor at great disadvantage when
compared with the position OF the for
eign inventor in the United States.
In the United States the foreign
inventor is required to pay but one
fee upon the registration Of the pat
ent, without the imposed obligation
for working of the patent in the
| United States. In England, France
and Germany. the American inventor
is compelled to pay an annual fee. in
many cases on a constantly increas-
ing scale
THE foreign inventor in the United
States can assure TO himself the I'M
restricted monopoly of the sale of his
article during a period of seventeen
years, while manufacturing the same
in his own country, and therefore ia
the advantage of his own country $
export trade.
per contra. the American inventor
can only assure the monopoly of his
patent right abroad by manufacture
ing Hereunder in the foreign coun.
try in which he has taken on
his patent, and thereby depriv
ing the United States of an ar
ticle which might have been export
ed. TO the disadvantage of the en-
ployment of labor in the United State
and of the enlargement of such in
dustry.
Should the American inventor b
without means to establish the manu-
/ facture Of his patent in a foreigl
country, and be forced 10 dispose o
same. he might then find himself II
, direct competition with a foreigl
manufacturer in such countries wher
patent rights cannot be enforced. a
is the case in the valuable markets o
, South America, South Africa and tn
, Far East
, Therefore il seems necessary tina
the United States should make ID
, patent laws more in accordance witt
those OF competing countries. or o
. countries with which we may hav
commercial treaties, and falling 4
, do so. the liberality of our paten
+ laws should be taken into considera
, ton when new commercial treatie
! are to be made.
"The wisdom of such measures /
! fully evident II we wish TO increas
: the scope Of our exports. give sta
4, bility to our great industries, an
= insure the employment of skille
. American labor.
. MY time abroad being limited, an
unable TO go 10 Berlin. / was in cor
r. respondcnce with Ambassador Gerar
4 who likewise, has taken a deep in
n terest in the subject, and has ha
. numerous conferences with the Gel
n man ministry thereupon
4 Eve reached the conclusion that fc
n the time being II was best not to brin
a up any specific matters for real
n rangcment, but that the proper tim
TO take up the matter as who'll
would be upon the formulation {
> new commercial treaties.
J. mo doubt We will have fcwC
Z difficulties in the making of new con
u mercial treaties than VIC would hay
= had. had this regrettable war in El
Il rope not taken place. but irrespe'
u tive OF what the results abroad ma
! be- il seems TO me that VIC must stan
/ pat on the proposition that in III
negotiations for new treaties Wit
If foreign powers We will only ents
l. into them upon the primary conside
e alton that the United States receiv,
l. the benefits of the most favored M
c tion clause
Is "Wc should be keen to extend OF
al influence and distribute our mani
a features to all parts Of the worl
lie without any handicap being plac,
Re upon US in such distribution.
( "In placing this matter before yc
n for your consideration. I am not url
l. ing any new legislation. for / fe,
as no doubt you likewise do, that Il
i wide spread realization Of the ia
E. that over-legislation and too mu,
3, making Of the business of the matte
X into the nations business, results
Generalization of business and id
a hands. and the general feeling is, tn