The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1919-05-20
The v. s. Patent System


Mostly everybody, at some time in
their life, has worked out an inven-
tion, and a good many of the invent
ors have sought protection from the
patent office. 1t has been claimed that
the Bessemer converter process dou.
bled the wealth of the world.
A few years ago the Japanese gov.
ernment sent commissioners to the
United States to discover why we were
growing so great and rich, and the
report was rather enthusiastic, for it
said: "There is the United States not
much more than 100 years old, and
America not discovered by Columbus
until 400 years ago. What is it makes
the United States so great nation?
We investigated and found that 1t was
patents-and we will have patents"
Doubtless the Japs made a good
guess-they seem to, usually! Ameri-
cans will, themselves, admit that ours
Is nation of great inventors" and
when we have time to stop and think
of it we can marshal up all sorts of
enthusiasm for our Ell Whitney, Full
ton, Howe, Morse, Bell, Edison, NC
Cormick, Wright, and others. In retro.
spective moments we glory in the
wondrous benefits that have been
brought to the country by tht cotton
gin, the reaper. the sewing machine,
the steam and gasoline engines, the
locomotives, the steamship, the tele.
graph, the telephone, the automobile,
the trolley car, the electric light, the
dynomo, the printing press, and smelt.
ing furnace, and other mechanical
marvels.
Congress Is Tightwad
According to recent statement is.
sued by the patent Office Society,""
as protest against the neglect of
the urgent needs of the Patent Office
by Congress, here was on January /,
1919, q met surplus accumulated of
inventors money of $S,15O,464." Thus
1t appears that the Patent Office is
one of the Governments money-mak-
ers. notwithstanding which, the Socie-
ty is compelled to make the shameful
admission that the Patent Office is
run down at the heel"
Just why Congress has taken away
the straw that softens the nest of
the American goose that lays so many
golden eggs of science and industry.
we are unable to state. But things
must be pretty desperate when 1t is
necessary for a society of officials and
employees of the Government,to depart
from the usual methods, and appeal
TO the press and the public to bring
about effective pressure to bear upon
Congress to give it proper facilities"
When one goes on personally con-
Quoted tour" of Washington-as hap.
pens very, very frequently, the resi-
lent conductor" will likely point to
The exterior of the Patent Office, but
If you are his friend he is not apt to
take you inside. Possibly this is be.
cause it is mostly collection of
files, papers and documents, and rath-
or uninteresting, But II is more than
that-and that's why its inmates are
making their present protest it's
pretty close to what somebody once
described as a "hurrah's nest"
The Patent Office is regarded as a
liretrap, and its-priceless records are
not properly housed or protected. For
years Congress has denied sufficient
appropriations for cvch necessary
and efficiency in carrying
on the work. The result Is that inven.
-orS need the patience of job, or of the
maiden who stood Waiting at the
because of the frequent inter.
mediate delays that occur in getting
matters through" The Patent Office
pulls off the lid, and declares that it's
good money, earned in the collection
of fees, would be sufficient for every
purpose of the Patent Office. But these
funds are converted into the United
States Treasury, and Congress has
grown into the habit of making mig
gardly appropriations for the mainte.
nance of this great feature of Govern.
mcnt systems.
Congress acquires habits that be.
come chronic, and unfortunately for
the Patent Office. is is one of the vic.
times. The patent Office Society" dc
serves to be supported in the reforms
1t is trying to bring about.
"No Patent, No Fee"
One of the long standing abuses in
the relations of the public towards
the patent system is the method of
patent lawyers who take cases on the
basis of mo patent, no fee" Most of
his ilk may be put down in the com.