The Washington times., 1920-08-09
WHITEHEAD IS
I. PATENT CHIEF
Assistant Commissioner Ap-
pointed Head Of Bureau
BY President.

Robert r. Whitehead, First Assist
ant Commissioner of Patents since
July I, 1916, was appointed Commits
sioner OF Patents today by President
Wilson to NIL the vacancy caused by
the recent resignation OF James I.
Newton.
Melvin Coulston. Assistant Commis-
sioner since August 5. 1919, was ap-
pointed First Assistant to succeed Mr..
Whitehead when the latter assumes
direction over the United States Pat
recess appointments and their nomi-
nations will be sent TO the Senate
during the December session.
Announcement that President Will
son had selected the Commissioner or
Patents and the First Assistant from
nen who had risen from the ranks In
the Patent Office was received with
general approval today by employees
OF the Office.
Is YEARS IN SERVICE.
Both appointees went into the Pat
ent Office about Is years ago as as
sistant examiners. They worked
their way up from grade to grade
until each got into the class or as
sistant commissioners
Mr.. Whitehead's appointment came
az surprise to him to-day He had
not received word from the White
House that he was 10 be appointed
Commissioner OF Patents although he
was told from indirect sources that
his name had been mentioned as
probable successor to Commissioner
Newton, who resigned onicc July 10
last, to enter a private firm.
Mr.. Whitehead will assume control
of the Patents office at one OF the
most critical periods in its history.
Its staff crippled by wholesale resig-
nations, the Patent office Is already
six months behind in it's work and
virtually has stopped functioning.
Mr.. Whitehead and Mr.. Coulston have
been among the most active or the
officials In trying TO BOOST the
morale of the office force, which Is
being handicapped by lack OF appro'
prlations and large number of In
experienced temporarys employees.
ROSE THROUGH EFFORTS.
The new Commissioner Of Patents
entered the Patent Office, February
/, 1902. as a fourth assistant examin-
er. after passing successfully the
most difficult OF all Government
examinations. He came from the
little town OF Lovington, Va. and
went to work with determination
to climb as high as the Government
would let him.
Nj. Nn!tehcld kept going up the
scale until he was made an assist
ant commissioner in May, 1914, and
apDunted first assistant in July l.
1916.
lie was born February 90, 1859, in
Virginia. He IS graduate of the
University of Virginia and also re-
ceived NJ. \. degree from that in
gtitution. For many years Mr.. Whlte-
nc ad has been i member OF the bar
of the District courts and the United
StaiLs Supreme Courts, as, are most
onathc examiners of the Patent Office.
MIR. Coulston's career follows close
ly' that of his chiei. He took the
civil service examination at about the
same time. During the years they
have been employed in the Patent
Office they have been following in
each others steps. lie waj appointcI
from New York.
MIR. CDUlston- was appointed AS
sistant Commissioner August ., 1919,
and his long record of efficiency put
him in place for promotion when
vacancy occurred in the office OF
First Assistant.
1t is probable that the question OF
Mr. WhitchCad's politics VIII come up
in the Senate when his nomination is
received He has been u Democra',
but his appointment was made not for
political reasons but solely on &C.
count of his civil service record. = 1t
is not believed the Republicans Will
make any attempt to oppose the
nomination for that reason. If the
Republicans win in November it may
be a different story.