The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1920-12-28
SEE JOKER IN
PATENT BILL
ImperiIs Private Business, Is
Claim of MISUNDERSTANDING
Set for January 5.

Another alleged legislative Joker
IN the Patent Office dill is stirring
up q storm Of protests from patent
attorneys and manufacturers. who
declare II provides a means whereby
the Government can compete with
private business in the manufacture
of patented articles.
WANT WEDDING OUT.
Coupled with a second amendment
injected into the bill by the Senate
which bestows arbitrary powers upon
the Commissioner of Patents, the OPP
ponents OF the bill are bringing every
influence to bear upon Congress 10
have the legislation weeded OF dan
gerous obstacles to private business.
As a result of the cutlery. Senator
Brandegee of Connecticut. one or the
Senate conferees on the measure. has
succeeded in opening the conference
doors to persons who feel themselves
injured by the terms Of the bill
Difficulties will be threshed out at
q hearing before the House and SEN
ate conferees January 5. Everybody
who believes he has grievance Is
invited to appear.
"The best thing to do is to let them
night II out between themselves" said
Senator Brandegee.
BRANDEGEE NEUTRAL.
Senator Brandegee declared he was
taking no sides in the issues raised
by opponents OF the legislation. Con-
gresham Nolan of California, chair
man Of the House conferees, Is alb
sent from the Capitol. but is expect
ed to return in time for the hearing.
Opponents of the bill assert the
alleged "joker" gives the Government,
through the agency of the Federal
Trade Commission. power to take out
patents in it's own name and engage
! in competition with private business.
They protest ii is elastic enough to
permit examiners in the office of the
! Commissioner of Patents to discrim-
: mate against applications for patents
= filed with the office, and offers strong
temptations to steal patent rights.
Congressman Davis of Tennessee,
one OF the House conferees, is a
staunch defender of this particular
section of the bill. He declares
empha tically there is not the slight
est chance Of patent grabbing
under the bill.
The government can take over
patent, he declares, only when it is
voluntarily rendered by an inventor.
and this precaution is amply safe
guarded in the section of the Dill.
EXPLAINS PURPOSE.
The real purpose of the section, he
holds, is to enable the Government
to encourage it's highly trained
scientists by giving them the right
to take out patents. 1t is regarded
as highly essential by the heads OF
the various departments for the Gov
eminent to develop certain ideas
worked out by it's scientists ooth AS
a war and peace measure. SUB
stantially this same power, he main
tanned. is conferred on the Govern
ment in a bill reported unanimously
from the House Patents Committee
during the last session.
Mr.. Davis does not recognize the
loop-hole for executive abuse under
the other joker, which gives the
Commissioner of Patents indiscriml-
nate power to bar attorneys from the
Patent Office. He defends this. how
ever, by declaring it is necessary to
protect inventors and manufacturers
from "quack" patent attorneys, who
are incompetent and prey upon inno-
cent victims.
A vigorous fight is looming in Con-
gress in view of the opposition to the
proposed legislation. While 1T Is
hoped the hearing on January VIII
remove many objections, it is possible
the conference report will be roughly
handled when it finally comes to
vote in both houses.