Evening star., 1920-02-29
AMERICAN
AUT0TRADE MARKS
FROM 'SHARPERS'
Congress Expected to Enact
Law Affecting Nearby
Countries.

eject certain provisions Of the con-
vention for the protection of trade
marks and commercial names, signed
at Baenos Aires. Argentine Republic,
In August, 1910. The bill is expected
to become law very soon.
Prior to thes signing Of this con-
vention for the protection Of trade
marks, American manufacturers seek
Ing to sell their goods in Latin Amer
lean countries found themselves fire.
Quently held up by Sharks" who had
listed the trade marks on the Ameri-
can goods perhaps a few weeks be-
fore the American goods arrived. The
sharks insisted upon payment before
they would permit the American
goods and their trade mark to go
into the trade Of the country.
Under the convention provision was
made for the establishment Of two
International trade mark bureaus. one
at Havana. Cuba, and the other at
Rio de Janeiro. Brazil. The first
handles applications for the registra-
ton Of trade marks from the north
ern American countries. and the sec
ond for the southern American coun-
tries. The pending bill authorizes the
United States to pay its share of the
upkeep of the international trade
mark bureau at Havana and gives the
requisite authority to the United
States commissioner OF patents to
deal with the international registra-
tion bureau.
File seTfade Mark"
In urging the passage Of the bill in
the Senate, Senator Brandegee of Con-
necticut. pointed out that under the
old conditions. a shark" in Cuba or
could, and did, file, for instance, an
application for a trade mark of the
name Of Packard" or pierce Ar
row." Then when Americans sought
to introduce these types of auto
mobiles into the country in question,
their trade marks had already been
granted to the shark" They were
forced to settle with the sharks on
the best terms they could.
Amendments to the federal reserve
act, to carry out recommendations of
the Federal Reserve Board were in
troduced this week in both Senate
and House. Senator Mclean of Con-
necticut, chairman Of the banking
and currency committee, introduced
two bills. one of which, amending
section IA of the reserve act. Is sim
liar to a bill reported to the House
by the banking and currency commit
tee giving the reserve board author
ity to graduate the rates of discount
to be charged by the federal reserve
bank.
The other bill amends the proviso of
paragraph 10 of section OF the re-
serve act 80 that it will read: That
mitted to discount for any state bank
or trust company notes. drafts. or
bills of exchange, of any one borrow :
er, who is liable for borrowed money
to such state bank or trust company
in an amount greater than that which
Ia VT mi
state bank or trust company were II
a national banking association"
The old fight to abolish the sub
treasures Of the United States in
Baltimore. Boston, Philadelphia, New
York, Chicago and other cities was
begun again in the House this week
The House placed in the legislative.
executive and judicial appropriation
bill . provision abolishing these sub
treasuries, and the House banking and
currency committee reported out a
separate bill for the same purpose.
In the Senate the opposition to the
abolition Of the subtreasuries has
in past years.
The bill reported by the House COM
mittee puts an end to the subtreas-
uries July /. 1921. The provision
abolishing the subtreasuries carried
in the appropriation bill, as reported
to the HOUSE, H1eU Tue OAtC 81 DO
cember 81, 1920. But the House adopt
ed the committee bill as a substitute
giving the subtreasuries an extra si1
months to live.
The Secretary Of the Treasury IL
authorised under the proposed legisla-
tion to transfer the duties and func,
tions performed by the assistant treas
urers in charge Of the subtreasuries
to the treasurer of the United States
the mint or essay offices or to the
Federal Reserve Board. All employe.
in the subtreasuries in the classified
civil service who may SO desire. shall
be eligible for transfer to other po'
sftions under the control of the Treas
ury Department, or to positions II
other departments.
The subtreasuries were originally
established as repositories not only OF
trust funds, but of all general FUNDS
Of the government. Gradually and fol
many years their depository fune-
tions have been withdrawn. and ever
before the federal reserve system wa:
adopted most of their functions had
been absorbed by the national banks
The abolition Of the subtreasuries viii
be q real saving to the government.