Norwich bulletin., 1920-05-11
WASHINGTON AFFAIRS
Special to The Bulletin.)

Washington, D. C., May 1u.--Ts,e work of the coast guard and the serious sis'l-i ation in which it finds itself on accohntl of shortage in personal was the tcpic cfl congressional discussion this week. Thei situation was described as most seriousi on account of the lack of men to mani the vessels, and because many of thel men available are below the high stand-l ard fixed for such hazardous work as is required of them. The coast guard has been compelled to place a number of it's cruising cutters out of commission because there are not sufficient men to man them During the past nine months the coast guard has rendered assistance to vessels and cargoes whose value amounted to the enormous sum of $55,- 100000. There were on board these ves- sels between 5000 and 1000 persons, and more than 2,000 persons have been rescued from positions of actual peril through the instrumentality of the coast guard. These most impressive figures do 1 not include the various items of mis- | cellaneous assistance that the crews of vessels and stations of the coast guard | are constantly rendering The number of enlisted men required l properly to man the units of the coast guard is 5,745, and there are. today only 2,709 enlisted men in the service, a short | l age of 2,03e existing. Tn feSdfQ to COHlmlSSlOneQ OIllCerS, the number authorized by law in the coast l guard is 270. There are today only PIP l officers.
 The coast guard needs about 70 cadets 1 for training at the Coast Guard Acade- I my at New London to become commits I stoned officers. An examination has just l been held, after being given wide pub licity throughout the country. From this examination it is found that not more 1 civ 1atc ohfainohla tions in the coast guard as regards en- I listed personnel are fully as bad as those | confronting any of the other military services.
 I Better pay and other inducements to ,l make men enter that branch of service
 were urged by members discussing the
 situation.
 Il Congressman Tilson has in preparation
 a bill which is framed for the purpose 4 of assisting American owners of patents
 and trade marks in filing the necessary papers in foreign countries. With for eign trade, the resumption of trade with , Germany and filing of American patents in that country, together with the thous- I and and one other commercial problems to be met in the near future connected l with reconstruction work, MT. Tilson has come forward with a suggestion for leg tslation in the interest of patent owners l WHICH IHe department OI SJdI6 D6IGFeS 9 will be of value in promoting foreign l trade. The Tlson plan is to give add ' ed authority to American consuls located at the 65 foreign capitols with which we have patent relations and have them D take the place of foreign attorneys in
 preparing and filing the necessary pa : pers to protect pat)ent rights and trade f marks
 He would give the consuls the neces- l n he nal lxe
 the returns to the United States, instead of having it devolve on foreign attor- e neys. It would save patent owners much 1 time and much money, as the fees paid
 are frequently large One firm alone
 ] is known to have spent $15,000 for sucf z work in one year. Mir. TilsonS plar II I has the approval of the state depart y ment if it can be made workable and e this government fully protected as to re- l. sponsibility. Col. Tison has been il ,e conference with department officials ant = will be assisted by them in framing tht ,ti bill which he proposes to introduce ir 'A congress.
 n The consent of foreign government, a must be obtained but it is expected ther 70 would be but little difficulty, as the plai l. would be reciprocal, and the matte n could be arranged either by treaty o ;r other diplomatic negotiations
 The state department has informed
 Col Tilsen that it believes the paper n should be prepared in this country ant C. then forwarded to the consuls, ant it would also have it made clear that ther to Is a disavowal of any obligation di ,e rect of implied that would require a con
 sul to become legally responsible for tn
 government in protecting it against an action of validity regarding the doeu w ments in question: The state departmen is also stipulates other precautions and de i'll tails which should be arranged for th hs protection of conslIls. It believes sue
 i a system would eliminate fees, now s ae heavy to patent and trade mark owner tvi It was suggested to Col. Tilson that oI .s position to the plan might come frol - foreign resident attorneys now reapin at 8 rich harvest of fees. The state d, in pertinent assured Col. Tilson it VIZ i'll anxious to cooperate in whatever wou he be of service to manufacturers and bu ry mess iterests. The Tilson bill will
 carefully prepared and then submitted
 patent authorities before it is presen 'ee ed to congress and the legal definition lat of technical terms will be made clear 'n- The duties pay and chances of pr al- motion in the consular service has be, nd brought to the foreground this yea r,, Rogers of Massachusetts has urged be '-. pay and an interchange of consular al 4ie diplomatic opportunities, under certa II circumstances with the view of Securil ay men of the right type to enter the co sx- sular service.
 to There is much dissatisfaction a ing criticism here in republican ranks ov yill the appointment of former Gov. McC;
 of Massachusetts to the tariff comm bor sion. McCall's repubicanism has be tS questioned ever since he lost Massach
 setts republican seat in the senate In working against the reelection of Se re- ator Weeks, and who has since be lew reckoned as the chief factor in sendi
 to the senate democrat from the B
 State for the first time in more than fiji
 years. Mccall never forgave his pal
 for defeating him for the senate when ray and Senator John W. Weeks were ca
 running for the office. In spite of 1
 fact that Weeks insisted his men shol ght turn to and elect Mccall as governor t on-i terms-which they did, much agai
 their will-MeCall held to personal I
 terness and did much to split the tic in- when the 1918 election was held a but weeks up TOT re-e!ec11oh; I anu tne 5
 l Is regarded here as a low tariff m the .Io; i t,,e "t.i, 'a..;e sn't Vii, e',-e s-'' 1.-laIv in eoanstrI,ot;
 measures in congress. His confrmat
 is likely to be held up for some tir
 to but it is too early to predict whether to will be rejected. Probably it will
 pigeonholed in committee until the str
 of the work on hand is over-and t was Is far away.
 null Senator Mclean. as chairman of
 committee on banks and currency