The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-12-04
LASH CONGRESS-
.FORNEGLECTOF
PATENT OFFICE
lawyer Association Charges
That 60, 900 Applications
Arc Being Delayed.

A sweeping Indictment Of Congress
was made yesterday for its politics
and failure to provide adequate funds
to carry on the work Of the United
States patent office here In Wash
ington." by the American Patent
Law Association. composed OF wash
ington patent attorneys.
1t 10 charged that the work OF the
patent office has been seriously IN
terfered with because members OF
Congress, with their thorough ep-
probation of the farmer vote" have
refused to provide the necessary
funds to carry on the work. "wnre
approprir lions have been lavished on
the Department Of Agriculture.
Manufacturer. who are interested
In the issuance of patents. nave en-,
dured an intolerable situation untii
their patience Ia exhausted ana tney
are now determined to secure rehel
from the conditions which nave 70
seriously interferec with the progrcss
of business enterprise In the Uniteo
States by taking their appeal 10 the
people," the association declares.
ss,oOs Applications Walt.
Patent attorneys in washington
cite the fact that the work OF the
Patent Office has increased enormouh-
iy, even in the past three YEAR,. Three
wears ago the office received an ave.
age of $500 patent applications DIT
month, while now more than f'vVO
cases are received each month. 10
take care of this additional work II 70
charged that only five and one-nan
per cent increase in personnel nas
been made ''at hopelessly inadequate
salaries.
There are now nearly $4,000 appli.
cations awaiting action which cannot
receive their first consideration Tor
year, and there appears to De no TO
lief in sight under the dilatory metn-
DDS now employed by Congress-, the
association declares.
Az an example Of the salaries paid
officials of the department., the asso-
citation cites comparison OF figures
showing that while there are more
than forty employees In the Depart
ment of Agriculture. exclusive OF ex.
ecutives, who receive more than $1,000
a year, patent examiners are being
paid salaries ranging from $1.500 to
1t is charged that II cmbers OF Con-
gress, interested in forusyinG their
position in Congress. are constantly
on the alert for the farmer vote. Sc
curing same through lavish expendi.
lures in the Department OF Agricul-
ture, while manufacturers are being
seriously embarrassed due to the
slowness Of the Patent Office in pass
ing on patents"
Litigation Drags.
Patent litigation, II Is alleged. 10
clogging the Court of Appeals. having
uuadrupled in the past five years, be-
cause, under the stress Of expedience.
patents are hastily passed upon mere
ly to be thrown back into the courts
requiring years Of litigation and sx.
pense to the manufacturers.
All Of this. It Is alleged by the asso-
oiation. In directly chargeable to Con
yress, for its total and constant re-
fusal to provide the necessary money
to carry on the work Of the Patent
Office" -
This condition OF affairs win not I've
remedied until the commercial and
manufacturing interests impress uron
Congress the fact that they are en-
titled to better treatment" the law
association declares, demanding that
Congress pass legislation which has
for three years been under considera-
tion for the relief of the Patent Office.