Evening star., 1932-04-11

subjected to such constant and bitter
attack. In so far as the object of this
attack is to improve the service, it
should be welcome, fer the service al
ways needs improving and there may
be no other way to bring about this
end"
From his personal observation run
ming over a period of 40 years. the
speaker declared that almost every one
who has served in the Office has a GER
tain feeling of affection for it.
This, he said, was due to the fact
that the work was intensely interesting
and one of the prime factors that
create the interest is the fact that every
man who comes there with an inven-
ton believes he has attained to a point
OF advantage over the whole world: has
created something that will prove of
benefit to mankind without injuring or
affecting any. The disappointments
are many, but in each instance the
conception has come to the inventor
with thrill"
Mr.. Ewing praised the members of the
examining corps, who, he said, are ex-
pected to gather all the art known in
any time and cline and apply 1t swift
ly and accurately to all applications
presented for examination. He eSti-
mated that each assistant examiner
must examine nearly 200 patents every
year. 1t may be doubted whether 700
men in the whole world could be found
who could perform fully the task that
is imposed upon the Office, he declared.
The Patent Law Association leader
paid tribute to the late Edward Henry
Knight. author Of the American Mechan-
ical Dictionary, as being the most re-
markable man who has ever served in
the Office. He cited the many interna-
tional honors bestowed upon Mr.. Knight
before he was forced to resign by the
Secretary of Interior in 1873 because
his place was wanted by some one who
doubtless measured up better to that
politicians standard"
Tenure Permanent
Because of the civil service law, he
declared, no such incident could be re-
peated today. He pointed out that there
are l3 positions in the Office to which
appointments are made by the Presi-
dent of the United States. Tradition,
he saiI. is making the tenure of these
places permanent, to the great improve
ment of the service.
In this respect Mr.. Ewing cited the
service of Commissioner Robertson, who
has been in cff1ce l3 years, enjoying
the respect of the Office force, the bar
and of Congress"
In his service" Mr. Ewing added,
"he has broken one tradition hope will
never again obtain. namely, that a
commissioner serves on an average of
about two years. Mr. Robertson, it will
be seen. has filled the place of five men,
and he has accomplished more toward
3 rt E1A aPH 70 II
better state than any five men, serv-
ing in rapid succession, could have ac-
! complished
| This afternoon at 2 o'clock the in
/ ventors and patent law attorneys re-
/ assembled at the Commerce Depart
ment Building and attended a reception
| in the Patent Office wing. Later this
section of the building was thrown open
TO the public, with Commissioner
Robertson and his staff acting as hosts.
/ Besides Mr. Robertson, the visitors
were greeted by Assistant Commission
/ ers w, A. Kinnan w. j. Moore and F.
/ M. Hopkins. Other members of the
executive staff present were T. A.
Hostetler j. A. Brearley, F. C. Skinner,
| w S. Ruckman, E. Landers, w. L.
/ Thurber. w. L. Redrow. E. P. Edinburg.
/ P. P. Pierce. E. T. Morgan, j. w. Cliff
and r. F Whitehead
Later in the afternoon the delegates
! placed Wreaths on the memorials to
/ Washington, Lincoln, Jefferson, Frank
lin, John Ericsson, Joseph Henry and
Samuel B. Morse. They later made a
tour Of the city.
The celebration will be concluded to-
night with banquet at the Mayfower
Hotel. Charles F. Kettering, vice presi-
| dent of the General Motors Corpora
tlon and one of the worlds outstand-
ing inventors, and DR.. Frank B. Jewett
OF the research department OF the
American Telephone & Telegraph Co.,
are on the program as speakers.