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INSIDE VIEW OF THE U. S. PATENT OFFICE.

Another division of four clerks and mes

to printer and charged; printed specifica- | entry made in books: the patents sent to tions and photo-lithographs received from issue room. Eleven clerks and a messenger printer and draughtsmen, checked off, examined and sent to pasting-room; all reare here employed. prints of cases, or replenishing of exhausted senger, also subordinate to the chief clerk, copies sent to printer and charged; letters receives, arranges and distributes models in regard to errors in printing, &c., an- and still another, consisting of an officer in swered; a complete list of patents issued charge and twelve assistants, who have each week, giving the number, class num-charge of all patented models, and exhibit ber, name, residence, assignment, and title, them to the public when required. Those is made, and also a similar list for the printer, models are examined by inventors and Three lists of patents for office use are com- attorneys to ascertain the novelty of inpared with the record each week. Volumes ventions sought to be patented. of specifications and drawings for the record-room are put up and sent to the binder. Volumes of specifications of designs and trade-marks for the record-room and examiner of trade-marks are indexed and

sent to the binder. The number of employees engaged on this business is nine clerks and a messenger.

STORE AND SPECIFICATION ROOMS.

of all matters relating to drawings. The One of the larger subdivisions has charge duties in detail are as follows:

plications for patents as filed; their accept-
1st. Examination of drawings of all ap-

and pricing of same.
ance or rejection, designating informalities,

and included under this head are delivery of drawings and tracings to contractor, comparison and action upon proofs and copies, receiving and delivering copies, and supervision and verification of all bills for photolithographic reproductions from drawings.

2d. Reproduction (by photo-lithographic In connection with this division is a store- rent issues, quarto page library edition, process) of all drawings, consisting of curroom, in which is kept the bulk of the re-back work (by classes) and special orders; cent issues of specifications and drawings, arranged in order, banded and kept in cases. Three persons are employed here. Also in connection with this is a specification room, where are kept the recent issues of specifications and drawings, and where the classification of the Official Gazette is corrected to fill orders for different classes of patents. The Official Gazettes are here folded, wrapped and sent to the mail room, and specifications and drawings pasted and put in cases. Orders for the weekly issues are entered on books in this room and

filled. The number of employees is eighteen. Two other employees have charge of another room, where back issues of specifications and drawings are stored. Another subdivision receives, records, distributes and checks off when filled, all orders for manuscript copies; estimates all manuscript copies, copies from books all patent heads for manuscript orders and for printed orders also; has control of the files in patented cases (some two hundred thousand), and charge of the room where interested parties may examine them. Orders are here filled for the printed specifications, drawings and patent heads compared, connected, seal attached, and proper

models to complete applications; tracings 3d. The preparation of drawings from of drawings to fill orders for attorneys and others; tracings of drawings of classes of inventions preparatory to reproduction of

same.

i. e., tracers, headers, model draftsmen,
4th. Accounts of temporary employees,
&c.

work.
5th. Pricing of all model and tracing

patented prior to July, 1871, i. e., where
6th. Photo-lithograph copies of cases
classes have been reproduced, copies of
designs and trade-marks.

inventions patented, including designs and 7th. Original drawings of all classes of trade-marks.

drawn and forfeited cases, when two or 8th. Files of rejected, abandoned, withmore years have passed since last action.

of all cases as allowed by examiners, and 9th. Recording and classifying drawings

INSIDE VIEW OF THE U. S. PATENT OFFICE.

235

ooks: the retaining the same waiting payment of | Patent Office are also kept here, and the

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10th. Printing and comparing name, number, date, and invention upon drawings of weekly issues of patents; attaching copies of drawings to printed specifications to accompany patents; recording, classifying, attaching claims, &c.

11th. Distribution of thick photo-lithographic copies to different examiners.

12th. Supervision of records of patents, including bound volumes of drawings and specifications, letter-books, alphabetical lists of inventors, classified indexes of inventions, recording weekly issues, &c.

13th. Filling of orders for drawings, and files from this and attorney's room 1.

supervision of the reproduction of the plates for the Official Gazette devolves upon this room, as does much of the correspondence which naturally arises with the contractors for the photo-lithographic work used in the publication of the Gazette. The classification of patents is also a part of the duties assigned to this room. Seven persons are employed.

The text of this publication and of patents is printed at the Government Printing Office, and is paid from the printing appropriation of the Interior Department. The illustrations, as well as all photographed copies of drawings, are supplied by contractors, and paid from special appropriations.

The attorney's room is kept for the con

14th. Estimating cost of classes of inventions, furnishing copies of same, and filling orders for photo-lithographs as repro-venience of attorneys and applicants doing duced.

The force in this division classified is as follows:

Regular Appointments-23 clerical duties, 1 model draftsman, 1 retouching drawings, 1 laborer, 1 messenger.

business with the office, and is in charge of a clerk with three or four boys, who bring papers and other records to this room for the use of the public.

The office has a library of some 30,000 volumes, relating more or less directly to the business of the office, in charge of a

Temporary Employees-1 skilled drafts-
man, 6 model draftsmen, 1 clerical, 1 photo-librarian and assistants.
lithograph expert, 2 charge of rooms, 1 re-
touching drawings, 3 headings, 9 order tra-
cers, 17 photo-lithograph tracers.

DUTIES OF THE EXAMINING CORPS.

In discussing the efficiency of the force as to the examining corps, I shall be compelled

Number of regular appointments, 27; to refer to the character of their work. temporary employees, 41; total, 68.

66

The duties of the examining corps are partly scientific and partly judicial. They require general intelligence, mechanical aptitude, scientific training, familiarity with the state of the art for each particular

The work relating principally to the publications of the office include the compilation and supervision of the publication of the weekly edition of the Gazette, the monthly edition of specifications and draw-class, a knowledge of the law and the deings, the yearly edition of the Gazette in two volumes, and the making of an index for each edition. In addition, there is in progress A General Index of Patents granted from 1790 to date," and a yearly index of patents and patentees. This room is also charged with the work of assorting the thick drawings, and attaching the claims belonging thereto. Requisitions on the Public Printer for printing and binding are also made in this room, and a general supervision had of the work done at the Government Printing Office for the Patent

Office.

The accounts with the Public
Printer for printing and binding for the

cisions of the courts relating to patent matters, a judicial turn of mind, willingness to hear arguments and receive information, and firmness to decide adversely to eager applicants. The examiner in the performance of his duties is required to make laborious searches in order to ascertain the novelty or lack of novelty of applications submittted to him. In making the search he acts the part of prosecuting attorney at the same time. When the search is completed it is his duty to decide questions, nice and perplexing, as to differences between the processes or machines sought to be patented and those already shown in

INSIDE VIEW OF THE U. S. PATENT OFFICE.

references in his class. I need hardly add that this duty requires of the examiner an amount of patience, fairness, intelligence and fidelity not often to be found. And further, that on the one hand he shall be so sustained that he can act honestly and intelligently, without fear and without favor; and on the other that he shall not be so sustained that he can in security act carelessly, unjustly, or unwisely.

MANNER OF APPOINTMENT.

| undoubtedly should, be raised. It is pos that pay has not been enough, to retain sible on the pay allowed by law, although some of the best and most experienced men. Still, it is possible, as it now stands, to elevate the standard of the corps in point of ability, but it is a work which needs to be done gradually. Some of the less able officers have acquired by long experience considerable knowledge of the details of the business, and in some respects render better service than inexperienced though abler men. But they have long since reached their maximum, and their maximum is small. On the other hand, great care is required in the selection of

new men.

This examining corps is made up of persons appointed under different systems. Prior to 1869 appointments therein were made, so far as I am aware, practically without examination. When an examination was ordered it was not competitive, was sometimes after the appointment and tended to mere form. To my knowledge many CHARACTER OF THE CLERICAL FORCE. were made without even the form of an ex-perhaps already sufficiently indicated in The duties of the clerical force I have amination. Commissioner Fisher, in the my statement of the organization of the early part of 1869, instituted a plan of office. competitive examination. This force consists very largely of This was continued, with perhaps some intermission, during the past eight years to do almost ladies. In fact they have been employed until it was merged into the general civil- all the copying work and part of the other service system, which was put into opera- work required by the office. For their adtion under the Presidential order of mission to the office there has been practiApril 16th, 1872. That order continued cally, I think, no examination. They have in force until April, 1875, since which generally been appointed on personal solicitime I think there have been practically tation. The clerical force has been greatly no examinations except in isolated cases; changed within the past two years, and and but one competitive examination either not always, in my judgment, for the better. for appointment or promotion. The result of this mixture of systems is a quired by the public interests nor that Its efficiency is not up to the standard revariety in the examining corps in respect which the salaries paid ought to comto fitness greatly in excess of that which mand. The renovation of this force and the ordinary differences among classes of. the elevation of the character of it require men would lead us to expect. time and patience. By carefully sifting

confident that the office may be benefited, both by the addition of a better element and by better services from those who are retained.

A few of the older examiners and assis-out the incompetent and inattentive I am tant examiners were, in my judgment, incompetent for the positions they held, and some have been reduced in grade or discharged since I came into office. In respect to others I propose to submit recommendations. Many of the older, and most of the examining corps appointed since 1869, are able and faithful officers. With respect to them I have but few recommendations to make. In the performance of their difficult executive and judical duties they need only the incentive that faithful official services will be appreciated. The standard of the examining corps may, and

THE QUESTION OF REDUCTION. opinion that the examining corps should In respect to reductions, I am of the be kept up to the maximum allowed by law. The clerical force, I think, may be reduced when improved in the manner heretofore indicated and when the method of carrying on changed, as I shall hereinafter suggest. the clerical business is In this connection I desire to consider

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the sixth topic of the circular. The me-
thod of conducting the receipt of applica-
tions, examination of cases, and issue of
patents appears to have been carefully
thought out at a very early period in the
history of the office. It works well, is as
simple as is consistent with the proper safe-
guards and checks, and needs no change.

business of the day, the money received from all these smaller items, and whether or not the orders have been filled. By this I hope somewhat to reduce the force.

In the management of this part of the office I have had very efficient help from Major Lockwood, chief clerk, who, though new to the office, has had large and valuable experience in another department of the Government.

RESPONSIBILITY FOR PROPERTY.

The copying business, to which I have referred in the statement of the organization of the office, and also touched upon in relation to the clerical force, was not originally provided for. The system has I have also given attention to another grown up, meeting new demands as they matter. I find there is no system of rearose, so that it cannot so well be called a sponsibility for the property of the office. system as a collection of little systems. The law (section 481, Revised Statutes) For instance, an order for printed specifi- makes the Commissioner of Patents the cuscations, with the money accompanying it, todian "of all books, records, papers, modmay go to one clerk to be furnished by els, machines and other things belonging to him and the money paid to him. An or- the Patent Office." Manifestly the direct der for an abstract of assignment or an and personal custody of even a small part assignment to be recorded, for both of of these books and other things is not poswhich fees are required, may go to the sible to the Commissioner, considering the assignment clerk as an independent trans- magnitude to which the office has grown. action. As he is an honest man I believe For instance, the librarian has charge of the he does not put the money in his pocket, scientific library, each examiner of a small but the honest administration of the busi- library in his own room and of other propness depends on the man and is in spite of erty belonging to the office, and so on the system. Further than this, the divided throughout the office. There was no acresponsibility is perplexing and is not fa-countability and no record, so far as I am vorable to the prompt performance of the business. This whole business of furnishing copies involves the receipt of a large amount of money and brings the office daily into contact with the public, and promptness in attending to business in this branch, as well as in the examination of patents, is absolutely needed to satisfy the public. I propose to reorganize this part of the office in some respects, so as to make the chief clerk directly responsible; to have him receive all orders and superintend their examination; to have the fees paid directly to him, or rather to the financial clerk, who is one of his assistants on his personal staff; to send to the rooms where copies are stored or where they are made no orders except those made by clerks under the immediate supervision of the chief clerk on orders taken from a stub book, where the receipt of the money will also be entered, so that these stub books will show at night exactly the

aware, for all these various articles. I have caused an inventory to be made for each room, and I am preparing property books in which I propose to keep a record of all the property in the custody of every officer of the bureau, to invoice to each such things as are in his custody and take receipts from him, and to do this not only for the property now on hand, but every article which may be procured, and to deal in these matters precisely as is done in the military service.

In respect to existing abuses I have already, perhaps, indicated my views. The evils to be remedied are not acute, but chronic, diseases, which are to be remedied by an improvement of the system, increased accountability and a healthier way of official living. But a good system is not more necessary for the force employed than a good and efficient force for the purpose of carrying out the system, and the nature of the force depends upon the ap

to the system of promotion and competitive examination, but to the imperfection. of the agency by which it was carried out. My judgment is, after considerable experience, that no other system except that of competition can be maintained. It is impossible to fix an absolute standard, and if it could be done no absolute standard could

pointment, promotions and the tenure of | selves would have been rendered more office. efficient. But the selections were betAPPOINTMENT AND PROMOTION. ter. The examinations for promotions In this connection I beg leave also to related directly, for the most part, and submit the result of my experience in the in all cases either directly or indioffice as to the different methods of ap-rectly, to the business of the office, and pointment and promotion. Practically, whatever error was made was not due there are only two. Either the selection for appointment or promotion must be made by competitive examination, conducted by a board in some measure independent of the nominating or appointing officer, or such appointments or promotions must be wholly effected or very largely modified by personal solicitation. Prior to the inauguration of competitive be maintained. Other examinations, so examination, whenever a vacancy occurred, applicants for appointment or promotion sought to advance their interests by a system of solicitation, the nature of which I need not attempt to explain to you. The only reason why this did not prevail (I speak of this office) has been because it was for the personal interest and reputation of the head of the office to have the work done by competent persons, and the contest between personal solicitation and promotion by merit has varied under different administrations, according to the character and standing of the head of the bureau.

far as I know, have almost invariably tended to mere form.

In this office the competitive examinations were confined mainly to those in and above the grade of first-class clerks. I see no reason, either in relation to the desirability of avoiding the inconvenience of personal requests for appointment or in the nature of the work to be done, why all clerks and copyists of every grade and class should not be subjected to the same competitive examination, whether for appointment or promotion.

THE FEMALE CLERKS.

So far from exempting lady clerks from the operations. of the competitive system there seems to be in some respects strong reasons for including them. The pressure for places for ladies in consequence of their exclusion from many employments is by far the greatest and has been the heaviest burden I have had to bear. I believe the system referred to a perfect remedy for the evil. It is needless to say that the acquirements and ability necessary for a copyist vary indefinitely in individual cases. The quality of handwriting, rapidity, ac

When this system of competitive examination was put in force, in case of a vacancy in the office, all the lower grade might compete for appointment. The result was that, quitting the plan of waylaying the nominating or appointing officer and assailing him with the requests of influential friends, these officers and clerks applied themselves with the same zeal to fit themselves for the places which they sought. The effect of this system upon the force of this office was very marked. Almost every man applied himself diligently to study. Assistant examiners made them-curacy, ability to decipher badly-written selves familiar with the decisions of the Court and of the Commissioners, with all matters pertaining to their duties, and there was the most eager competition to excel in just that knowledge and efficiency which the business of the office required, so that if the same men had been selected under the new system as would have been selected under the old the men them-going far outside the duties performed.

manuscript; all these qualifications are to be taken into account. Further, a copyist needs a reasonably accurate knowledge of the language, in order to properly divide words and the like; and in this office there should be also some familiarity with scientific and mechanical terms. There is ample scope for examination of copyists without

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