Evening Star Newspaper, May 15, 1897, Page 13

THE EVENING STAR. re ES FUBLISHED DAILY EXCEPT SUNDAY, AT THE STAR BUILDINGS, 1101 Pennsylvania Avenne, Cor. 11th &, by ee pa New York Office, 49 Petter Building. ‘The Evening Star is served tc subscribers in the eity by carriers, on their own uccount, at 10 cents per week, or 44 cents per month. ies at the counter Z cents each. By mati—anywhere in the United States or Canadu—postage preyald SO ccnts Paturday Quintuple Sheet Star, $1 with iturday t Star, per year, foreign postage added, _ Part2. Che # Tg Sta ; Pages 13-24. Qrinters’ InB (he fitfle schook: master of advertising), saps: Jt is cfaim2d for fe Washinz‘or Stor, and proBabfp frufStulfp cfaim:?, {Bat no offer newspaper in f6e counfrp goes info 60 fars: @ percenfag> of aff £8: Goxses twiffin a radius of fwenfp mifes ae mail matter.) ‘7 All mail subscriptions must be paid in advance. Rates of advertising made known on application. WASHINGTON, D. C., SATURDAY. MAY 15, 1897-TWENTY-FOUR PAGES from f6e office of pubficafion. Special Sale of Seasonable Silks--. Special Sale of Laces-- ae PERRY’S. We value your patronage highly. So highly that we will never put it in jeopardy by offering anything of which we are not sure of the quality. That makes you value this store. We believe we are mutually appreciative. are mutually benefited. There is a wonderful lot of meaning in our declaration that the best is cheapest. Nething but the best is ever per- mitted to enter here. A “Greater Store-bargain” is an ideal bargain. A: stand- ard value at a special price. We certainly A Silk Offering for Monday. Our watchiulness has been rewarded again. Another half dozen lots of superior Silks are ours to distribute at prices that tell of somebody's léss--and it is the importers’. Landed behind time—-too late for the promised delivery. That will explain the great difference between what they are worth and what we shall ask you for your choice. Of the many Silk sales we have had—not one has been of more importance than this. If you are going to want Silk at all you want it now—and you will want just the very weaves that comprise this collection. d9C, a yard for 23-inch a yard will buy some Prirted Silks that are $1 Broken Check Louis- more ines—21 Inches wide, and almost all the new colorings are represent- ed in this lot. $1 is the real value. S0c. is what it means to have us selling them. than ordinarily effective in pattero— and the value is at least 75e. - ° a yard for 21-inch Ro- taken these six man Striped = Wash Wouldn't you tave Silks, in the very rich- est combinations. ‘They would be ealled good value for 50c., tov. lots if you had been us—when we can quote such surprising prices? ‘There were plenty of outstretched hands for them—but we were the fortunate pur- chasers. Full Dress Silks. In oar regular stock we are showing rice for jot of All-silk Black Loutsines — unusually soft and brilliant. They are 21 inches wide—and just what you will like for a full costume. @ yard ts the special price for 27-inch Navy Biue and White Fou- lard Silks, in unique and popular patterns. rd is Monday's some Hines that we imported ourselves Grice for nome. Zi-inch expressly for June weddings and. the All-silk Black Satin commencements that so, soon | take Cc Duchesse — the very place. They are in White and the ° softer shades. Exclusive, ag most de that 1s being sold Si around at oer everything that is bere. all around at 90c. Specials in Nets and Laces. Seems a mast fortunate coincidence that to keep the spe- cial sale of Silks company we can offer some Nets below the regular prices. We are quite sure that you never have seen a more complete assortment of the rich and rare in Nets and Laces that is to be fount right here. Selected with the greatest care—for quality and effect— and exclusiveness—duplication is well-nigh impossible. Look Se. and $1 a yard. 50-inch White. Cream and after the special lots first, for they will hardly admit of delay. “ * ns After that see what we call “the best Laces in town. a Black All-silk Mull—N Se. a yard. 45-inch All-silk Malls, in White, Cream, ‘Pink, Blue, Cardinal, Hello: trope and Mais—NOW —i0e. a yard. 24-inch White Mousseline D’Sole, embroidered in Viol*t, Tack, White: Pink, Blue, ete, Your cholse NOW— $1.56 a yard. Very low for this value. Cream, Bi Pink, Blue—NOW- Hellotrope Grenadines. Broch> Grena- patterns for iar price is $2.50— dines regular pri OW $1.50 a = rd 5g Crepes. 2t-iuch AU-silk Grenadines, in Navy 2 7 % 7 24-inch Crepe D'Cht: in White, SOW ae AND ane Cream, Pink, Blu 18, Lilac aud Gray—NOW Laces Proper. 24-inch Point iferze, Point ‘Venise, a Russian aud Point D'Gene, er_patteros and with Insert: ings and Edges :o match. You will - fiud they are marked low enough. Blue—NOW—$1.25 to $3 a yard. Narrow Valenciennes Edges, in 72-inch Black Brussels Nets—NOW— Le pee ee et $1, $1.50 and $3 a yard. =e Handsome Mechlin Edges, in White and Ecru. Nets, in y Blue aud White rd. 48-inch All-silk Nets, with square mesh. are Wlack, Brown and Neckwear and Veilings. Tue latest novelties in Linen Col- lars and Cuffs, Laces for the neck and Veilings. Some exclusive effects at our prices. PERRY’S, “NINTH AND THE AVENUE.” Chiffons. 4. Plain Chifons, in White, Cream. Black, and really about all the new shades—NOW —i5c. a yard. 48-inch Mousseline D’Sole, in White, Established 1840. Telepbcne 995. eee teeter nent tetnntetetntnteteteten lee teteet Ambassador Hay in Eagland. London Correspondence of the New York Journal. Although he has only been in town two or three weeks, and has not yet presented his credentials as United States ambassa- dor, Col. John Hay has achieved a distin tion as yet attained by no other represen- tative of the American people. The scale ef expenditure on which he has established his household and the gorgeousness of his entourage cause even the English people to gape. Colonel Hay has taken one of the f.aest houses in probably the most expen- sive residential street in the world, Carlton House Terrace, for which he pays the mod- est sum of 3,000 guine: or more than $15,000, for three months. He fs the first representative of the United States to bring over his own horses and carriages, instead of hiring or buying what he could find in London, as our ministers and ambassadors have done, and his equipages are pointed out by the London swells as doing credit to Hyde Park. Even the Telegraph today mentions the colonel’s wagons and his cattle with re- use of Miss Hay in Hyde Park. The two American vehtcles attract more attention in London than the steeds. Both ere by the most fashionable New York carriage builder, are ‘rubber tired, exquisitely var- nished and polished, and they nave the monogram ‘J. H.,’ in light colors, on the doors. The peculiarity of these carriages from across the water is their lightness. They seem to combine to a remarkable degree the strength which American build- ers had to arrange for in the trotting wagons and sulkies with lightness.” She Knew. From the San Francisco Post. “Now, children,” said the school teacher, “you have just read the story about the Uttle bird that fell in @ spring and was drowned. Who can tell me what a spring is?” up their hands, and one was asked for her answer. “It comes before the Fourth of July,’ she said. “Oh, ro, I do not mean the seasot ex- plained the teacher. “I mean the spring that the ttle bird was drowned in." A little girl waved her hand said “Well, wecA spring is water com “A spr! is wal up out of ground, with a health rion yuilt t. “Among the interesting features of American life to be seen in Londen just now,” says the T ph, “are the um- bassador’s . body associates American horses with a spidery-looking road wagon or a gig, and fmagines that the animals themselves should be lean, tall and narrow, as well as able to trot a mile in two minutes. The carriage horses which have just been brought over by Mr..Hay display none of the unpleasant character- istics of American trotter. On the you may answer,” the up Dr. J. Milton Heller has resigned as as- ‘sistant resident physician of Garfield Hos- Several bright little boys and girls held'| ‘| it has increased of is in the second ficor of the connecting building, Is to be taKen out and the walls continued up through five stories, with a skylight in the roof. When this ts done there will be am unobstructed view as well as passage way from 10th street all the way through the building to 1ith street. ‘Two new elevators are to be put in, making @ total ef six passenger elevators in use uilding. REAL ESTATE GOSS! Raising the Money to Pay for Street Extension. in the bi New Buildings Erected. Plans for a store and dwelling to be erected at the corner of ‘Maryland ave- nue and B street northeast by L. F. Flem- mer have been prepared by E. Woltz, ar- chitect. The material used will be pressed and buff brick, and the structure will be three stories in height, with bays on both streets. A new front of brown store and pressed brick will be put in the bullding 1515 10th street ncrthwest, owned by W. S. Jenks. A two-story addition wif be erected in the rear. General repairs will be made to the interior. The plans were prepared by Joseph C. Johnson, architect. A contract for the erection of four dwell- ings on Connecticut avenue between R and S streets northwest has been awarded to John S. Nolan. According to the plans prepared by George 8. Cooper, architect, the houses will be three stories in height and English basement in design. The ma- terial used in the front will be ligat stone, and a mansard roof will be tiled, with oriels from the second story. Hard wood will be used in finishing the basement and first floor Plans for the erection of a residence for Cc. W. Slemm, United States navy, to be erected at 1626 17th Street, have been pre- pared by Hornblower and Marshall, archi- tects. Plaas for an additional story to the Fen- dall building, 4% street and Louisiana ave- nue, have been prepared by A, P. Clark, architect. PROPOSED ROCK CREEK DRIVE Expansion of the Business Section of the City. SOME NEW BUILDINGS —_+—__- The decision of the United States Su- preme Court, which was announced on Monday, asserting the constitutionality of what is known as the street extension act, was naturally the subject of a good deal of discussion in real estate circles during the past week. As was developed before and since the passage of the act in question, there yas a good deal of opposition on the part of a number cf property holders to the terms under which their property was to be taken for highways. Now, however, as the court of the highest jurisdiction has spoken it is generally recognized that noth- ing remairs but the enforcement of the act. While the system of highways proposed covers the entire suburban region, it is not expected that the condemnation proceed- irgs will be applied to the whole area at once. The rapidity with which this is done, however, will depend largely at the start upon the method adopted for procur- ing the money needed to secure the land for public purposes. Thus far two methods heve been suggested. One is the annual appropriaticn by Congress of a certain amount of money eich year. The other is the issue of bonds. It has been esti- mated that the entire expense to the pub- lic in securing the land for the proposed highweys is about $6,000,000, and it is claimed by these who favor the issue of bonds that not only could the work be done more expeditiously, but it will cost less in the end if terms are at once made with the property owners. It is likely that the Commissioners will make some recommen- dations to Congress on this subject, and it is thought that at the next session of that body acticn will be taken which will result in supplying the funds needed in carrying out the law. A Rock Creek Driveway. Some years ago the tract of land now known as Woodley Park became the prop- erty of Mr. Waggaman. It was laid out as a park. Now, it is understcod, Mr. Wagga- ian is considering a plan for subdividing this property into city lots, especially that portion which les between Connecticut ave- nue extended and the Zoological Park. In view of this contemplated change, an ef- fort has been made to secure the right of way for a road which would extend along the border of the Zoological Park as far as the Woodley road bridge, and then con- tinue along Rock creek, perhaps as far as P street. The site which has been selected for the Episcopal Cathedral adjoins this property on the northern extremity, and as far as the cathedral trustees have completed their plans for the laying out of these grounds provision has been made for the opening of a road, to be known as Cathedral ave- nue, which will extend through the grounds of the cathedral to the proposed subdi- vision of Woodley Park, thence to the western line of the Zoo, and the vroposed road would be a continuation of this ave- nue. In order to carry out this plan the projectors found that it would be of ad- vantage to include in the roadway a small portion of the ground belonging to the Zoo. Attention of Prof. Langley has been called to this plan, but thus far no definite conclusion has been reac! Activity in Building. The manager of one of the large brick manufacturing plants in this city said the other day that his company had up to this time sol@ more bricks than during the whole of last season. This statement gives some idea of the activity in building operations during the present year as com- pared with last year. There {s consider- able complaint on the part of architects and. builders, and of real estate dealers, that a good many enterprises are proposed which are not carried out. This is attrib- uted in part to the idea which Is entertain- ed by some who have money to invest that prices of land, as well as the cost of buildizg, are very low, but when they come to get actual figures they discover that neither land can be bought or buildings erected as cheaply as they had expected. As a result, they abandon altogether or de- lay carrying out enterprises which they had in contemplation. It can hardly be ex- pected that current prices will meet the ideas of every one, but at the same time it may be suid that building can be done much cheaper now than has been the case for some time past. It is also said that cash purchasers may find some bargains in houses and lots, but the owners of both lots and building materials are not in such straits as to be obliged to give elther away. The Business Section. The movement which has been started to erect a new building for use as a Masonic Temple in this city has called the atten- tion of those interested in property to the probable effect on the future of the build- ing now occupied by a large number of the Masenic ledges. As is well known, this building is at the northwest corner of th and F streets, and while the ground floor 1s rented out’ for business purposes, and there is a hall available for public uses on the second floor, the rest of the building is used for Masonic lodges. The property be- longs to a stock company. Owing to the important position which this building occupies in the business sec- tion of the city the interest in the probable effect of its abandonment by the Masonic frate:nity has a general importance. As an evidence of the substantial character of the business interests of the city it is stated, by those who are in a condition to be geod judges, that this building would be available for office purposes or for some other objeet which would be in line with the character of that locality. Some years ago when the Washington Loan and ‘Trust building was about to be —_~+. “FINEST HOAX OF THE CENTURY.” “Diana Vaughan” and the Masons. From the Literary Digest, “Diana Vaughan” stands forth at last re- vealed. And who is “Diana Vaughan?” That is precisely the question that great prelates of Europe and a great public of lesser folk have been asking for several years. During that time some startling “exposures” have come of Masonic leagues with the devil, ratified by the devil’s own signature (see the Literary Digest, No- vember 7, 1896), which exposures were vouched for by “Diana Vaughan.” She told wonderful stories that found many believers. She had been a Mason and had been made “Palladian Grand Mistress of the Supreme and Mysterious Lodge of Uni- versal Freemasonry.” In this capacity she became married to the devil, who is the being really worshiped and obeyed by the innermost circle of the Masonic order. Her confessions of these terrible things have recelved credence and encouragement from high officials in the Catholic Church, and an anti-Masonic congress dévoted time to the consideration of her reliability, but without being able to decide the matter. Now the perpetrator of the hoax, M. Leo Taxil, confesses and gloats over having originated “the finest hoax of the century,” while his exasperated victims have to be kept from laying violent hands upon him by the police. The story of Taxil’s confes- sion is told in the Paris -correspondence to the London Telegraph, and we take it in abbreviated form ‘from the Westminster Gazette (April 241): d “After these ‘monstrosities (already re- ferred to) had been launched, other publi- cation; entitled ‘Memoirs of an ex-Palla- dist’ and ‘The Eucharistic Novena,’ an- nounced that Diana. Vaughan had’ been converted to Catholicism, She was patron- ized, although she had never been seen, by Cardinal Parocchi, agd even by the pope himself. Leo Taxi! published her fame far and wide in religious newspapers and periodicals, but in spite of all this some Catholics began to have strong suspicions, and at an anti-Masonic congress held last year in Trent her existence was denied. Skeptics and unbelievers who refused to regard Diana as @ught but a mythical per- sonage persistently called on M. Taxil to produce her in the flesh, and to let her be seen and heard. This the supposed con- vert promised to do, and he accordingly convoked a meeting, which took place in the Geographical Society's Hall, on the Boulevard Saint Germain, and was attend- ed by many persons, including numerous priests. It was promised that Diana would make statements about Palladism, the full truths of which were not to be revealed un- til 1912. There were also to be luminous projections showing a Palladist as one of the magi, and the pact which-he had made with the serpent cut in three; the treaty between Thomas Vaughan and Lucifer, son of the Morning; photographs of Albert Pike, Miss Liliana Pike, John Vaughan and the damscl herself, who was supposed to have contracted a diabolical marriage. “All this imposture was frankly and au- daciously unveiled by {ts organizer amid scenes of protestation and uproar. M. Taxil calmly announced that he was born a per- petrator of jokes at the expense of credu- lous humanity. Fumisterie was the founda- tion of his character as a Marseilles man, and at the age of nineteen he had terrified his fellow townsmén by announcing that the port of the southern city was invaded by sharks of the t terrible species. He also announced that there was a lost city under the Lake of Geneva; and some peo- ple believed that they saw cafes-chantants, houses and gardens deep down in the re- cesses of blue Lake Leman. A Polish archeologist even went so far as to write a treatise on the matter, in which he said that he had perceived something like an equestrian statue at the bottom of the in- land sea immortalized by Gibbon, Rous- seau, Byron and Mme. de Stael. Then Taxil started the Diana Vaughan hoax. He was prayed for by fervent monks and nuns, who almost regarded him as a father of the church and ‘a candidate for canoni- zation, since hé unmasked the Free Masons and brought over to C€atholicity women wedded to devils. At Rome he was received with open arms and had an audience at the Vatican; but, as he assured his astonished auditors, he was only a false convert, and Diana Vaughan was merely a typewriting woman whom he employed as a secretary at £6 per month. In ‘this capacity she wrote and signed letters dictated by Taxil himself, and: addressed to. high prelates. “All this. was calmly.and sardonically uttered-—by. the speaker, who said to the priests and’ Catholic writers present that he sincerely thanked ‘them and the bishops for having assisted him in organizing the finest hoax of the century, and one which crowned his career. Tax!l was vigorously hoeoted as he uttered these words, and the Abbe Gi > @ muscular Christian and militant Catholic, who edits a paper, called the speaker mogt terrible names, and lamented that he had left his big stick at the door. On leaving Taxil had to. be erected there was good deal of talk about | who w d the center of business on F street, some | Jowed not onls: tears Catone ee holdirg that {th and F was such a center. angry ry Since then there have been other locali- ties along that street which have devel- oped into points of large business enter- prises, and at the same time the locality of 9th and F has not been effected, but rather the volume of daily travel and busi- ness, it is estimated, has increased. The term business center as applied to any cne locality in the city is looked upon in the light of these facts as somewhat of a misnomer. Instead of business actty- ity being confined to a small locality the tendency of late years has been to widen out the area, so that it is thorght to be more appropriate to use the term business section, and in thig city, as is well known, late years in size and being constantly pushed Persons who took the Masons.” = up ee he Free ————_+2+-_ A Blind Man’s Sagacity. From the New York Times. ~ A story was told yesterday by a lawyer in‘the big Equitable building. of an ‘exper-' ience that a brother of’ His, a blind man; had a few days since while-he was in the city from a small town in Jersey, where he resides. On’ the day mentioned ‘the blind man was without a guide and stood on the corner of 234 strget and Broadway, wish- ing to cross the street. While debating with fimself as to whether he would try it alone or call a up“and fread " ‘Bostén House Changes. -Important alteraticns are to be made during the coming summer in the interior. ral of Woodward & Lothrop’s large os- — ded, tablishment at the corner of lith and j arm, théy. started across’ ¥. streets. Plans. have. been pine a : ‘by James G. Hill, architect, and pro- | “2! emf Speen wide for the removal of the wall which| ed me to. that | laws at will, and the President may sign RA BARAAARAAR @Se The Superb Quality of Steel in Every Victor Bicycle. Better wheels are made now than were ever made before, and as poor wheels are made now as ever were made. The best wheel in the world is made in the United States —and the worst. It is not hard to get the best—and it is just as easy to get the worst | —all depends on how you go about it.. To the careless the best and the worst differ | but little in looks. But to select the good—you must get below looks — find out what H sort of stuff backs it. Your inquiry will develop the fact that there are two kinds of | bicycles—one made up largely of crucible steel—and the other isn’t. © 8 @ © @ 4 ® 54 @ @ The quality of steel in every Victor is of so fine a character and is so lav- ishly used that each wheel could furnish enough material to make 130 two- ounce razors for the owner! The percentage of this fine steel in Victors is from 3 to 25 times greater than is contained in any $100 or $150 wheel in —— the world! The proofs to this are to be seen in our store—and this evening is a good time to drop down and see a Victor. Open till 10 p. m. | 1897 Victors are $100. 1896 Victors lack some of the features of their later-born namesakes—but at the new price—$75—we've instituted they’ve attained a wonderful popularity. CLINE BROTHERS, AGENTS FOR YVicTOR BICYCLES, 909 Penna. Ave. it’ @BOOGHS OO SOOSHS GHOSHSH OHSS OOHSOSSESSSOSOO The nearest thing that can be found is used as a basis for rejection. akin to it. s the gravitation to- ward despotic rule. Lochran cut off thous- ards of pensioners without a hearing by his arbitrary action. Bowler’s decision in the Treasury Department a year ago ex- cited derision, but it kept money for a time from men who were entitled to it; Sey- mour’s rule has forever deprived many a poor inventor of this rights. The rule of Commissioner Seymour in this case 1s paralleled by another of his rules. Undoubtedly sharp inventors and investors took advantage of the two years allowed by the statute of IS6l to keep their applicaticns for patents pe the patent office, = rid senate BESET WITH THORN se ain for es The Oregon man in due time receives the Not information that his application has been i @n | examined and rejected. He sends to Wasn- The Path of the Inventor is ington and gets a copy of the patent upon Easy. One which the rejection is based. He has been working at the thing for years, while the examiner spent perhaps a day on it. He sees at once that an injustice has been done him. With a superficial resemblance be- tween his invention and the patent, there is a vital difference. Often the examiner is WHEN HE APPLIES FOR A PATENT i with a view of lengthen- right in rejecting the words of the claim | ing their mononely tan, Wet, OF en ;_,| filed, while the invention shown in the | were few Tn nes ases of this sort Changes That Have Been Made in | ficS.ings ana described in the specification | wonf*™ Ape eae is nevel and valuable. If the inventor can | Gecided that a certass Meine ee raise the money to come to Washington with his model, and especially if he can employ a good lawyer when he gets to Washington, he may readily convince the examiner that he has a right to a patent and that the words of his original claim did not accurately describe his invention. The examiner, while strictly conscientious, often sympathizes with the inventor, and is willing to put himself out of the way to assist him. In some cases, seeing that the inventor Is too poor to pay an attorney, he drafts his claims for him. But at the same time it must be remembered that the same examiner who originally rejected the application is the judge who rehears the case. He is usually slow to reverse his own prior decision. All the conditions are against the applicant. If, however, — claim ts rejected upon the second examina- tion, he has the privilege of appealing, first, to the board of examiners-in-chief, and, from that board, to the commissioner, and from the commissioner to the Court of Ap- peals of the District of Columbia. The last is the end of the cul-de-sac. Under the law of 1861 the applicant had two years in which to secure a reconsid- eration of his case, and two years in which to appeal. This gave him time to attend to his other business and to raise money to employ a lawyer or to come to Wash- ington himself. Changing the Procedure. Such was the procedure under Mr. Sey- mour’s predecessors. They all construed that section of the Revised Statutes which requires an applicant to complete his case ‘in two years, and to prosecute it in two years after any official action thereon, as giving the applicant two years in which to act. Another section of the law expressly says that if, after receiving notice of rejec- tion, “‘the applicant persists in his claim for @ patent, the commissioner shall order a re-examination of his case.” Commissioner Seymour used these words as @ handle with which to change the whole course of procedure. He made a rule that an applicant would be considered to persist in his claim for a patent, in case he failed to act in prosecution of the same for six months after notice of rejection, “and thereupon the examiner will make a re-examination of the case.2 He did more than this. He cut down the timé for <?- peals from two years to six months. This would settle the case of any poor inventor, who could not raise the money to vrose- cute his case within six months. When his claim has been twice rejected he has no longer a right to amend ft. He must stand on the words of his claim as filed. If no 1 appeal be taken within the six months period, he is out of court. Under the for- mer procedure, an applicant's case was de- cided without'a hearing on the first ex- amination. No second examination was had until he requested it, and he had two the Course of Procedure. was void for this reason. No patent had ‘i ever been held bad in the United States on this rround before. The Circuit Court of Appeals overruled the decision and held the patent valid. The case is now pending before the Supreme Court of the United States. Commissioner Seymour, inspired by the decision of the circuit judge, made a rule that where cases had been pending in the patent office more than five years, with the record raising a presumption of in- tentiona! delays, the examiner might re- avire the applicant to show cause why the case was not more rapidly prosecuted, and reject the case ff the applicant did not make a satisfactory showing; this whether the applicant appeared or not. It is not enough that he has always acted within the time required by Mr, Seymour's own rules. The examiner may think that the case should have been more rapidly prosecuted. An Arbitrary Judge. This rule practically makes the examiner an arbitrary judge, with power to forfeit the applicant's inventive property, without Process, without a jury, without a trial, and even without a hearing. The same ex- aminer who institutes the forfeiture pro- ceedings acts as a judge to decide the case. More than this, all the delays in the case may possibly have been due more to the unjust or incorrect rulings of the examiner himself than to any fault upon the part of the applicant. Often inventors treat the ex- aminer as their enemy. This feeling on the part of the inventor sometimes excites unfriendiiness on the part of the exam- ner. A further illustration of the power of a bureau chief: The commissioner of patent is given power to make rules for the gov- ernment of the office. Within the century, code has grown up which at the re- vision in 1892 numbered 229 rules, Many of these rules are as old as the office it- self. All were well known to the examiners and to all competent patent attorneys. The meaning of many a clause has been set- tled only by the adjudicating of a series of cases over a long period. To know them thoroughly was the labor of years. To disturb them was to disturb property rights and to let in a flood of litigati But with one stroke of his pen Mr. Sey mour substituted 88 rules of his own draft- ing for the 2%) which had grow: dur- POWER OF A BUREAU CHIEF ——-———_ Written for The Evening Star. And still the crowd of office seekers floods the city. And still the assault on the civil service wall of circumvallation continues. There is more trepidation among those who are in office, and an increase in indignation among those who are out of it. At the skirt of the array of office ‘seekers is the usual spring influx of inventors. Both office seekers and inventors are at the mercy in meny cases of bureau chieftains. There seems to be a tendency toward despotic rule, not only in the House, but in the de- partments as well. Congress may pass them, but that is not the end of it. Some obscure corporal in legislation, quartered in the. Treasury Department or elsewhere, will take it upon himself to declare them unconstitutional, without waiting for action by the Supreme Court. “rhere has been a change in the patent office. Resolute John 8. Seymour has re- tired and genial Ben. Butterworth has again resumed the toga. Applicants and attorneys were nearly all dissatisfied with Mr. Seymour's administration. They re- garded him as arbitrary, if not unreason- able. Before his incumbency, applicants for patents were allowed two years in which to complete their applications. When completed, they were examined in due course. If the application was rejected the inventor was allowed two years in which to amend his case or seek reconsideration. All this was done under an act of Congress passed in 1861. Occasionally a shrewd inventor or at- torney applied the law to his own advan- tage and the disadvantage of the publi’. Through technicalities he kept his appli- cation pending for years. But there were very few such cases—not one in a hundred. } Mr. Seymour recommended to Congress that it enact legislation which would stop such practices, by shortening the time allowed an.inyentor in which to complete and prosecute his case. Congress paid no atten- tion to the recommendation. Thereupon Commissioner Seymour determined to apply a remedy without waiting for Congress. Applying for a Patent. a The applications for, patents filed average about 125 a day. ‘There are thirty-five principal examiners, with perhaps 200 as- sistants. Every examiner and every as- sistant examiner has his own specialty. Let us take the case, say, of a poor in- ventor living in Oregon. He makes a valu- able invention and desires to obtain a pat- 5 e z = é é 3 the protest of the most promi!fen: attorneys in Washington, including several ex-commissioners of patents. Seymour's action is a striking {llustra- tion of the power of a bureau chief. If the examples set by Lochran, Bowler, Sey- mour and others were to be followed by bureau chiefs generally, Congress might a8 well retire from business, and leave the fiela = legislation to the oy officers charged with carrying out the laws. AMOS J. CUMMINGS. _— ° A Historic Railway Collision. From the Industrial World. the first examination, passes upon it a] rere is the story of the evolution of th : He sends his application with $15 to| second time-without hearing. Ninety-| Here : > the commissioner of patents. It is re-| nine times cut a@ hundred the locomotive steam whistle: It was invented ferred to the examiner having charge of that peculiar class of inventions. It is his duty to reject it, if anything can be found on which to base a rejection. Nearly 600,- 0 patents have been granted in the Unit ed States, and ly more than a mil- lion in the rest of the world. If any of these anticipate the invention, the examiner must reject the application. It fs not neces- sary that exactly the same thing have for it because of the destruction of a load of eggs. When the country roads were for the most part crossed at grade the engine driver bad no way of giving warning of his approach except by blowing a tin horn. ‘