figures for a force which would supply the personnel to partially compensate for the increment of work which necessitated the creation of this new division. The proposed increase in force to supply the trade-mark division is not proportional to the increase of business before it, and is the minimum required to give anything like satisfactory service. Two additional draftsmen are required. The work in this section is highly technical and is so far behind on account of excessive demands upon it as to be an occasion of great concern. The need for relief here is vital. Twenty-two additional clerks are requested, an addition of about 5 per cent of the present clerical corps. This is the irreducible minimum of requirement in this particular service and does not begin to correspond to the maximum demand as imposed by the increase of business. The urgency of this situation is seen at a glance at the figures showing the increase of the receipts, and it is submitted that a growth of business which stated most conservatively attains an average of 40 to 50 per cent should be reflected in an increase in force at least to the very small measure proposed. The situation in the Scientific Library is very acute. The most important feature of its service is the collection, filing, and distribution of foreign patents, in many modern languages, and the translation of foreign patents and literature to make them effective to the examining corps and the representatives of the industries who are constantly availing themselves of the facilities of the library. The work in this department has fallen considerably behind, and an additional translator would be of immense service to the office and the public. A very necessary addition to the supervisory force of the office is the position of a clerk versed in business administration, who should be competent to supervise the various filing methods used in this bureau and be of general administrative assistance. No such official or employee is now on our roll, and it is doubtful if in any other private or governmental organization does such a deficiency exist. It cannot be urged too strongly that this necessary service should be furnished if it is desired to equip this bureau with the means to do business effectively and expeditiously, and in accordance with modern methods. In the act approved November 4, 1919, Public No. 73 (H. R. 9205), $15,000 was provided to take care of the deficiency in the appropriation for photolithographing copies of drawings and specifications of exhausted copies of patents. At the rate the orders are coming in for same and orders delivered to the contractors, it is estimated that $40,000 would be required to provide for the deficiency arising from this situation up to July 1, 1920. An additional $15,000 is all that is recommended this time, which is the smallest sum consistent with safety. The amount of $33,700 asked for clerk hire is to cover an increase for the last half of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1920. Attention is called to the tables and data appended, particularly to the figures denoting the relative amount of business done in the months of July, August, September and October of the years 1916, 1917 and 1919. The calendar year 1916 had the heaviest receipts in the history of the Patent Office, but the year 1919, when completed, promises to outstrip its record to a substantial degree. In these four months, the 1919 receipts of applications, trade-marks, moneys, assignment deeds, and manuscript work to be copied increased over the corresponding period of 1916, respectively 24, 55, 12, 60, and 37 per cent. In proposing these estimates one thing only has been kept in mind; and that is an endeavor to provide some facilities to do the increased business demanded of the office. In practically every activity this increased business is directly reflected, and as a matter of course, in increased financial receipts, so that any responsive effort to take care of the demands upon the office is not properly a charge upon the taxpayers. It is thought that when the public pays for service a part of the funds so paid in should be diverted for that service, and it is upon such basis these proposals are suggested. It is suggested that these estimates be brought to the immediate attention of Congress. Respectfully, J. T. NEWTON, The Secretary of the Interior. Table showing the percentage of increase in receipts in 1919 over corresponding. monthly periods ending Oct. 31 in 1916, 1917 and 1918. Condition of work on Oct. 31 for the years 1916, 1917, 1918 and 1919. Uncertified copies of patents furnished within. Entimate of reproduction work for the balance of the fiscal year ending Amount expended on reproduction to Nov. 18, 1919, inclusive. Total. Amount apportioned of present appropriation. Estimate of additional appropriation required. $28.046.115 86.394.00 114.440.115 72.750.00 41.690.115 Estimates of appropriations required for the service of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1920, by the Department of the Interior. 2 1st assts., at $2,400 ea. (same acts) 2.400.00 2 2nd assts., at $2,100 ea. (same acts) 2,100.00 2 3rd assts., at $1,800 ea. (same acts) 1,800.00 2 4th assts., at $1,500 (ea. (same acts) 1,500.00 Examiners of trade-marks and designs 1 2nd asst., at $2,100 (same acts). 1,050 00 2 3rd assts., at $1,800 ea. (same acts) 1,800.00 2 4th assts., at $1,500 ea. (same acts) 1,500.00 Clerks 1 of class 4 (versed in business ad 900.00 WILLIAM DARIUS BISHOP. BY ROBERT J. FISHER Former Assistant Commissioner of Patents. William Darius Bishop, 7th Commissioner of Patents, descended from old New England stock. His original ancestor was Rev. John Bishop who emigrated from England about 1640 and was minister at Stamford, Connecticut. His Father, Alfred Bishop, was born and lived in Connecticut and was an extensive canal and railroad contractor. Commissioner Bishop was born at Bloomfield, New Jersey, September 14, 1827, while his father was temporarily living in that State, but returned with his father to Bridgeport, Connecticut, which was afterwards always his home. In 1845, at the age of 18, he entered Yale College and was graduated with the class of 1849. During his college course he is said to have been prominent as a political debater and was elected President of the Linonian Society, then a high college honor. About the time of his graduation his father died and he immediately took up the work of his father's railroad building contracts and carried them to a successful finish. Upon the completion of the Naugatuck Railroad he was made its first Superintendent and in 1855 its President. In 1867 he was made President of the New York and New Haven Railroad, afterwards the New York, New Haven & Hartford, a position which he resigned in 1879. He, however, remained a director until his death in 1904. At that time he was also Vice President. In addition to his railroad interests he was a director in banking and other corporations and also a director and large stockholder in the Western Union Telegraph Company. Although the greater part of Mr. Bishop's life was spent as an active railroad man he did not confine his activities to railroad or business interests alone. In 1870he was admitted to the bar and also for a time took an active part in politics. For several terms he was a member of the Connecticut Legislature serving with distinction both in the House and Senate. He drafted and pushed through the General Railroad Act of Connecticut which is said to have been a model of its kind. He served also in the National legislature, having been elected to the 35th Congress in which he was Chairman of the Committee on Manufactures. Shortly after the expiration of his term in 1859 he was appointed by President Buchanan Commissioner of Patents. He was the youngest of all Commissioners, being only 31 when appointed. A journal which took a great interest in patent affairs thus commented upon this fact: * * * "It might at first appear somewhat presumptuous on the part of the President to select so young a man for so important a trust but we believe he will address himself to the duties of his new post with a zeal and discretion worthy of an old head." In an issue after his resignation, this journal noted the fact that its expectations had been fulfilled. Mr. Bishop's term was short but it seems that to the duties of his office he brought the same qualities of industry and sound judgment which made him so successful in the railroad and business world. It is said that his chief contribution to the Patent Office was the systematizing of its work. At that time the Board of Examiners-in-Chief had not been created, that was effected by the Patent Act of 1861, but there was a board of three principal examiners appointed by the Commissioner which heard appeals from the decisions of the Examiners and reported to the Commissioner. He adopted or disapproved their findings as the case might be. This Board as then constituted must have had the full confidence of the Commissioner as its conclusions were usually adopted. Interference cases were treated in the same way except that in some instances they were directly considered by the Commissioner. Cases involving the extension of patents were usually taken up originally by the Commissioner, and perhaps the most important case heard and decided by Mr. Bishop was an application for the extension of the patent of Thaddeus Hyatt for the now well-known and common vault light. In his opinion in that case he discusses the position of the inventor and the treatment due him with a liberality and breadth of view which may well serve as an example even to this day. His conclusion was that $98,000, the sum alleged by Hyatt to have |