No. ]99.] 387 



gams an interview at all, it must necessarily be so confused and hur- 

 ried as to be of little practical service. 



The extent and importance of the present business of the patent 

 office demands an entirely new and different organization of the ex- 

 aminers' department. The duties which they perform are susceptible 

 of being divided into three classes : 



1st. Examinations as to the form of the specification, drawings, 

 model, and other papers of the applicant. 



2d. Searches and examinations of records, scientific publications, 

 models and other sources, for evidence on the subject of the applica- 

 tion. And 



3d. Digesting, considering and disposing of the evidence after 

 foimd, including consultations, explanations, hearing parties, examina- 

 tion of evidence taken in interference cases, and other things of like 

 nature. 



The labor of the first two of these divisions is of a nature which 

 requires no interruption, and of conseqwicnce, when mixed up with 

 that of the third division, the whole becomes confused and hurried, 

 and much time is lost. 



To obviate all difficulty and secure order and dispatch, there should 

 be three sets of examiners : principal examiners, to take charge of 

 the third division ; vice-examiners, to take charge of the second di- 

 vision ; and assistant examiners, to take charge of the first division. 



And, as far as practicable, the office of the examiners should be 

 made permanent, and they should succeed each other in rotation, from 

 assistant to principal. 



Such an arrangement would secure qualifications adapted to duty, 

 and promote general order and dispatch of business. It would re- 

 lieve the first and second divisions from the confusion and interruption 

 of the matters belonging to the third, and enable the principals to at- 



