AT 
directly or with the aid of assistants these investigations have resulted in some im- 
portant discoveries of universal application, and I can say with pride that, though 
often urged to take personal advantage of such discoveries, I have in no single in- 
stance accepted a fee for information given, or received a dollar from any application 
of these discoveries, even where others have reaped fortunes. As a salaried officer my 
duty was plain, and I make the statement, without boastfulness and simply to em- 
phasize the discouraging fact, that in every instance where the benefit to the public 
has been great, either the honor has been contested by private parties or else means 
have been taken by private individuals to control, through patent or otherwise, the 
discoveries for their personal ends. 
It would seem that on this account the Patent Office should endeavor, 
in considering applications for patents for objects which the Govern- 
ment is already endeavoring to accomplish, to ascertain fully what the 
Government has done, as any other course will tend to pervert, dis- 
courage, and neutralize all honest efforts made by other Departments of 
the Government for the public good. It would seem, also, that there 
is need of some modification of the law in so far as Government evi- 
dence is concerned. | 
Mr. B. P. Mann said that ne patent can be held valid unless held by 
the inventor. The Government ought to get out a patent on the broad 
invention, and it could then prevent the present holders of the patent 
from using it. 
Mr. Riley and Mr. Mann further discussed the subject. 
The president announced that a reception, to which all were invited, 
would be held at Mr. Riley’s residence, Sunbury, Wyoming avenue, at 
7 o’clock this evening. 
The meeting then adjourned. 
AFTERNOON SESSION. 
The meeting was called to order at 2:30 p. m. by President Fletcher. 
Twenty-eight persons were present. The minutes of the preceding ses- 
sion were read and approved. The committee ou nominations reported 
the following nominations for the ensuing year : 
For president, J. A. Lintner, of New York. 
For first vice-president, S. A. Forbes, of Illinois. 
For second vice-president, J. H. Comstock, of New York. 
For secretary, F. M. Webster, of Ohio. 
On motion, the report of the committee was adopted, the committee 
was discharged, and the officers named were declared elected. The 
name of George H. Hudson, of Plattsburg, New York, was presented by 
Mr. Lintner; that of H. A. Morgan, of Louisiana, by Mr. Weed; that of 
B. P. Mann, of the District of Columbia, by Mr. Bruner, and that of Miss 
M. E. Murtfeldt, of Missouri, by Mr. Riley.- All of these names were 
‘ordered inscribed upon the roll of members. 
_ On motion of Mr. Howard, seconded by Mr. Smith, it was resolved 
| that the next meeting of the society be held at the nice of, and two 
| 
