.”
Mar., 1918
T H E J O U R N A L OF I N D U S T R I A L A N D E N G I N E E R I N G C H E M I S T R Y
instructors. Among others, Secretary Baker, General Wood, and, more recently. Mr. Hoover have publicly urged all students t o remain in college unless actually drafted. I n orders promulgated by t h e War Department, official recognition has been given of t h e necessity for continued preparation of students in engineering and in medicine. The successful training of both of these groups of men involves fundamental instruction in chemistry. Yet i t seems t h a t the Local Draft Boards throughout the country are declining t o give any deferred classification t o instructors in chemistry. I n practically every institution, members of t h e teaching staffs have been assigned b y the Local Boards t o Class I - A . I n a few isolated cases, and only as the result of strenuous effort on the part of university administrators, District Boards have transferred these men t o Class 3 - K . Yet upon the instructors, for the most part of draft age, must fall a large part of t h e burden of instructional work, for already t h e staffs of these same institutions have been seriously crippled by the withdrawal of many professors for war investigations in Washington, and for the Chemical Service Section of the National Army, while many important government researches are being prosecuted within university laboratories. The candle is being burned at both ends. If it be considered necessary for the country’s welfare t h a t students should continue their university training, surely it is logical that these men should have competent and adequate instruction. Otherwise t h e entire program falls through. The action of the Adjutant General in clarifying t h e industrial situation warrants t h e hope t h a t the Provost Marshal General will likewise issue orders t o prevent the decimation of the instructional staffs of the institutions where, a t t h e direction of the War Department, young men are t o be trained in order eventually t o give t o this country the greatest service of which they are capable. FACTS FOR THE TARIFF COMMISSION From the Chairman of the Tariff Commission we have received a copy of the letter and accompanying questionnaire as t o production and consumption recently sent out t o all manufacturers of intermediates, dyes, medicinals, photographic chemicals, flavors, synthetic phenol resins, and t o those plants other than coke plants and gas houses, manufacturing crudes. I n conducting this census the Commission is accumulating the evidence by which t h e President, under the law as it now stands, will eventually be guided in t h e matter of the possible repeal of the special duties. We are confident t h a t manufacturers, regardless of the time and labor involved, will promptly and in fullest detail furnish the Commission the information desired. And i t is directly t o t h e manufacturer’s own interest t o do so. The published summary of this census will furnish facts which will prove the vindication and glory of the American manufacturer and constitute the certain basis upon which a repeal of the sixty per cent clause can be recommended and urged.
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Furthermore, this publication should serve as an accurate and illuminating gude for the future co6rdination and intelligent diversification of the dyestuff industry. We have been especially interested in reading one portion of the questionnaire and quote herewith from the second footnote on page 7 : “The term ‘indigoids’ has not yet been defined by the courts. It is, therefore, urged that special care be taken to explain the chemical nature of all dyes which might be regarded as indigoids. Such explanation will enable the Commission t o make classifications in accordance with future judicial interpretation of this word.” Congress can relieve the courts of t h e necessity of making any such “judicial interpretatioh” b y striking out the word. It is altogether pleasant and assuring as we approach the day of further legislation concerning tariffs and especially tariffs on dyestuffs t o sense a new standard of action. The log-rolling spirit of previous years has been put in the background and in its place appears a desire for facts as a guide for action. For this change we are largely indebted t o the able and comprehensive manner in which the Tariff Commission has begun its labors. Then, too, the spirit of the times precludes excessive partisanship; more and more, selfish and purely local considerations are yielding t o whole-hearted devotion t o national interests. Such an atmosphere justifies t h e utmost confidence as t o the character of future legislation. A PATENT ABUSE
The exigencies of t h e war period have led t o feverish activity in many laboratories in attempts t o carry out processes described in the literature and in patent specifications, chiefly in the field of organic chemistry. Within the past year we have frequently been apprised by chemists of the lack of success in the preparation of compounds by following directions, even by most careful attention t o the minutest details, in the official records. Men who have experienced this difficulty stand so high t h a t no question of lack of skill a n d technique can be involved, and we are forced t o t h e conclusion t h a t deliberate misrepresentation has been made, especially in t h e case of certain foreign patents. If this is true it is extremely regrettable t h a t t h e literature of chemistry is clogged with such deceit; in t h e case of patent specifications, it is reprehensible, in t h a t a matter of perjury is involved. The demonstration of such falsity would immediately invalidate t h e patent, but this is a tedious process, necessitating a great amount of laboratory work and expense and loss of time in litigation. Our patent system should be protected against impositions. This might be accomplished in one of a t least three ways: First, the Patent Office might test the good faith of all applicants for chemical patents by making greater use of existing government laboratories. It is doubtful, however, in view of the work already engaging t h e attention of these federal laboratories, whether a further tax upon their courtesy would
