all of these various ramifications that have to do with the developing of technology and research. As Mr. Weeks said this morning, when he spoke about the fact that we have the kind of economy where we rely on the interchangeability of parts, the development of gage blocks for closer tolerances is an important field of activity by the Bureau. So the National Bureau of Standards has not only tried to help scientific thinking in terms of academic theory, but from the very practical standpoint to do those things that will help make our mass economy more effective. I think perhaps the only other thing I might say on the matter of the Bureau of Standards is to remind you of the importance of getting the adequate number of scientists and engineers and men of research, to keep pace with Russia. I read something which was marked "Secret". Two days later, I read it all-everything in that secret document in the paper. Maybe no harm was done. There were no figures there, but at least the public is increasingly being made more and more aware of the fact if we are going to save our skins, so far as our national security is concerned, we have got to keep pace in terms of research, and in terms of a lot of pure research before you get to the practical research, both to preserve our national security and to continue with the rapidly increasing standard of living. Mr. THOMAS. You are not taking about the publication put out by the Department of Research-the Russian Technical Manual? Mr. WILLIAMS. I have not seen that one. Mr. THOMAS. It is marked "secret", or "supersecret", but in the National Science Foundation, they spent $25,000 for publishing that book so it could not have been very secret. Evidently that is what you read. Mr. WILLIAMS. No. I read something else. I happened to be in touch with this subject. Mr. THOMAS. That is the only one published in the United States. Mr. WILLIAMS. That was a Government paper, that I am talking about, marked secret. As I say, it did not seem to be very secret. I read it in the newspaper a few days later. COAST AND GEODETIC SURVEY Now, the Coast and Geodetic Survey; perhaps there is nothing so thrilling and melodramatic in this Coast and Geodetic Survey, but at the same time, it is extremely important because too many important operations stem from the work that the Coast and Geodetic people do. The survey of the coast lines. That is tremendously important, not only for national defense but for the operation of our merchant marine. They also have the responsibility for making the necessary surveys so we can have our marine charts and our air charts. As you know, also, it has to do with earthquake information and tides. I think that the only thing that need be said further is to emphasize what the Secretary said this morning. There used to be quite a fleet of vessels-9 of them, I think it was, was it not, Mr. Nielson, all together, 3 or 4 years ago; and now that figure is down to 4. The Surveyor which was operating up in Alaskan waters became incapaci tated because of old age-38 years-last summer, and it was junked, for scrap. So this new ship has been authorized for which budget appropriation is needed. It is really an almost desperately needed ship, in order to keep the program of the United States Coast and Geodetic Survey going along. PATENT OFFICE Now, as to the Patent Office, you are going to hear from them. They are on next, I think, for direct hearing. Just a few words on that important office. It is not quite the same as the Bureau of Standards, but it relates to this question of scientific discovery. COMPARISON OF AMERICAN AND GERMAN PERSONNEL STAFFS I have been disturbed over the fact—I think Mr. Watson can bear this out that Germany, with a population of roughly, maybe a little more than a fourth-maybe a third-something like that, of our population, has an enrollment in its patent office of some 2,000. We, the much bigger country, have a staff of 1,600 to 1,700. A very little incident took place about a year ago when a group of foreign students-I think about 25 nations were represented-came to visit the Department of Commerce. I was visiting with them, telling them something about the Department of Commerce, and then in the afternoon, they were to go out to different places. Some of them were going to the art museum. There were four Germans there. Where do you suppose they went? To the National Bureau of Standards! All their minds were focused upon science, science, science, science. Mr. PRESTON. I cannot help but make the observation that this committee gave you $2 million more last year than you requested. Mr. WILLIAMS. Yes. Mr. PRESTON. This difference between the German figure and the American figure is no fault of this committee. We upped the figure $2 million fat dollars, trying to get the backlog solved. So it is not the fault of the committee. PLANS FOR REDUCTION OF BACKLOG Mr. WILLIAMS. We certainly are not casting any reflection adversely, on this committee, Mr. Chairman. I can tell you that. The point we want to emphasize here is the so-called 8-year program that Mr. Watson and his associates have worked out. It would seem to point the way to catching up with that backlog which accumulated for two reasons primarily. First, the rate of inflow of applications increased; secondly, the output per examiner steadily declined. Now, we are pretty well set for this 8-year program, to reduce this backlog down to 100,000 so that the operation will be in what might be called a normal position once again. I think that the only other observation to make is with respect to mechanization. There is a committee working now in the National Bureau of Standards, and it is hoped-though I would not want to hold out too much promise-but at least, it is hoped as a result of the studies that are being made, that we can come up with some new "gimmicks" involving perhaps some electronic devices or perhaps other devices that science can uncover for us, so that the whole program Mr. THOMAS. A young man of 35 to 40 would be a middle-aged man before your program bears fruit. Mr. WILLIAMS. As I said, I am not going to predict how fast progress will be in this field of endeavor. Mr. THOMAS. Why in the world should a man wait 8 years? Mr. WILLIAMS. I think Mr. Watson can answer that better than I. The subject matter of recruiting men and training them is in itself a practical problem. Whether or not it can be done in a shorter period of time than that, I would be very happy to have you direct that question to Mr. Watson and his associates. I think that is all. COMPARISON OF PROPOSED 1957 PATENT OFFICE BUDGET WITH APPROPRIATIONS IN PRIOR YEARS Mr. ROONEY. This request of the Patent Office is in excess of any request of the Patent Office in the history of the United States Government; is it not? Mr. WILLIAMS. I cannot tell you. Mr. ROONEY. The highest year was 1953-fiscal year when the amount was $12,955,000. Now you come along and ask for $17 million. Is that correct? Mr. WILLIAMS. $17 million is requested for this year. Mr. ROONEY. Have we abandoned the idea of streamlining the Government and cutting down the cost of Government? Mr. WILLIAMS. Not at all. Mr. ROONEY. How do you jibe requests such as this, with the theory of saving some money for the taxpayer? Mr. WILLIAMS. Well, I think the way you "jibe" that is to take a look at the chart, which I presume Mr. Watson has right here, showing the rapid buildup of new applications, thus causing this peak of backlog figures which aggressive steps are now being taken to melt away. If we succeed in achieving the goals set under the 8-year plan and get the backlog down to a normal load of 100,000, then we won't have to have anything like that kind of a budget to carry on. In the meantime, as I am sure you remember from last year's discussions, it is hoped that the legislation that is in the hopper at the present time will produce some $3 million more per year to serve as a partial offset for the added outgo; maybe later on some other type of fees can be generated by legislation. That subject is not before the House at the present time. Mr. ROONEY. This request would be in an amount almost $10 million more than it was 10 year ago? Mr. WILLIAMS. That is right; 1947 seems to be the last figure. It is $7.5 million. Mr. ROONEY. Yes. Now it is up to $17 million Mr. PRESTON. Thank you, Mr. Secretary. If there are no specific questions of the Secretary at this point we will proceed to hear the Patent Office witness. PATENT OFFICE WITNESSES WALTER WILLIAMS, UNDER SECRETARY OF COMMERCE Mr. PRESTON. The next item we will take up will be the item of the Patent Office, Department of Commerce. This item is found on page 107 of the committee print and on page 900 of the justifications in part II. It is a request in the amount of $17 million, an increase of $2,247,000 over the fiscal year 1956 base. SUMMARY JUSTIFICATION DATA Without objection, pages 909 through 911 of the justification will be inserted in the record. (Pp. 909 through 911 of the justification are as follows:) |