New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-04-21
PUTNAM ON COPYRIGHT.


ping man of his all gentemanly amusement, we too
might argue the Copyright Question blandy Mr..
| Putnam does as it is, We must despair. How
be ntel!igenty in favor of paying his tailor or
shoemaker yet in favor of paying the writer of the
| books whereby he is instructed and delighted The
union of integrity with decent perspcacity in OPP
pOnent of international Copyright is utterly beyond
our comprehension.
The following extracts from Mr.. Putnams letter shed
light on the whole subject:
you will admit that rule authors. il not poor,
at least far from being in auent circumstances The
few eJccDoHs where other causes besides books have
lodged Of authors in picturesque and comiortt
bic homes" with cOmpetence-the,e exceptions only
prove the rule You would then grudge authors
little remttance produced by their books over the
water If they could reach any such Perhaps you
how many such remtanees might be expected even
under international arrangement have ascer,
tanned from authentic printed lis that the number OF
American books reprinted in England up To December.
-52 and chiefly within the last ten years including iraf
editions Of the work. but not including P1rtaf'oa
OF American books is not les than
$50.
"Of many Of these books, many thousands have been
and still being printed and the number OF reprints -
rapidly and constantly ncreasng Now suppose that each
OF THESE books produced for the author the moderate sum-
average Of $50 per there would be the re-
spectacle OF $4,000 year distributed among our au
thors reward and encouragement TOR the abor' OF
their brains.
Its true that in some nstancesIrvings Cooper and
few ohersa handsome copyright was paid by English
publishers some years ago even the a6ense oi adenn'e
iw-and Is also that since Lord Campbell decision
in 1851, all American books published simultaneously IN
London are protected and paid for and very
liberal have been received by several OF our authors
from English publishers. But suggest to your sense OF
magnanmity and common justice, friend Hart whether this
Is not additional reason why We should recprocate
the cODiDhmehtI
1h, word by the way suggest, the nice abstract question:
Has author moral and equitable right 20 cum pro
perry in his works reprinted in another country Now
10 pr u ~
logician jurtaud much wiser men than myself have
differed th. point But this do say that her~ is sort
of innate Of proprey, internal satisfaction III the
idea of permitting an author to control his work. Every
where and respig from them fair proportion Of all gains
they produce Navethe "richL both legal and moral
shall we pay the author matter OF courtesy A. SUN
able Acknowledgement of benefit received Publishers
after all only stand in the capacity of mediator, between
the aunr and his readers and if the readers ready
nav the author why should the publisher Object Now
what proportion, think YOU of the ten thousand American
purchasers of popular English book. sold al dollar Tor
nstance-what proportion OF those who have derived IN,
struction amusement from such work would NOT IL
asked chccrtly and promptly add shilling I" hc prce
the book his lthe reader''l payment 20 the author
Talk offs being burdensome taXon rrtdlhS
The reading community would scorn such an aO,nriy
Surprising Macaulay, poorer author should say per
snnsv 10 an American reader his book, VIII not
give me one shilling my share of the benefit You have
received from me p show me the mtn-the Miag that
would say No will not have got your book and read
if and YOU have legal right to demand penny There
/ fore | will pay nothing" No, they would no; say TINS
igg1y why should they in the aggregate Ten thousand
/ each I'm CtHfS->aS Tor an ordinary l''At
cimo-wili give the author $1,000 Now would this be
burdensome tax do not believe that one IN one nun
dred of intelligent American readers, If asked 10 decide
whether they would add tenth to their book expenses
for the sake of the authors would hesitate one moment
Who would read his books with ten times the sati'ac
ton after knowing that the author was pad ana was ia
comfortable circumstances ready To- produce another ana
| better work Observe: the tndir'd"~ tax IN ne "
taxi of IN ceHt might produce an aggrcg0t Tor the au
! thor of 81 OOO-perhapsa great deal more -.
4 think YOU will admit. that in this country with
copyright or without il, the Interests OF publishers Wl
uranp them Ia make books cheap-sued IN price u me
character of the market II is more Prohtb To publish
books nj moderate prices within the means oi the largest
number ofreaders, than ii Is 10 make them expensive More
than his-the publisher can afford To- pay the author
whether American foreign reasonable per ceaSe Tor
the protection afforded and still sell the books without ay
increase of price Even publish numerous origiH"
royks tor Thch Te pay dc dHtor amt yt SH0fme $i"%
mice others 81 he s0me St-t ThiHP1y M c0ytS -"
hOfso? repeat that in publishing book at our present
average prices, would rath, pay ten per cent To the au
thor Tor coDy,igh than to have without copyright sun
selling il at the same price
r9We present an abstract of the new School Law of
Ohio which has met the popular approval generally where
was made issue the recent charter and borough
elections:
SIC Provides that every township shall constitute but
one school district except in Of cities and incorporated
villages and also for the establishment OF subdiStrlcs IN
SEC Provides for the election of three Directors in
every subdistric holding office respectively for three two
and one year according to the number OF votesuc cleo
tion 10 take place on the second Monday in May next
SIC ? Empowers these Directors 10 employ teachers,
control the affairs Of the schools and visit them at lest
| twice each term -.
rr census of all children between the ages of five and
twenty years which shall be returned TO the County
/ Auditors. -, ~, =
Tovnsbip Trustees viz the Clerks OF the several District
directors with the Township Clerk and empowers them
to sue and sued to receive gifts and requests Ncand
invests them with the OF all school houses 0rTeAc
within their limits - -
Sc III Gives to the Township Trustees the control of all
HIGH schools within their limits, and also to decide upon
/ the propriety of German schools.
SIC l. Requires al least sixty resident scholars IN oruer
| 10 constitute a sub district - . -
So Is Empowers the Board of Township Trustees to
control the ass nment of scholars to different schools and
TO invest them with disciplinary power IN cases oil BAD De
Sc 4; Gives to the Board the selection OF books and
! the direction OF studies to be- pursued. 80,
SEC Compcls each teacher to give tI statistics oil MS
/ schools. -, ...- - 49,.
! 10 the Auditor OF the Coony r
SIC 20 Enables Township Trustees to establish era led
! schools t1;.t
SIC - Limits the amount of tax for the support OF gh
Schools 10 two mills on the dollar
Sc - REQUIRES the Board 10 continue Their schools Tor
at least seven months III the year
Src n Directs the establishment of separate schools tor
colored children when the number exceeds ~ less
,hr then their portion of the school fund shall DC tx
,eI'd,d under the direction OF the Township Board
So 80 Makes every city and incorporated village
School district if having not less IMAM 'OVo
SIC So Authorizes the establishment OF Evening
schools in cities and incorporated villages for those who
work in the day time . IL
persons school examiners TO serve TWO years and 10 III
So a. Limits the validity OF a teachers certificate to
two wears and orbd the employment OF any teacher not
nnsssed of good moral character and qlhed % teach
photography Reading Writing, Arithmetic Geography and