New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-07-17
THE LITERARY CONGRESS.

IRON A STAFF CORRESPONDENT or THE TRIBUNFI
PARIS, July 4.--On Saturday last the Inferno
tioDal Literary Congress adjourned sine die 1t
held eight OF nine sessions and adopted number Of
resolutions. The number Of speeches made passes
computation And the practical result Of its delib-
crations is more difficult still to estimate. have
not troubled you with any continuous record of the
proceedings OF this body but il is desirable to com
plete the account began n fortnight ago; which
will do as briefly rs possible. and with as little
technicality as possible.
M. Victor Hugo, who lent thesplendor Of his name
and of his eloquence TO the ceremony at tho Chate
let thought the Congress so important that he pre-
sided over two three subsequent sessions ana en-
deavored to impress his own views on the members
NJ Victor Hugo is a great writer who has the repu-
tation of being also very capable and shrewd man
of business in his dealings With his publishers. Of
the three sets of questions that came up for discus
sion-of which You will find some mention in
former letter-the one he laid most stress
upon was the right of literary property,
and incidentally to this, the relations be-
tween author aud public In the session fol
lowing that at the Chatelet NJ. Victor Hugo made
second speech: not like the first set DISCOURSE
INF conversation a statement of ideas to the re-
mort of which he subsequently, gave few cor
reotions. and which has been published. Familiar
as it is in form il sums up the deliberate opinions OF
a lifetime devoted to literature by man who taxes
literature as seriously as Dante or Milton took IL.
For him there are two personalities IN presence OF
each other the author and society, or as we should
sav the public. He agrees with everybody
in saving that tho authors right over
his work is absolute down to the moment
of the first publication Of his work. At that mo-
ment the rights of the public begin. The author
has nc longer the night TO alter or the power to de-
stroy his book. During his lifetime, nevertheless,
ne may suppress il, and be is the master of the
form of its publication His property in 1t Is abso-
lutte. and he may make his own terms with the pub
Usher NJ Victor Hugo would make this property,
OF rather a property. in the book perpetual. de
proposes a scheme for carrying out tins idea, ae-
eordng 10 which the heirs of the author are to have
a right to profit, though in a moderate degree,
so long as any heirs exist but without any right to
modify or suppress the authors writings, OF any
mart of them, which belong henceforth 70 what
Hugo calls the public domain. Anybody IS to be
allowed to publish them subject to the payment OF
royalty TO the herr; this royalty never to exceed
or 10 per cent Of the net profits Sir Louis Mallet
one OF the English Copyright Commissioners, had a
similar idea, which be- however. proposed to apply
during the authors lifetime in lieu Of ell other
oopyriglt. He has been well answered and the an-
swer is equally good for M. Victor Hugo that this
scheme would give the author or the heir simply
the right to begin an indefinite number Of actions at
law. All Victor Hugo's authority did not sufhee
70 impose his plan on the Congress inits original
form He wished this CHIT Of IndiscrimiDate pub
location TO begin Immediately on the authors death.
The Congress resolved that it should not begin ali
twenty years after; the full right OF The author
rassing TO and subslstng in his heirs meantime.
From the time Of the passing of this vote, the old
man ceased 10 take part in the work Of tie Con-
press. They were at one, however, IN affirming a
principle which is likely TO be repugnant to the
world in general: the perpetuty Of copyright In
some shape or other.
Onthe question of international copyright, there
fore the benefit of NJ. Victor Hugo's advice was
wanting to the Congress. He expressed no opiniol
whatever on that though he is as much interested
in il as most men, having been more widely trans
lated and republshed in foreign countries than any
other living author whatever II is understood that
he does not dissent from the formula finally voted,
as follows:
every literary, scientific or artistic work shall
be treated in countries other than its country Of
origin, according to the same laws as works OF ma
tiOnal origin
ITO insure himself this protection ii shall be suf-
icient for the author to have accomplished in the
country where the work is first Published the Gus
tOmary formalities."
The singularly clumsy phraseology Of this resolu-
ton. though not creditable to a literary body,
leaves its meaning clear. 1t is nothing less than
the enactment of a universal international copy
right law which is thus proposed. Under such a
law. a book duly copyrighted IN one country is
copyrighted everywhere, and entitled in each
country of the world TO the same legal protection as
if il had been first published in that country. The
English Copyright Commission has done itself
honor by adopting a recommendation hardly less
broad in its scope and generous in its application.
They recommend in so many words that England
sbonld recognize the authors rights, irrespective
of nationality, and they DO this in full knowl-
edge of the unscrupulous piracy which
American publishers have practised in the past on
English authors and in many cases continue 20
practIse. am glad 10 say that this branch OF the
question was not brought prominently before the
Congress 1t was not necessary TO bring IT. IN order
10 convince body Of authors that body of publish
ers whether domestic or foreign. have no right TO
publisb an authors work without paying him for
that work. In that remarkable Catalogue of the
American Exhibit of Books at the Universal Expo
gition--of which l have said something before
there occurs statement that although no writer
not citizen of the United States can in any way OBJ
tain copyright, most publishers pay an equivalent
ROYALTY TO foreign authors with whom they have
permanent relations" Is that true And IN so far
as it is true can il be stated how soon such relations
become permanent. and who pocketsthe proceeds of
The authors works while they are in process Of be-
coming permanent who decides when they are per-
manent, and what happens when they do not be-
como permanent at all
In the catalogue OF one great New-York house it
is alleged with an air of pride that despite the
absence of international copyright the house pays
large sums to foreign authors, as much as $4,000
having been paid on single book though
80 nouaItu gives NO Local protectionp l