National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1886-02-13
AN AMERICAN nook PIRATE.
Serious Allegations Against Importers

Serious Allegations Against importers
of BOoks-Internatlonal Copyright.
The Senate committee on patents con-
tinued its hearing upon the international
copyright bills yesterday morning. Roger
Sherman, of Philadelphia, laid before the
committee printed sheets containing in brief
his objections to the passage Of any inter
national copyright bill. This he discussed
and elaborated for an hour. During the
progress Of his remarks he avowed himself
one Of the American pirates, and said he
had the black flag flying. Incidentally, but
with emphasis, he charged that the "Cyclo-
pedia Britannica" reprint Of which he
was the publisher, was imported at less
than its lawful duty, and this was done un.
der false ruling Of the treasury, which
had been obtained for n consideration. Ifhe
dared he would mention names. lie sup-
gcsted q reference to a report of Special
Agents DuttOn and Williams, which, he
said, was suppressed because 1t implicated
every importer Of books IN the United
States in irregular practices. They were
all trembling in their boots because
OF the disclosures he was to.make Cheap
literature was a large factor In cheap educa-
ton. An international copyright bill would
yield our market to English manufacturers
"a market they took no part In creating,
shlu NnbSt CEbNbOH bUtH W0uiu nave Dfe-
vented II they could. IL was mere pre-
tense that native authors could not live in
competition with free literature. The Amer.
lean market was ready and willing TO take
more good literature than native talent could
offer, and was compelled to seek foreign
productions. The work Of foreign authors
stimulated our own authors TO greater eff
forts 1t would be wrong TO force the peo-
pie to pay for what they can now have free.
Dana Estes, OF Boston, replied briefly TO
Mr.. Sherman. He was glad the committee
had heard from one who avowed himself a
pirate. Mr.. Sherman's objections answered
themselves. He would protect the laborer
by tariff, but would stimulate authorship
by active competition. The proposition was
absurd. Mr., Sherman was the publisher Of
areprint OF the encyclopedia Britannica
He represented himself alone In his arpu-
ment, and wished to delay the passage of
an International copyright law until he
could bring out the remaining volume of
that work. He was the only successful
pirate OF foreign works. Mr.. Sherman had
not told the committee that the man who
first conceived the idea Of reprinting that
work was now bankrupt
j. II. Sypher, of Philadelphia, an attorney
who makes copyright law speciality, adj
dressed the committee upon tho legal fea-
lures OF the pending questions ae took
up the Hawley aud Chaee bills and pointed
out In detail his objections to them. He
suggested that Congress provide for the.
granting of royaltyto authors of foreign
books. He would have publishers who
would comply with certain restrictions IL
censed by the copyright Office in Washing
ton, and would permit all such to publish
the book, requiring of them quarterly re-
turns of the number Of volumes published,
and'would provide by law proper means Of
securing to the author his royalty and of
preventing unlicensed publication. This
would, he believed, give the author his.
rights without creating monopoly and
materially increasing the price of books.