The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1886-01-30
In tho CommIstee.nooms.

until Monday.
In tho CommIttee.IlOOms
At the hearing given to-day by the
Sepa.e Committee on Patents, to
authorize publishers and Others inter-
ested In the subject OF international
copyright, Mr.. Gardner Hubbard ad.
dressed the committee ia opposition
to the passage Of any copyright bills.
Mr.. James Russell Lowell, president
Of the American Copyright League,
was introduced by Mr.. Green, the
secretary OF the league, and spoke at
some length in favor OF the pasBSge cf
an international copyright bill. In
reply to Mr.. Hubbard he said nobody
would maintain that there was
property in an idea. The property right
was In the fashion Of presenting the
idea, The constitution recogniEsd
this In granting patents. Patents
we're nothing but idea fashioned in a
certain way. For instance the Bell
telephone was precisely a parallel case
with books. He declared there was
one kind OF books better than cheap
books, and these we're books honestly
come by. He took the moral view OF
the question. Many OF the arguments
used by Mr.. Hubbard might be
used In defense Of pocket-picking.
One could live much easier II he could
live upon the labors OF other people,
but this was MOI considered honett
when he was young. Mr.. lowell spoke
foe an hour, chiefly in reply to in
quiries addressed TO him by members
OF the committee. Mr.. James WEIGH,
president Of the Typographical Union
OF Philadelphia, aud representing the
unions ofthe entire country, addressed
the committee, and presented a me-
mortal In support Of the Chase bill and
in opposition to the Hawley bill. la
reply to inquiries, he taid the Hawley
bill, amended as suggested by Senator
Hawley yesterday, by the insertion Of
a provisisa requiring foreign works
copyrighted here to be printed in this
country, would be satisfactory to the
labor organic ATOMS.
The House Committee on Labor to-
day instructed Representative James
to report favorably the bill introduced
by him making il unlawful for any tf.
iicer, agent or servant OF the Govern
ment Of the United States 10 contract
with any person or corporation, or
any official ct any State prison
where criminals of the United Stltes
may be i~ncarcerated, ID hire or con-
tract out the labor Of said criminals,
and imposing a fne OF from $500 to
$1,000, or imprisonment tor one to
three years, for violations of the act.
Tae subcommittee having charge OF
the convict labor question reported
a bill prohibiting the use OF
material made by convicts in the con-
on Of government works. The
bill is a long one, and the full commit
tee adjourned before concluding its
consideration. Tie National Letter
Carriers Association will appear be.
fore the committee on Monday next in
favor OF the extension OF the eight.
hour law 10 letter carriers.
The House Committee on Postofices
and Post roads to-day extended an
invitation 10 the representatives OF the
"Red d" steamship line to appear be-
fore the committee on February 4th on
the question Of ocean mail transpo IA
ton. Dr.. Norvin Green, OF the
Western Union Telegraph Company,
and Mr.. II. d. Money, chairman OF
the committee in the last Congress, |
were invited Ia address the commit
tee February I'd on the postal tale
graph question.
The House Committee on the Alec.
holic Liquor Traffic met to-day and
appointed Messrs. Fredericks, Merri-
man, Lindsey, Price and Campbell a
subcommittee on all bills relating to
the appointment Of an Alcoho ic Liq.
uor Commission. Messrs.\ Glover,
Sayres and Price were appointed a
subcommittee on a bill providing that
TO person shall receive a United States
license to sell Intoxicating liquors I'M
I'll he has secured q license fiom the
10 al authorit ,s.
Messrs. Prescott, Woodbury. aud
Babson Of Massachusetts, appeared be
fore the Senats Committee on Foreign
Relations to-day and made argument
at length in opposition TO the Presi-
dent's proposition for the appointment
OF a Fisheries Commission to effect a
settlement of the disputed jurisdiction
OF the United States and Great Britain
over the Newfoundland banks.
The Senats Committee on Foreign
Relations to-day reported adversely to
granting to Gen. o. o. Howard the con.
sent OF Congress to receive from the
French Republic the decoration of the
Legion tf Honor, and the count no.
pairtmeut and honorary rsok Of
chevslsur. These honors were ten.
dered Gen. Howard by the French
government for, and in appreciation
OF, services rendered his own country,
and in its report the committee gays:
at has been the Gust I'm hitherto, and
IS the committee thinks somewhat
too frequent and extended, for Con-
gress to authorize officers of the
United States to receive gifts and
decorations from foreign governments
for some distinguished or peculiar
service that such oficer may have
rendered TO such foreign government,