St. Paul daily globe., 1888-03-10
Il THE COPYRIGHT BILL.
The Best of Books and Well Made
~ Is What the People Demand.

Z Iuc bcSC Oh BOOKS anu w ell Mauc
ID Is What the People Demand.
WASHINGTON, March 9.-The senate
committee on patents gave hearing
! this morning to gentlemen interested in
the pending international copyright bill.
George Walter Green, secretary and
counsel of the American Copyright
league, said it was time that the stigma
ofspiracy were removed from. all con-
cerned in the book trade, because they
were all pirates so long as the present
condition continued. What was now
asked of the committee and of congress
was that it should join hands with all
black flag. Edmund Clarence Stedman
referred to the thorough examination of
the whole subject by this same commit
tee two years ago. He laid stress upon
the American side of the proposed re-
form. With the British author question
simply was whether he should occupy
this-"Greater Britain'-whether he
should have more market. With the
American author the question was
whether he should have any market in
his own country. Americans, and no
where more than in the extreme West
and South, wanted the best books,
wished them well made, and wished
their writers, whom they regarded with
interest, and even affection, fairly re-
munerated. He would venture finally
to make one or two corOllarieS to Mr..
LOwell's saying, that ''there is one thing
better than cheap book-and that it is
book honestly come by" First, good
book, well made, is worth fair cost to
its purchaser; secondly, the lowest
priced horses, pictures and books
ARE NOT THE CHEAPEST;
third, in the literary market just now
good homemade bread is quite as
wholesome for Americans as are French
rolls, or even English mullins. Edward
Eggleston presented his view in the
same general line. He said there was
not note of opposition to the proposed
law. Sherman Cummins, of New York,
representing typographical union,
stated the position of the members of
his craft on the subject of a copyright.
They were in favor of it, provided the
type is set and the work printed in this
country. With that provision in it they
hoped that the bill would pass. Ii not,
they would be compelled to ask an
amendment to the existing law, because
in was violation of the protective prin-
ciple of the country. James Welsh, of
Phlladelphla Typographical Union NO.
2, made statement in favor of the bill.
Il. A. Putnam, secretary of the Ameri-
can Publishers Copyright league, said
that the bill was supported by the
authors and publishers of the country,
as well as by the Typographical union.
Gardiner G. Hubbard, of Washington,
opposed the bill as one the only effect of
which would>.be, and the only reason
for asking it was, to increase the price
of books. Dana Estes, of Boston, sec
tary of the International Copyright as
sOciatiOn, spoke in favor of the measure.
Nathan Appleton expressed the belief
that the American people, who liked
fair play in everything, would accept
the proposed legislation, and that the
ground could not be covered better than
it was covered by the pending bill if
congress was to devote five years to the
question. Joseph Ryland, of the New
York Typographical union, favor the
bill. Mr.. Merrill, publisher of st. Paul.
Mimi, was satisfied that the American
readers were heartily in favor of fair
play, and that encouragement should be
given to American books and American
authorship. This closed the hearing.