New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-04-24
COPYRIGHT IN THE SENATE.
THE ouAcE BILL UNDER CONSIDERATION.
FREE TRADE IHTERRooAToRrrs sY OPPONENTS on
TUE MEASURE
ivy TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE

FEY TELEGRAPH TO The Tribune
WASHINGTON. April 23.--Ihe Senate began con-
sideration of the Copyright bill to-day. Inc
author of the measure, Mr.. Chace OF Rhode lsiand'
explained and defended IL In detail IN speech
repete with facts and figures, and SOUND ana
logical In argument. He was listened 10 WIN
close attention by an unusually large ana appre-
ciative audience Mr.. Chace does not speak olten'
but when he does he is sure to have something
to saw: and what he says is said In dlrect
Straightforward, busineSs-like manner, not easily
misunderstood. He readily disposed OF the oolec-
lions made to-day by the opponents OF the Dill
and proved himself as clever In debate as no IL
thorough in the presentation OF his case
Mr.. Hiscock, too, made @ short but strong and
lucid speech in behalf Of the bill There Is but
little doubt that il will pass the Senate TINS week.
Mr.. Chace said that the purpose sought TO DC
accomplished by it was to secure to foreign authors
compiIers and artists the same privilege OF copy
right as was granted by the United States statutes
to American authors and artists. Alter stating
the terms Of copyright laws In other countries, ne
said that the American people were the buccaneers
the corsairs ON the great ocean OF literature
Mr.. Morrill, said that he expected to vote for
the hill but he did not believe that its success
would be promoted by stigmatizing the American
had been suggested to him which he thought rea-
sonable, and he therefore offered IT, ~ was 70
insert the following proviso:
Provided that publishers newspapers other period
ieas in the United shall be allowed to copy In those
publications any articles that may appear In the news
or other periodicals Of any foreign country and for
that purpose but not for sae shall be allowed 70 import
such newspapers and other periodicals
Mr. Vance moved to insert proviso that news
apd nqriOdicalS shall not be
entitled to copyright.
Mr. Beck suggested, why not have free trade as
regards books among oil countries. Then the
American people would get books cheaply and
everybody would be protected at home and abroad.
That would be fair all around.
Mr. Chace-Perhsps that might be done, II foreign
countries would agree 10 It.
Mr. Beck-suppose mako the offer to them that
everything theirs will come In free they Will allow
everything of ours to 90 10 them free
Mr.. Chace-Is the Senator prepared for thati
MI. Beck-Yes
Mr.. Chace-wm you extend that to all kinds Of prop
ertyi
MI Beck-To FREQ books
Mr. Chace-This red rag Of free trade and protection
which Is disturbing Senators has no more TO DO with the
bill than It has with the approach OF the next comet
ardent advocates OF the bill were the strongest
Traders or course books could be got cheaper
they stolen but If the law does not impose pen
atty for such theft, the penalty Is stu inevitable
Mr.. Hiscock hoped that the bill would DO per-
mitted to pass without reference to the question
of free trade or protection: but that issue had
been made and might as well be fairly met. 1t
was true that the foreign author was no more
entitled to the American market for the work OF
his brain than was the producer of the coat which
he tlliscoclx) wore. The bill was not made inter
national, because it was practically impossible TO
do so under the various laws OF foreign nations
He spoke of authors as being poorly paid, poorly
fed and poorly clothed; and said that the exist
Of Authorship the best young men in It, The
cheap novels, the trash that are scattered over
the country came in direct competition with the
work of American authors; and that was the
great cause of decay in American literature that
had been going on for a number Of years. There
had been an increase in the number OF the books,
but depreciation in their character.
Without action on either of the proposed amend
ments the bill went over till tomorrow.