National Republican., 1888-04-24
INTERNATIONAL COPYRIGHT.
AMERICANS TIE BUCCANEERS OF
TIE OCEAN OF LITERATURE.
Spirited Debate in the Senate with
Slight Tinge of Free Tradcism--
District Matters Crowded out of Com
sidcration by Rivers and Habors.

Among the petitions presented in the
Senate and referred yesterday were two
from the state of kansas--one in favor of
an impost tax on raw silk, aud the other to
make good to the officers and soldiers Of
the late war the difference between gold and
the gold value of the grecnbacks in which
they were paid.
Mr.. Chace presented petitions signed By
25T physicians. So pastors of churches, and
054 supcrintendents, officers, and Teachers
Of public schools of the District Of Column
bic, asking legislation to prohibit the sale
OF cigars, cigarettes, or tobacco TO boys uus
der ~ years of age. lie said that the sgr-
crs of the petitions had investigated the
subject with great care, and had become
impressed with the belief that the evil was
very grave and scrious.
Mr.. Stewart added that the use of Gig
arcttCs was destroying the rising generation
aud affecting inluriously the prosperity of
the country.
The petitions were ordered printed as
public document.
conference committee on the House
Joint resolution accepting the invitation Of
the French republic to take part in the inter
national exposition at Paris In 1889 was or.
dcrcd, and Senators Sherman Evarts, and
Brown were appointed.
On motion Of Mr.. Call the House substi-
tute to the Senate bill for a light at Char
lOttc harbor, Fla, was concurred in.
On motion of Mr.. Blackburn the House
bill prohibiting the making In Washington
or Georgetown of "hoOksn or ''pOOlsn on
the result of trotting or running races or
Eott races or base ball was taken from the
calendar aud passed.
The Senate then resumed consideration of
the bill to forfeit certain lands heretofore
grated for the purpose of aiding in the con
stluct!on of railroads. the question being on
an amendment offered by Mr. Stoclibrilge
and amendments thereto offered by Mr.. Pal
mer.
Mr.. Stockbridge withdrew his amendment.
The bill after discussion was laid aside
without action, and the 'animal industry
bill was taken up.
Mr.. Palmer, who is in charge of It, offered
q substitute for 1t, which had been got up,
he said, in conjunction with distinguished
member of the judiciary committee.
The substitute having been read, was or
dcrcd to be printed, and the bill was laid
aside till to-day.
The Senate then proceeded to the consid-
Grafton OF the international copyright bill.
Mr. Chacc, who has charge of the bill,
made statement iI its support. 1t came
ent auspices from any previous bill on the
same subject. This bill commanded the
united, harmonious support of every inter
est connected with the subject-authors,
publishers, and printers. The purpose
sought to be accomplished was to secure to
foreign authors, compilers, and artists the
same privilege of copyright as was granted
by the United States statutes to American
authors and artists.
After stating the terms Of copyright laws
in other counties, he said that the Amcri-
can people were the buccaneers, the corsairs
on the great ocean of literature
Mr. Morrill, said that he expected to vote
for the bill, hut he did not believe that its
success would not be promoted by stigma
tizing the American people as buccaneers or
corsars. An amendment lad been sur
gosted to him which he thought quite rea-
sonablc, and he therefore offered II. 1t was
to insert proviso allowing newspapers to
copy articles from foreign papers and for
this purpose to import them.
Mr.. Vance moved to insert proviso that
newspapers, magazines, and periodicals
shall not be entitled to copyright.
Mr.. Beck asked why not have free trade
as regards books among all countries. Then
the American people would get books
chcaply, and everybody would be protected
at home and abroad. That would be fair
all around
Mr.. Chace. Perhaps that might be done if
foreign countries would agree to 1t.
MIR. Beck. Suppose We make the offer to
them that everything Of theirs will come in
free If they win allow everything of ours to
go to them free?
Mr.. Chace. Is the senator prepared for
that
Mr.. Beck. Yes.
Mr.. Chacc. viii you extend that to all
kinds of property?
Mr.. Beck. To free books
Mr.. Chacc. This ''red rag of free trade
and protection which Is disturbing senators
has no more to do with the bill than II has
with the approach of the next comet.
Mr.. 1liscoek advocated the bill. lie had
hoped that 1t would be permitted to pass
without reference to the question of free
trade or protection. The bill was not made
international because it was practically i'm
possible to do so under the laws of foreign
nations.
The bill went over
The Senate then proceeded to the consid-
Grafton Of executive business, and, at $50,
nljOurnpl