New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-03-10
FOR A NEW COPYRIGHT LAW.
PLEADING FOR ADEQUATE PROTECTION.
AUTHORS, PUBLISHERS AND woRKMEN URGE
HEIR CLAIMS AT WASHINGTON.
sY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE

sY TELEGRAPH TO THE TgrBUNE.l
WASHINGTON. March "a hearing was given TO
authors. publishers. booksellers and typesetters,
representing all those classes which make tue
books of tie country. by the several Committees
on Patents this morning. relative 10 the pending
legislation N international copyright The high
standing of he men who appeared made the gath
ering one unusual interest and Importance
Among the authors were Edward Eggleston and
Edmund Clarence Stedman, representing the
American Copyright League. The publishers had
among tber lumber the Appletons aud Putnams.
of New-fgk and the LipDincotts. of Philadel-
phis. representing the Publishers Copyright
League. Dana Estes and Mr.. Elder
we're present for the Boston International Copy
right Association. representing authors. publishers
Ind booksellers Sherman Cummins of New York.
and JanesW ech and George Chance. of Philadel-
phia, spoke in behalf of the tvpesetters. Michael
Cochran, d the Cambridge Riverside Press, and
others rsTesented the Pressmen's Association.
y. d. Memll appeared for the retail book trade
10 short every branch from the pfolucer 10 the
,opsumeruf books was on hard TO lend encourage
ment to tie proposed measure.
Mr. sl,DMAN's PLEA FOR HOME PRODUCTS.
In behaI of the authors and as a representative
of tae American Copyright League, MIR. Stedman
urged the need of copyright protection. American
authors were now unable TO secure any adequate
prices for their productions. the influx OF
cheap md trashy foreign productions had flooded
the market The Continent relied on for
what i,termed low down" literature. ltcrowded
out thework of American authors. This Hood OF
bad boOs had . demorallzing tendency on readers.
and corrupted the taste If Americans were
courageo there would be less 9" Mana and less
"gas-ligh' literature Mr. Stedman cOntelded that
the cost q books would not be increased BY the re-
srrictiou foreign publications. for the American
works would reach much larger sales. and this IN
creased denand would result In reducing the price
In his judgment, Good, wholesome. homemade
bread was hitter for Americans than French rolls
or English Mullins"
nr ,od . ha, l-ad ack of
Rgemeut 9iv0 to American authors. Every civilized
country IN III, world except one gave more generous
protection TO It's authors than the United states.
Here he man facturer Of pig iron protected but
the literary tndesman had no protection. he was
left IN postum identical with that of dry goods
merchant VIII, wa. selling IN competition with
smuggled silks If the proposed measure were
adopted 1t wOid cut of large part of those
trashy foreign books. with their false ideas TO
youth o. =" lords and ladies and hummeries." Dr.
Eggestcn sta ei that he had received Letters from
many parts of the country. showing To II the people
at large favored the change. Many editors such
as Murai Halstead nad Indicated that this was the
general oent of feeling.
PRACTICAL ASPECTS OF THE QUESTION.
forcbe, practical argument was presented by
George haven Putnam. secretary of the Publishers
Copyright League He showed now the standard of
publications was being forced down In this cOun-
try. Erlliant young authors were constantly Of
ferng Uluable works TO publishers, but these had
10 be rejected for no publisher would risk new
work hRly 10 be immediately pirated. American
eulDOTS Tere sCD1tclc0 10 Tlulcult DH the puattu
editions. In one case. book published by his
firm had een plrated abroad. and chapters left
ont In n0ther. a chapter was added. giving a
fresh mora. and thus msrepresentln2 the Ameri-
autnO. The present system was decreasing
the numbelof books published IN America accord
ing 10 statistics. and II not cheapenlng goOd
books. In GERMANY works on popular sciences
sold for one lark twenty-five cents. and the pro-
posed leglslalOn would TEND 10 like cheapening
OF good book in this country. 1t woud increase
the number hooks published In many cases
now publ hes limited their editions OF me foreign
works 10 800 soples. selling them al nlgn prices.
his was because foreg IN plates were USED, the
copyright pDlectlOD not being enough 10 warrant
an entirely OIglnal wOrk-tyDese ting ana ali-ln
this country. The change Of law proposed WOu1
induce publishers TO abandon small edluouS ana
give the pnblc the benefit of extensive editions
with corresponding reduction II pre-
Heartily URsED BY THE MECHANICAL ELEMENT.
An iupOrtan feature of the hearing was the
unaniMty OF expression from all branches
In the copyright agitation heretofore,
here has been 40 harmony of IDEAS. But to-day
showed that the mechanical element. which has
thus fg urged most objection, IN line with the
genera sentiment. Mr.. Cochran, in behalf OF the
pressng, showed the infero1fy of the foreign
plates ued IN producing cheap American editions
Messrs- ,ummins. WEIGH and nance urged that
the proposed legislation WAS heartily commended
Dy the typographical Union which they repre-
sented, as was co ls.dered means Of G tending
the Work American publication.
Gardner hubbard gave the committee .-e benent
OF ms vlewsOppOslng the proposed measure. lie
urged that would raise the price OF books ana
Wa designed for that purpose. Aside from tnls
EXPRESSION. Dwever. the showing was strong
one IN Dehaif)f the new copyright law