Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-03-23
INTERNATIONAL COPYRiGHT.
Hearing Before the House Judiciary
COmMllttee.

hearing on the subject OF the proposed inter.
national copyright law took place this morning
before the House committee on the judiciary
Among those present were Mr.. Breckenridge, OF
kentucky, who had introduced the bill referred to
the committee; George Walton Green, counsel OF
the Authors Copyright League; DR.. Jas. c. Well
Ing, president OF the Copyright Association OF
Washington; DR.. Jas. Welsh, Jas c. Mateer, Geo.
Chance, and John T. Evans, representing Typo
graphical Union No 2. or Philadelphia; Jas Dun
can and Sherman Cumming, representing Typo
graph ,al Union OF New York: Samuel NJ. Clemens
MARX Twain1; Geo H. Putnam, secretary Pub
representing Publishers Copyright League and
Boston Copyright Associations; and DR.. Edward
Eggleston, representing Authors Copyright League.
Mr.. BRECKENRIDGE's STATEMENT.
Mr.. Breckenridge introduced the subject. His
bill, he said, was copy OF the Chase bill pending
in the Senate and he had introduced 1t the hope
OF expediting the passage of the bill through Con-
gress. In connecting his name with the bill
fo sav that ~ rsnresenteS ereas asai Ie OF eIoT
through a series OF years. II brought together
every interest concerned in the making OF books
They had all been consulted and were In favor OF
the bill They were the American authors who
furnished the brains for books; the American
paper men who sold the paper; the American type
setting unions that represented the type-setters;
the bOokbndng organization, and the American
publishers wno finally published the books for
sale. They were all
1t placed the foreign author substantially on the
same footing with the American author, with the
exception that (as condition precedent) the work
of publication must be done in America simultane-
ously with the publication OF the book abroad. He
mentioned as an interesting incident that the first
Dill introduced and reported on the subject In
Congress was IN the year In which he was horn,
by the most eminent man who had ever repre-
scented scented MS Breckenridge district IN congress
IL now cryStalliZed into wise legislation.
OTHER STATEMENTS.
statements in support OF the proposed measure
were made by Mr.. Green, counsel OF the Authors
copyright League; Mr.. Jas. Welsh and Mr.. Sher-
man SUMMING unions
Putnam, secretary OF the Publishers Copyright
League.
Mr. PCTNAM's VIEWS.
Mr. Putnam referred TO the fact OF the publish
ers Of cheap editions favorng the proposed law as
a proof that it was not expected that the law
would deprive the community OF che books. 1t
was their belief that by the passage OF the bill not
only would justice be done TO authors lAmerlcan
M and ttoreiSn but to the American public VINO
books This reform was. therefore, asked not only
In behalf Of authors (and particularly OF American
authors, but In behalf Of the development
OF the requirements OF American book
buyers. In doing this act OF justice TO American
authors, furtherlng their undertakings here and
their undertakings abroad-ln doing this act of
Justice 20 foreign authors, giving them what they
were entitled tO--a return In proportion to the
number OF their readerS-COngress would be dol 9
direct money service as we'll as ethical service,
10 the American people. 1t would give great In
centive to the development OF tue best Amer lean
literature, great incentive TO the development OF
international literature american and European),
and 1t would give TO the American people better
DOCKS, and very many more good books for less
money.
Mr. HENRY O. HoUGHTON,
OF Cambridge, Boston, was the next speaker. The
great antidote he sad for the existing evils In the
American book trade was an international copy
right law. And SO there came here to-day prin-
tiers, publishers, and authors, in a solid phaianW
and asked the committee not alone for the sake OF
autn 0rs publishers and type-SetterS, but Tor the
sake Oh the people or the United States 10 do JUS
tice 10 authors and TO do Justice to all.
DIR. JAMES c. YELLING,
OF Washington, made an appeal IN favor OF the
proposed law, basIng IL he said not on the
ground OF protection or free trade, but on the
broad, universal, comprehensive ground OF justice
and right 10 all men.
''DR." TWAIN APPEARS.
Mr.. Green said he would next Introduce young
author who would be able to tell OF
the difficulties which he had encountered in pub
fishing his serious. philosophical, theological
wrltlngS-Dr. Mark Twain. tLaughter.l
Mr.. Clemens declared {in his quantity humorous
style that he recognized the justice well the
grace or the Introduction.
He mad listened To .ir. Putnam and Mr.. HOughton
with interest because II seeUed 10 hun that they
had presented the case OF all parties concerned.