New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-12-28

widest circulation and the widest Influence, and he
himself the largest profits and the largest fame.
In respect, however, to the length Of time during
which the authors rights to be maintained more
needs to he said. For, strange TO this is the very
point which the densest prevails and the s.
crossest injustice is done. Property rights, rule
are in way perpetual. Houses and lands and money
and jewels handed down from generation TO genera
ton. and ever thinks Of doubling that the latest
heirs title 10 them is valid as that Of the first
tesator. Indeed, the longer the property Is thus held
the stronger become the holders rights with respect
to IT, But with the most absolute form Of property
to Wit literary productions. the is true. The
Constitution OF the United States prOclams this fact
when il authorizes the Congress to promote the
progress OF science and useful arts by securing, for
limited times, to authors and inventors the exclusive
right to their respective writings and discoveries
! do not find elsewhere in that august document any
other property rights restricted limited tines: but
suppose that due for the Fathers OF the
Constitution demands that accept this singular
discrimination against intellectual pro1uctvcness y
a bit Of pure and hallowed craftsmanship. Yet sup.
pose that they had decred 10 promote the progress Of
agriculture by securing for limited times to farmers
and their descendants The exclusive right to their
respective farms. or suppose that the Congress had
been directed to promote the progress OF manufactures
by securing for limited times 10 manufacturers
their descendants the exclusive right to their respective
mills! Let Us, however be just to the Fathers. They
lived and acted according 10 their light. In those
days human slavery reckOned Divine institution
and orthodox clergymen sold rum at retail to their
church members in their own parsonages. 1t was
quite fitting under thar code Of ethics. that
literary property rights should be- restricted 70
4" limited lines" Eat Willy should this one relic Of
have been swept away? For there stand, that phrase
" for limited times. in the Constitution OF TO-DAY ana
there the sta:uteb book stand, the copyright law,
which declares that after has ENJOYED possession
Of his property for forty two wears i ha be no longer
his. but all the world shall be free 10 sehe upon IT,
Other nations. some Of them less enlightened than we
claim TO be- DO better far than this Indeed, few II
the lifetime Of ne author and thirty year. more and
Germany and Austria do the same Italy grants i for
heirs royalty q per cent on all copies published
Tor yet another forty year. France. liungary, Bel
spain. for llfe and eighty wears: and the Mexicans
Guatemaans and yenezuelan-., upon whom We look
other properly rights Shall he perpetual.
Now, let us how TIL, j" limited tines business
Wr James Russell Lowell pIshei- through the agency
Of M G. p. Pnnam-h- famous Sc Fable for Critics:
Launfal" and the first series Of the BigOw Papers,
These works were then leally rec ,nzed his proper
enabled 10 derive from them such pecuniary profit
their merit, seemed The public deserve. Up n
the present time those r. ghts have been intact But
now. AZ the close Of $50 the law that those books
are no more X, pc h lie h@, no NOR ,br right Or
! that Just T. il reasonable l. IL commendable ~
| the practical common sens Of mankind the public
trely willing t. pay him for il. The public Of 1890
also make of hi- wora. tho very same work. Why
should also pay him for il! In what respect
have the relations hetween Mr Lowell and the public
% greatly changed that their obligations of iS4s should
De diSregarcd now Have his books grown less val
liable j. The privilege Of using them less precious
than it was ~ one can answer ye, to these gues-
tiOns. Yet If his works be to-day II great worth "a
they were then. why should he not b" paid for them
now as he was then If paid rent for my house
! this year also? II my predccc>SOr in the house paid
years. forty two ago i that any reason
Dac ".
/, is hut | have ncyer been able TO persuade any
landlord Of the fact The only tue principle. the
scpsc. I, this, that long as the property II any
man is used and enioyed By others II should be paid
arc benefited by them. long should he or his
heirs derive a profit from them. .. Aha. 8, ,,..r
Two year, man should be able To get 30 much proht
from hi, works tst he cpuld well afford thereafter
Gnenc NJ. ' and P" partina5ty with which this has been
urged rendsr the arfngnf |Ghy o nGt a ee,
when We apply II to any other trade or calling.
such rule were by any e,! possibly ,no bm:nses
which yield the greatest and most rapid gains.
The gains Of az agor II Re r Sye ay are 2ms
~ books In America today who can five comfortably
ON tMc ba ch 10 expect Somet8ns mere than bare
sustcnance. II is only reasonable that he should
iay up at least some little reserve for use IN an
emergency and Ia bequeath - his children;
IN every trade and Pro,fs.Gq -, ave ns Ina, ef
Eut what shall SAY Of the author wlo after life
time Of hard work the p'"ht' ot "hlch nave Decn
L,r.Iy enough fOf current needs, comes 10 his end
( IN the knowledge that I'm a few year, his copyrights
viii expire. the ROYALTIES cease: ana III, fam4y pc
readiiy comes 10 mind the OF writer whose
works Ar. the glory Of letters and The admiration "
| rhr world and whose family since his death. have
rrd The humiliation and distress OF actual poverty.
! III, WORKS In handsome and eAp'nsye new editions;
dollar. annually pad for them by the eager public.
penny hni- IT, way 70 tie pockets Of me auth9 h
Expired and the copyright is dead letter. Had he
acquired land, ard house, money ana iotSs he he
made book, which have deshted an ,, instructed "a
millions and Will delight and Instruct millions yet l 70
| be- and which have pu! a fortune lnto book manu-.
iacturers' pocl.et, ana Will put yet other fortunes
there and ne LETT HI, 9e tc n pie c>c,c Of cheaper.
ing the price OF book, 10 the public Even had II ths
Plea shoad 'u question the , gaS r rGsan RS nj
| il has not Every who has knowledge OF the
book trade knows perfectly well That the termination moi Of
"A copyright seldom II ever enables thc pubic 10 pur,
chase the book at lower price unless indeed IN some
ton Al no price at ali. The copyrights expire. The
publishers retain in tleir pockets the share OF profit
vntbcr If th@ booAs"snd Of tcIr fortucs the
! public paving the same prices a. before 80 utsi
i'm qhbug the authors and their heirs Of their Ilghttu
property, have rolled our ethics N the dtr io'
| nothing. una sold moral principles for naught
have confined my self 10 consideration OF the
relation, between the author and the public be,auc
those are the only relations that have proper bear
Ing upon the question Of copyright. The author ana
pTncr ana ser Of the book, Is merely ,econd
agent. mddleman. His relations TO the author arr
or, should be-thOse Of factor 10 an empower, u
he do hi, work we'll ii he print and bind me pCoA
correctly and If he prove himself dlgent IN pu,hn
the -ale> thereof the author Will natu ally ext ha
him h, continued patronage. otherwise. he VIII De
dismissed a. an mfaithfnl servant. Between tnc
publisher and the public no special relations are ~
Ice recognized. other than those that exist 6etwee,
other manufacturers and the public IL is well. undi
the American system, mat tl' tarlH >no"tu en-" n,
Tie book manufacturers protection agan, foreign com.
petition. such protection be needed, Just a anon,
protection Ia the manufacturer Of cotton cotl Ut mn
rails. Mud he should of couIse D. P." .
tcctcd in his rights AGENT or a,s.nS s
OF the author. Just any OTHER agent or ussS is
between the author and the public Year by wear ING
recognition OF this fact is growing clearer Natlona.
copyrigh under the Constitution great advalSe
~ r'nyrirht by states international copyright
now on the Of adoption after issiiom "a.
' ,potber imnortant .tep Eut the intellectual life
Of the nation will not enjoy its deserts, and our 1
look, N not DO Justice tO our libraries un'ii ue
L, iila Ln.ss- MMill M.-