New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-12-05
NETWORK DAILY TRIBUNE, FRIDAY, DECEMBER s. lso-rwELyE PAGES.

i"e selling price Of books depends not on the copy
tight but on the requirements Of the market ana the
'N'cn' u tile market that IS controlled by the 'no
and his representative. American buyers are now ac-
eus'omed to cheap books, and will not buy dear DooAs'
ana the publishers are not likely to throw away their
money by making dear books for which they conld moi
ma a sale. The wider the markets and the greater
the number Of editions between which the first outlays
can be divided, the smaller the cost OF each copy,
ana the lower the price at which each copy can De ana
VIII be supplied. With assured markets and an as
sired control to authors Of the results OF their literary
undertakings, there will 10 a great increase III
the publication Of International series, which VIII
provide for American readers, at the lowest prices,
satisfactory editions of the works of the leading writer's
of the world, American, English and Continental. AS
Bfander Matthews has pointed out, the cheapest books
To be bought to-day In the United states are mostly
Inferior stories by contemporary Engli,h n0veists, whiie
the cheapest books to be bought to-day in Europe are
the best works by the best authors OF all umes' In
France and Germany, countries fully under the control
Of copyright. both domestic and international. the first
issues Of standard and current publications, both copy
right and non-cOpyright, are cheaper than anywhere
else in tho world,
The Applctons, Henry Holt g. Co., and other leading
publishers, entertain the same opinions as set forth In
the foregoing interviews.
Robert Underwood Johnson, secretary Of the Ameri-
can Copyright League. tells an interesting story OF the
long fight for the bill. The literature on the
subject was volumincus and nearly all the
world was called on at one tmc or
another TO help the work along. Memorials were
sent to Congress by the score. Forty eight men u,
known Western authors prayed for the passage OF
the bill; all the southern writers prayed. for ~ the
leading American composers PRAYED Tor A.; tme e
Of the country prayed for Il; thousands of american
citizens who earn their living in whole or IN psrs
In lterature-pnyed for it; Typographical unions
throughout the country prayed for II. the press
prayed for it. The wonder is 1t did not become a
This bill. which is the cordially accepted platform
Of the entire copyright movement, pIoviaes ,h AZ e eS'
tended to authors Of foreign countries, on inc ioio"'
Ing conditions:
The work SO copyrighted must be printed FROM type sos
in this country. This insuies that there shall Dc the
minimum OF disturbance 10 the book. printing trade; thas
hooks for the American market shall be published near 10
Il by those familiar with its peculiar needs, ana fam'nar
with the widespread demand for cheap editions. "Tho
London Times ~ says that this provision VIII make New
York the publishing centre OF the world. It will contribute
to tho growth OF American literature by enabling the
American author to compete with cheap American DOCKS
in the American cheap market now reserved for foreign
works, which pay nothing to the author.
The sale Of foreign editions and plates Of works Sc copy
| rightcd Is not permitted. This is in accordance with tho
present domestic copyright law, and Is a corollary Of the
foregoing. TO omit it would he TO take away with tho
left hand what is given with the right; but exception II
| made Of permitted importations Of foreign books ia parcels
Of Z" two copies for use and not for sale" with the per-
mission 81 the owner OF the American copyright. This IL
for the benefit OF colleges. libraries and schools that may
desire special English editions; but copyright will tend
to Identity Of editions, and books not copyrighted may b
imported as heretofore.
Editors may import newspapers and periodicals for quo
tatlon, even when they contain copyright articles. There
is, therefore, no hardship on the press.
There we're two amendments to the bill as passed
in June, the first naming the date OF its operation As
July l. 1891. instead Of 1890, and the second a
reciprocal clause. as follows:
Sec. 13-That this act shall only apply to a citizen Of
a foreign state or nation when such foreign state or nation
permits to citizens OF the United States Of America the
benefit Of copyright oil substantially the same basis as its
own citizens, or when such foreign state or nation permits
Tn citizens OF the United States Of America copyright
privileges substantially similar to those provided for In this
act; or when such foreign state or nation is a party to an
Inter rational agreement which provides for reciprocity In
the grant of copyright, by the terms OF which agreement
the United States Of America may at Its pleasure become
a PARTY to such agreement. The existence OF either o
these conditions shall be determined by the opinion OF th'
Attorney. General OF the United States, whenever On occa
sion for such a determination arises.