St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-04-10
Librarian Spofford Talks of
Copyright to the Patent
Congress.
The Measure That Has Be-
come a Law Is Aimed at
Reciprocity.
Archbishop Ireland in Wash
ington Concerning In
dian Affairs.
Secretary Proctor Has No In
tentiOn Of Immediately
Resigning.

WASHINGTON, D. c., April 9.-The
afternoon session of the congress of in
ventors and manufacturers of patented
inventions, was presided over by ODER
lin Smith, of Bridgeton, N. j., the pres
ldent of the American Society of Me-
chanical Engineers. Mr.. Smith, in
taking the chair, stated that Benjamin
ButterwOrth, of Ohio, whose name ap-
peared first on the programme, had
found 1t impossible to be present at to-
days meeting. He then introduced
Hon. A. r. Spotford, the librarian of
congress. The theme of Mr.. Spofford's
paper was on the copyright system Of
the United States, its origin and It's
growth. After reviewing the story of
copyright in America, Mr.. Spotford con-
sidered the principles and, practice
of what is known as interna-
tional copyright. "What we call
copyright" said he, lis an exclusive
right to multiply copies of any publica-
ton for sale. If copyright is justifable
at all, if authors are to be secured a
reward for their labors, they claim that
all who use them should contribute
equally to this result. The principle of
copyright once admitted, it cannot logi-
cally be confined to state shines or ma
tional boundaries. There appears to be
no middle ground between the doctrine
OF common property in all productions
OF the intellect, which leads US to COM
munism by the shortest road, and the
admission that copyright is due, while
its limited term lasts, from all who use
the work of an author wherever
found. Accordingly international
copyright has become the policy
of nearly all civilized nations.
The measure which became a law at
the last session of congress is aimed at
securing reciprocity protection to Amer
lean and foreign authors, in the respect
i've countries may comply with its pro-
visions. The new measure may be re-
garded as experimental, and all opin-
ions as to its ultimate workings or re-
suits are of little value at this time
The writer's of America, with the study
and rapid growth of the art of making
books, have come more and more to ap-
preclate the value of their preservation,
in complete and unbroken series, in the
library of the government, an appro-
pirate cOnServatOr of the nations liter
AZURE. Inclusive and not exclusive, as
IL 10 WISELY ulduS Nv law, 81 lar DIS copy
right works are concerned, it preserves
with impartial care :the illustrious and
the obscure. In its archives all sciences
and all schools of opinion meet and
mingle." Mr.. SpotfOrd was followed by
Prof. Thomas Gray. of the Rice Poly
technc Institute of Terre Haute, Ind,
who spoke OH The Inventors of the
Telegraph and Telephone. 1.-The closing
address of the day was made by Col. +.
A. Seely, of Pennsylvania, principal
examiner Of the patent office, whose
subject was international Protection
OF industrial Property"
AT to-night's meeting of the inventors
and manufacturers OF patented invent
ions who desire to form national con-
vention the committee of nine appointed
at the meeting in the morning submit
ted the draft of a constitution for the
proposed new association. The matter
went over, however, without discussion
until tomorrow, when final action will
be taken.