New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-09-08
&c NOTES.


&c NOTES.
tBr cABL. TO rmx rRpuxxI
rcpy,feht 1898: BY The Tribune Annexation
London. Sept. THE Eosebery Government on
che eve OF their defeat invited Canada to send
,pecial agent to England TO confer with the Sec
rttary Of State for the Colonies on the copyright
question. The Ministry sought TO recall the in
vi,ation when forced TO resign Office. but Mr..
Nevcombe had already left Ottawa. He re-
manned in London without attracting attention
until the general elections were finished. He
then conferred with Mr.. Chamberlain the
subject Of the Cana iian Copyright act which
the Rosebery Government had neither sane
TONED nor disallowed The new Colonial Secre-
tary did not wish 10 begin his career in that
great office by affronting powerful section OF
The Empire whose friendship he had won by his
dexterity in the fishe les diplomacy He shrank
from throwing out an act which had been passed
bv the Dominion Parliament. He was also re-
iuctant 10 sign a measure which might lead TO
fhe abrogaton OF existing copyright relations
between the United States and Great Britain.
Naturally. he looked about for some safe mid
de course. The Bri, sh Society Of Authors hal
taken steps. with the approval OF the publishers,
10 send out 10 ottawa one If their numter to ex-
plain their position. He was invited to the Colo
NAL Office 10 discuss the question and TO suggest
a possible scheme or compromise. Mr.. New
conlbe was again called n. and was asked TO
dine with the Secretary OF State for the Colonies
St Princess Gardens. After repeated confer
encAs Mr. Eewcor1be was informed that the CO.
lcnial Office could not approve the Canadian
Copyright act in its present form. but haG decid-
ed TO return it TO Ottawa with an outline of pro-
rosed changes which would enable the Imperial
tbar .f,~n
Mr. Newcombe has sailed this week. taking
with him the Copyright act and the amended
draft which lie received frcm the Colonial Once.
Ii may be stated positively that the original act
fas been sent back with the intimation that the
Colonial Office cannot sanction It. What is the
precise nature Of the charges which nave been
suggested Is not known outside that office. Mr..
Ne,vcombe would say nothing about the 1neni-
merits Mr. Hall Game has also declined 10 say
anyt thing about the matter explaining that he
Will sail for America within n fortnight and pre-
fers IS the agent Of the British authors. not 20
discuss the subject until he arrives ut ottawa
wrorc ne thinks his first word should be spoken
Apparently the Colonial Office has sought -
COMPROMISE the question by showing how the
most serious objections to the origina measure
nay be removed. The amended bill Is entirely
its own work: but the officials expect that the
seent OF the English authors will open the way
al Ottawa for a favorable reception OF IT,
Whether or not American authors and publishers
will be protected by the modified act against tho
Canadian raids IS another question altogether
The real object of the Canadian act TO OBJ
tain for cheap. badly printed editions OF popular
books easy access 10 the American market
Copyright experts at n loss to imagine now
that act can be modified to prevent the
flooding OF the American market and the impair
ment OF the value OF contracts made by authors
with publishers in the United States. end at the
same time to leave the Ca madam printers a mar
gin for profit on small editions for their own
market.
The Trades-Unon Congress al Cardiff has re-
stored the old-time traditions Of that great as
een1bly Of wage-ca rners but has done this by
revolution Last years manifesto Ii favor or
Henry Georges Socialist doctrine OF land ma
tionalization warned the old theorists that the
control Of the congress was slipping cut of their
hands Mr. Keir Hardie. in proposing the reso-
luton empowering the committee TO modify the
standing orders placed a mighty weapon in their
hands II has been used as vigorously as the
tawbone Of the ass was welded by Samson. The
New Un.onist Phistine has been smitten nip
and thigh Nothing more arbitrary than the re-
vision Of the standing orders by the casting vote
Of the chairman Of the committee and the surse-
ouent carving OF the rev rules into effect With
out authority from the congress has been Wit
messed for many years but the result OF TITS re-
form by revolution most salutary and USE
flu The congress was released by the changes
IN the standing orders from the domination OF
the noisy agitators With Socialist tendencies VINO
had ceased to represent the workers in the trades
unions The real object Of the old Unionsts was
70 bring the Congress back into line with COM
Ircr-sense and practical business II LAD be-
come a Socialist Democratic Federation Con-
gress. an assembly Of faddsts and labor agita-
tors II has been translated into wage-earners
council concerned with the welfare OF the toiiing
millions.
There were two main agents in producing THIS
result The fret was Mr.. John Burns. VINO de-
fenced the action Of the committee with great
force against the vehement attacks by MI.
Henry Broadhurst Mr. J. H. Wilson Alderman
TYllett and other opponents. The second was
Chairman jenkins. the resoute shipwrght' VINO
held his ground after deciding that the critical
division should be under the new rules with piu-