New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-02-28

PROPOSITION TO RELIEVE THE LIBRA
RIAN OF CONGRESS OF THE WORK
A COMMISSIONER OF COPYRIGHTS TO BE CREATED
OTHER PROPOSED CHANGES.
TsY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.

fBY TELEGRAPH THE TRIBrNE
Washington, Feb. 21.To provide for Comm's-
sioner of Copyrights and to revise the Copyright
law is the object bill, when has been introduced
IN the House by Representative Treloar. and
ferred TO the Committee Patents. The measure
proposes number of important changes in existing
laws. The first section provides for the appoint
ment by the President OF official TO be kr1nn as
the Commissioner Of Copyrights. who is under the
supervision OF the joint Committee on the Library
perform all the duties relating copyrights
heretofore imposed by law upon me Librarian OF
Congress There to be transferred the con-
troll of the Commissioner Of Copyright all records
and other things connected with copyrights
CURED by the statutes be preserved In the Library
OF Congress- ana be placed under the direction of
the Librarian. The Commissioner Is TO receive an
annual salary of $1,000. He is TO give bond in the
sum of $4,000 for the faithful performance OF duty
and yearly TO submit TO the Treasury Department
account OF all money received from every source
The bill also provides for an assistant Commissioner
a salary OF S. 500 a year.
The office of the Commissioner is TO have one law
clerk and one bookkeeper. and 10 be divided into six
divisions. to be known. respectively, as the divisions
OF administration. correspondence. records. files. in
dex and publication. Each division is to have
chief clerk. with an annual salary OF SsCo. The
Jaw clerk is receive 200. and the bookkeeper
$3.50 yearly The force OF clerks In the office viii
be three at s4oo per annum. ten at $1,000 six at
1000 and six at $500 The employment OF two
to establish and maintain the office as thus organ
THE COMMISSIONERS DUTIES
The Commissioner OF Copyright is required TO de-
post In the Treasury all money received from copy
rights and other sources as often the Secretary
of the Treasury may direct He Is 10 make an an
nual report to Congress Of the number and de-
scription Of copyright publications for which
entries have been made and copyrights granted IN
the course of each year All records AMI papers
issued by the Commissioner to bear the seal %
he office, which is 10 bear the inscription. Com
missioner of Copyright. United states OF America
and be Of a design TO be determined IN. The bill
gives the author Inventor designer proprietor Of
any book periodical. map chart. dramatic or mu-
steal composition. engraving. cut. print hhosraph.
photograph. painting. drawing. chrome. statuary.
models designs intended 70 be perfected works
OF the fine arts AMI the executors. administrators Or
assigns OF any such persons the sole liberty " print
ing otherwise representing for their product
Authors and their assigns are 10 have the exclusive
right 10 dramatic and translate their works for
which copyright may be issued Certificates Of copy
right hereafter granted to for forty years
from the date Of registration.
BY complying with the terms OF regulations TO be
prescribed. authors. inventors ana designers their
legal representatives,. may have their copyrights
tended for further period OF forty years upon ap-
plcation 10 be made within six months before the
time OF the originals runs out Persons 10 whom the
second copyright IL granted 20 a record OF
tive weeks in one more newspapers OF The country
to be designated by the Commissioner Of Copyright;
Copyrights are made assgnable in Jaw, by a proper
instrument In writing when duly signed ana vii
messed before some officer authorized 70 take ac-
Acknowledgements of deeds. In all cases Il record OF
assignments made is to be male in the office Of
the Commissioner of Copyright. In default o. this
assignment VIII be void. against any subse-
quent purchaser or mortgage. without notice.
CONDITIONS Or COPYRIGHT
No person is 10 be entitled to receive a copyright
unless he shall, before the day OF publication
or representa- tion, deposit In the mail in the United
States. addressed the Commissioner Of Copy
right, copy Of the book. etc. etc. for which he
desires copyright; unless later than the
day Of publication representations ne similarly
deposits. addressed In the same manner two copies
OF his work. In case of books periodicals. maps,
charts. dramatic or musical compositions engrav-
irgs. prints. the copies sent 10 the
Commissioner Of Copyright. prescribed. are TO
be printed, ETC. from type set or p.ates. etc. made
pany an application for copyright setting forth
that this requirement has been complied with. The
bill makes II misdemeanor during the existence Of
any Copyright for person 10 import into the coun-
fully registered in the office Of the Commissioner
OF Copyright. II the same have been published, etc.
United States. Offenders agains- this provision
10 be fined not iess than 80 nor more than Slo0
the balance to the Treasury. 1t Is made
lawful for person in ,he intel states to import
the country, which have been made abroad except
books in the language of the country where printed
rghted. Importa atoms of copyright articles found
in the mail. Custom House. etc, to be sent to
Fifty cents Is fixed as the copyright registration
fee for every title one AFFIDAVIT Is made sufficient
for number Of titles # they are forwarded in one
package The bin provides that Copyrights shall be
entered in registry book, am prescribes the exact
language to be used in making the entries. one
missioner Of Copyrights is TO he turned TO the
Librarian OF Congress for the benefit OF the Library
The Commissioner is to acknowledge the receipt OF
all books, etc, etc, sent to his office No action for
an infringement Of a copyright il to be maintained
unless d certificate has been issued previously
the bringing of such action The fees which the
Commissioner can charge are, for registration Of
title or description. 80 cents for every certificate
OF copyright under seal, 30 cents for recording any
Instrument Of writing for the assignment Of copy
right. 81; and for every copy OF an assignment ST.
Secretary of the Treasury copies OF all registered
titles of books. ETC.. etc. CT domestic production
logues OF such titles for the information OF all col
lectors of customs and postmasters 10 guard against
unlawful importation proprletors OF coy
missioner Of Copyright a copy OF every subsequent
edition OF their works In which any substantial
changes appear Alterations. revisions and editions
made TO books by foreign authors. heretofore pub
Iished. Of which editions may appear subse-
quentiy to the date of the passage Of the bill to
form a part OF a series In course OF publication at
the time the measure becomes iaw Failure on The
part OF the holder OF duly registered copyright TO
send 10 the Commissioner OF Copyright copies. de-
scriptions or photographs OF his work lays him
liable 10 q fine Of 800 Fraudulent use OF "A copy
right title or design involves penalty In the sum of
$500 and infrngements are made causes FOR action
in the courts Persons after the recording OF COPY
which has been registered. or in any manner are
found engaged in promoting the sale OF the same
are to forfeit the proprietor the plates ETC. used
and 81 for every copy offered for sale sold.
Damages are made receivable from any one who
,natio nositjon without the consent OF the pro-