New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-19
HEARING ON COPYRIGHT.
AUTHORS AND PUBLISHERS NOT SATISFIED WITH
THE TREIoAR BILL-MR sPoFFoRDs
sIrCCESTIONS
rBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.]

fly TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.1
Washington March 1s--r'he Committee on Patents
OF the House of Representatives to-day heard sug-
gestions and criticisms relating to the Treoar bill
10 create the Office OF Commissioner Of Copyrights
and TO amend the Copyright law. from Librarian
SpofYord Of the Library Of Congress. and Secretary
putnam. OF the Publishers Copyright League. Dir.
Spofford pointed out many defects In the existing
Copyr,eht law and also q number In Mr. Treloar's
bill some OF the features Of which. however, he
strongly commended. That there should be reg
lister or other officer TO have supervision Of the
DOWNRIGHT business he said absolutely necessary.
That business had grown to enormous proportions
and the means and facilities for doing II are and
long have been utterly inadequate. Last year the
number of copyright entries exceeded 10000 and the
number OF copyright publications deposited reaches
1900 a year. The Library Of Congress now contains
600 bound volumes. 10000 pamphlets. quarter
Of million musical compositions. an equal number
OF examples Of the graphic art and shelf room for
only 10000 volumes. This state OF affairs will not
exist after the library and It's collections have been
,ns,aed in the new building, year hence.
One OF the defectsoof the existing law is that no
evidence of ownership is required OF person apply
ing for a certificate Of copyright. 1t had happened
again and again that work had been stolen out
right and copyrighted by the thief Mr.. Sponord
mentioned a collection of Robert g. Ingersors lect
ures and the Rev. Sam" Joness sermons among
the publications that had thus been copyrighted
given for copies OF publications deposited under the
for receipts to be prepared and furnished to pub
fishers and authors to be forwarded with their de-
posits When received these receipts are signed by
the librarian and returned. Another defect OF the
law is that 1t does not provide effectively for the
exclusion Of improper articles from copyright.
Mr. Sponord pointed out many other defects In
the existing law as well as in the Treloar BILL and
upon the committee the necessity of exer-
cising the utmost and elaboration in framing
amendments. He was invited TO formulate his sug-
eestions for amendments for the benefit Of the COM
mittee and will do so.
Mr. putnam, Of New-York. who appeared as a.
representative OF the authors as well as OF the Pub
itshers Copyright League. was influential in the
Preparation and framing Of the bill which became
he International Copyright law approved March g.
1881. and his remarks and SUGGESTIONS to-day were
sseerrvation He said that the law Of 1871 needed
embodiment In number Of important respects. and
a. indmed that the subject ought to be hrst dealt
ne nth by commission Of experts with ample time
WIN their NsposI. The Publishers League as well
a. t the Authors League. he declared, was strongly
Sn"sed TO the pending bill, which. IL enacted into
law would entail much confusion and Injustice and
o,,,d result In deprving both authors and publish
~rs OF ali the benefits derived from international
Copyright Mr.. Putnam's argument was strong
one and II evidently made deep impression upon
the members OF the committee who were present.