New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-27
t MR.. HAY ON COPYRIGHT.
THE sECRETARY's REPLY TO LETTER
FROM SIR ALFRED AUSTIN.

Washington, May 26.-Some time ago Sir Alfred
Austin, poet laureate OF Great Britain, sent note
TO Secretary Hay on the subject OF international
copyright pointing out some OF the imperfections
that exist under the present law. Secretary Hay
has sent the following reply to Sir Alfred;
Department OF State.
Washington, May a. 1899.
Ny Dear Mr. Austin owe yoH is many Of p%hsS
Gn to On sVs so dae think You
pardon me 4 you knew how my time mas as s eesn
se4 IKE Even now Le ens ecSd
hands se 1t had been read with enjoyment wherever
in such a competition. Nor can discuss the sub,
ee 81 he you Bear makes You dean
q English MY Pace ia sIe
me any titie TO speak for American authors and
the post hold for the moment In the s nSsn
restricts TO some extent that liberty OF criticism
and suggestion which would be my right as prl-
am, however you assume. greatly interested Este,
p IN ME and to the extent Of my ability
operated with the efforts OF men more enetge,c
bic copyright system and to have the present s ar
in law The a aSnk s g2u and to the
Congress that enacted It. There were many Inter.
Opposed ed s1nR ao 9sehs sea he
opinion favorable to the principle lnvSiyea, a.. tea
law as w Pss; tho ony Settlement within and
It in itself venture to say IL MOI nos tenement
all
act. Its good effects have surpassed the eSpee'a-
lions OF its friends. ~, la IN
D FrS% sbpt he Operation OF the not
prohted American publishers TO ayth ba certainy
becn an advantage to American authors they nave
not been It's chief benefcares E sn,gfnn aorded
have p a0d engsE publishers have Ieaped
establishing Sra nem S SsSde their
EnRsS business at inconsiderable expense ana 10
extend their profitable operations mere. ,,.o alan.
that our law Copyright SUsht to be ]SGse Serfec
The to S5 ast alt in
ngs drawings and sculpture r sRn at nom
plans FEB eeinF same is true Of musical works Of all
sorts Recent legal decisions have taken M me 1amrs
est , fFoq a% R sordng to music the most liberal
protection Dramatic works also receive .ne am
inSaarmed than even in England. - -, .Do,.
It is in the matter Of the manqtseu[e Oh UTo1s
founded and cannot but think that the narosh as
which alleged TO proceed from inS Of the law
has been in the main. Of enormous value 10 Tt ne
fish authors both In their TanGal In many
the nrices OF literary work under the actloh oi &
law have more than doubled Inc w wO r The hard
shin OF compelling the manufacture OIL III ~
books in America has greatly er and Where
book 1presses publisher as worthy Oh ms "a
tenon the question fr ne SUCH book has
seemed Of sufficient value to be reprtegt foreign
| has :
a S',ion. hut / am told there has not oeed an m
stanCa In which this has operated disaoy
s.anee LATER edition OF the work or to the author
next book. ... Cor u,erarv property' has
I1avs been proportionate to the familiarlty WI" or
Wter3ry exchange. and since the passas onle for.
iaw The security conferred upon many people, td Tor
,nnr,v indifferent TO the subject, mas SIea'eu A
tho cyonvright law a body OF new supporters
r. IS eTeat advantage to feel tnat no 49,
IN .,iIl he taken and the almost unanimous ntire
81 American men Of letters. including tne 81 our
qi ~ American Authors and not Few oi V th',
nosf prominent publishers is In cordial np for
Nth your own lofty and generous asPiI thUnreb
the absolute freedom Of literary exchange III
| out the world -, so, tho inadeouacy Of this
ronIV 70 your most gracious and magnSnb ANN sncere
Iepiyo iet me saw in conclusion with VIA ~
cordaIity welcome and return your Ppne,nS ony
COZ d Vii Your genial words have Iounu W. W.
gvomUunatheic echoes throughout this
are and from the nature OF the case mus ord h;,t
Se keen competitors in the work Of the wo or com
'bafever details may intervene or ponucat VI .orv
mmnacal rivalry the blood In our veins the
in our memories must always nan nc Which make
I lows in the weighty tasks lald upon US "'''I ~
Tor cviliza ton and for righteousness J,h hanpy
Believe M our last meeting and pleasant antici-
patlons Of the next fai'niu''' JOHN HAY.