The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-11-30

The Post-Inteiigencer is in receipt Of
circular. copies OF which Il Is informed
have been scattered generally throughout
the city. II is headed Committee on Dis
clerk" and announces that the favored
recipient has been selected" by the com
mittee and Will receive call from can
vasser to show how. ION certain condi-
lions he may secure the most practical OF
all government compilations" That COM
pilation IL the Messages and Papers of
the Presidents; and behind the enter
prise there turks scandal of no mean
proportions
This extremely valuable public docu-
ment was issued originally as others are.
by authority Of congress. and distributed
to such persons as were recommended by
senators and representatives. When the
edition was exhausted. Mr.. James d.
Richardson. of Tennessee a member OF
the house and leader OF the Democratic
party in that body. obtained from the
good nature Of congress gift OF the
plates from which the work was printed,
He represented that he had done much
work in connection with IT. that his son.
we believe. had compiled the index. and
that, as the plates were useless to the
government. he. by printing some extra
copies. could compensate himself for his
labor. He expressly disclaimed any In
tention Of copyrighting the matter. which
was indeed legally Impossible.
The next that the country knew. after
the lapse OF some time. was that a COM
plete and powerful organization had been
formed 10 dispose OF the work under false
pretences. The edition appeared with the
legend. copyright by James ID. Richard
SON. Letters and circulars were sent out
from Washington upon oficial letter
heads OF the government. soliciting sub
scriptions. To these was attached the
name OF Ainsworth r. spofyord. former
librarian OF congress, and the obvious and
successful purpose was TO make the pub
iic believe that the dissemination Of these
volumes was stiil In some sense govern
ment enterprise. A price of - per sent
was charged, and II is believed that inn
mense profits were realised.
The public exposure OF this scheme
caused modification Of Its worst fea-
lures. The copyright notice was ex-
plunged. and later Mr.. sponords name
was withdrawn. But still the canvass con-
tinued. and In many Instances subscrib-
ers who put down their names thinking
that they we're requesting that govern
ment publication should be sent to them
we're sfterward notified thai they had
signed a contract to pay fun price and
them snIfili IT, One OF these cases has Just
been carried 10 thu supreme court % New
York state. and We quote the soliowin.
from It's decision, the plain purpose Of
the person who originated this system Of
obtaining subscribers for these books was
to defrspd the public, The very a-sump-
ton OF the nams COMMITTEES on Ds-sribu-
tiOn.' which this plaintiff says he iia as
sumo a. business name or style, lm-
ports a fraud"
Meantime the lower house Of congress
has been toe courteous altogether TO Mr..
James u, Richardson. the father ana
beneficiary of the Whole ubiquitous
scheme. II IL 10 be hoped that the proper
remedy wili be applied soon. The senate
has passed a tosn, resolution providing fes
ne~ eaitlan a; the Messages and Pa
p@rs 81 she rreslacnis,r 10 he void 70 ,ss
publle At aetvas cost. er abeat % ser. act.
II the haase adopts u. a. Il should. Mr.
Rirsafdsos can keep N. plates ard Ms
ill-xotieu Rfvnsa. tss ''comnistse on DE-.
trtaaston- can g. est 81 sss.sn.as. ana ths
.canaal Il a prya,e sale sf government
Documents prsnsed tfcm plates made a.
shs p@assse's expense OIL esase
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