The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-04-21

skeleton form the curious his
~ tory of Hon. James ID. Richard
sons connection with American
literature, as follows
Sept IL, 1885,. Richardson as chairman of the
house committee OF printing, reported a bill,
drawn by himself, which contained provision
allowing the sale to private individuals by the
public printer of duplicate plates Of government
publications. Passed, with Mr.. Dingleys amend
ment making it illegal TO copyright any govern
ment publication.
June IL, 1S04.--RiChardson. as chairman of the
house committee on printing reported a resolu-
tion providing for an edition of 5000 copies OF
a public document rcprinting the messages and
proclamations of all the presidents. Adopted.
June, 1s94.-RicharCson, as historical
thusiast and public.spirtcd servant of the peo-
pie, volunteered to look after the compilation
of this document himself
June, 1S04.-RiChardson procured tho insertion
Of an amendment, in the senate, giving him
'ful power and discretion to do this work for
and on behalf of the committee" Adopted.
Feb. %, ls06.-Rchardson wrote preface pub
licly dedicating to his country the time and la
Dor he might spend on this compilation.
April II, 1s96.-Rchardson announced the i'm
mediate appearance of Volume l. of Messages and
Papers," and offered a resolution providing for
the distribution to senator's and representatives
OF their respective quotas. Asked what to
become of the fraction, or remainder of the edi-
tion amounting then estimated to 800 sets,
or over, Richardson replied that under the law
the fraction would go to the superintendent of
documents 'to he by him distributed mainly
| upon orders Of members Of congress-"
April, 1s06.-Richardson procured at the SEN
ate end OF the capitol the insertion Of
amendment providing that the fraction Of the edl-
tion should go ''to the compiler" that is, to
Richardson. Adopted.
May Is. lso6.-House adopted resolution pro
viding for an additional edition of 1900 of
messages and Papers" Actual cost to govern
ment estimated at "a cents per volume Rich
ardson silent.
May %, 1so6.-Resoluton for 5000 extra
copies amended in senate so as to give the COM
piler the Traction again.
May H. 1s97.-Richardson besought congress
to make him a gift of duplicate set of the
government plates. Estimated the actual cost
OF same at $1,000. Informed by Mr.. Cannon that
the public printers estimate of cost s., ,600
he replied that Mr.. Cannon probably right
Questioned about possible claim to copyright,
Richardson replied that such copyright was cx.
plicitly prohibited by law Congress voted the
| plates to Richardson.
May, Is97.-Rchardson began to impress the
legend, Copyright, 1897, by James D. Richard
| son." upon the successive volumes Of this pub.
| lie document
April 1899, or thcrcabouts.-'C -'Committcc on
| distribution began to advertise messages and
! Papers" as work OF thrilling interest, author
| lied by the government, and of such importance
| that private publisher could not have pro.
duced it for less than a million dons.
| July 4, lS09.-Richardson put to press the
| tenth and last volume Of Messages and Papers,"
| repeating his declaration that if the book "shall
| prove satisfactory to congress and the country,
| | will feel compensated for my time and effort"
| August, lS00-Agcnts of COMMITTEE on dis.
mt h.ga ell nf t.M,
| and Papers at S34 set, on the pretensc that
| the government was behind the distribution OF
| the work, and that sets were allotted mat.
| ter of favor only to selected persons, a few in
each congress district, the edition of this govern.
mont publication having been limited to 6O00.
| Jan. A., lts., to Jan. IS, 1S9S.--Six separate
resolutions in congress providing for further cdi-
tions of Messages and Papers, of from 900 to
| 10000 copies for free distribution to the people,
| wCr referred to Mr.. Richardson's committee en-
printing and chloroformed there. None was
| ever reported.
| Jan. 30, 10OO.-Riohardson's attention was
| called in congress TO the fraudulent practices Of
the agents Of the COMMITTEE on distribution"
Richardson replied that he had nothing TO do
with the sale of the work. nld made a contract
| with Barcus "a man Of high character" by
which he, Richardson, received "a small roy
| atty"
February 1900 Richardson applied to con.
gress for permission ''to compile, edit and pub
| lisl without expense to the government, the
state papers and diplomatic correspondence of
| the late Confederate states" Permission granted.
| Such is the skeleton history of one of the
most audaciously conceived and unscrupuousy
| promoted schemes on record for the acquisition
| of monOpoustc franchise and the exploitation
of public literary property for private gain.
| The constant burden Of Richardson's frequent
| Statements and "cNpantons' has been that
| congress has imposed upon him work of fro.
| mendous magnitude, in comparison with which
| the donation Of a few fragments Of editions, and
a bcggarly set of duplicate plates was hardly
worth the mention. What he has actually made
| out OF the job is a matter OF conjecture. Rich.
ardson knows to a dollar, but we don't. Let us
| try few hgrTcs
| Commercial value Of fragment" of first
| government edition of G,0O0 sets, csi.
mated by Richardson's colleagues at
| from 800 TO 700 SETS at $40 a set; yield.
| ing at the minimum estimate a possible. g. 900
Same for the second government edition
| OF 1900 sets, the fragment also
| voted to compiler ..,....,.............. 5000
| Actual cost of production of duplicate
| plates, estimated by public printer. 5000
"Smal royalty" of let us say 50 a set on
| let us say 10000 copies of messages
and Papers" marketed by COMMITTEE on
| distributlon' OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES 10000
| Total to hlchardson to date...........S $50, GOO
| The Hon. James ID. Richardson's salary as
statesman during the entire period of six years
since he went into the business of compiling
| government publications for private sale has
been less than $4,000 We repeat that our es.
innate Of his gains through literature at S53, 900
is conjectural, and is advanced subject to cor.
rection by himself, II he sees ft to correct it.