The Washington herald., 1906-12-08

one year only two books were recopy-
righted for the additional fourteen years
allowed-Only two books, which were to
go on for full forty-two years. One Of
these was Tnnocents Abroad and the
other was Mrs. Eddy's Christian Science
book. There have been 25e000 books pub
lished in this country since the establish
ment of the government. and not more
than 1000 books have been recopyrighted.
Out Of the thousands Of hooks published
every year, only ten will live, and the
copyright law we want is aimed 70 pro-
tect the writers of those ten books that
live. To remove the copyright doesn't give
the people cheaper books. but it gives
more money to the publishers
"A few years ago the copyright on one
/ OF my books expired. while I was follow
ing the equator, and wasn't here to have
II extended. In a couple of years or so
the renewed copyright will expire on
/ lnnoceats Abroad That will be some
more bread and butter out Of my chill
dren's mouths. When a man reaches the
age or forty, he isn't working for himself
any more; he's working for his wife and
children. Under the present copyright
law, when a man dies, and leaves his
family requiring his support-why. that's
just the time mis- copyrights run out.
Hopes for Thanks of Congress.
THE trouble is. Congress is composed
/ of lawyers and agrlculturists No
authors or publishers. That's why It's
hard to get a good law passed. When the
present international copyright bill was
up I'm the House it looked as though it
| would fail I went to Sunset Cox, and
told him l wanted the privilege of going
| on the floor.
Why, that's impossible replied Cox.
/ Have you ever received the thanks OF
/ Congress-?
No, said !, but hope to
" If you are caught by the Speaker and
sentenced 10 Siberia, will you 90 quietly?
/ " 1 Will said l.
" All right, said Sunset Cox He took
me on the floor, and introduced me TO all
/ the Democrats. I told them about the
! bill. They said they'd vote for it. John
! ID. Long introduced me TO all the Repub-
/ licans. They promised 10 vote for IL. And
/ the next session they did"
| Mr.. Clemens almost caused a riot when
! he went in TO make a call on Uncle Joe
/ Cannon. and that worthy gentleman
| thought he was seeing things. Before the
/ two old friends-they met one Saturday
/ night at a Gridiron dinner. and Mr
/ Clemens asserts that that makes them
old friends-had really settled down into
La confidential conversation, Serene Payne
/ dropped in. He seemed panied and shock
/ ed when he saw the white suit
/ Look here" he said, after a few pre-
/ liminaries, aren't you afraid you'll catch
/ cold with that white suit on?"
/ Only UndercIOtheS Count.
on no" said Mr.. Clemens. 1T doesn't
matter about the weight or the color of
your suit If your underclothes are all
/ right. Ny undercl0thes are quite heavy.
/ Why, you can wear steel armor and rot
get cold, if your underclothes are heavy"
! Wei, I'd hate TO make the expert
/ ment" said the Republican floor leader,
thinking. perhaps, of how he would look
! In armor.
/ The talk passed on 10 legislation.
THE way 20 do a thing is 70 do IT,"
said Twain. It's all nonsense. this bust
ness Of writing 20 members Of the Senate
and House and asking them TO vote for
this b,H or that. The thing to do is to go
after them"
| Then Uncle Joe told his distinguished
visitor how regrettable IL was that no.
| body could get him in on the floor of
/ the House. But. you see he explained
when your friend Tom Reed was Speaker
/ he got through a rule which not only for
/ bids the extension Of the privilege of the
! floor 20 an outsider. but prohibits a men,
/ Der from moving that such privilege be
/ extended II II were not for that, there Is
/ not "A member who wouldn't be proud TO
! ask for the honor Of having Mark Twain
/ in there with them during a session
/ Tell you what I'll do. though" said
/ Uncle Joe, after some more conversation
/ "Ill invite you To make yourself at home
/ in my private rooms down on the next
/ floor There plenty of space there, and
| think you will be comfortable"
! SO Secretary Busby steered Mr. Clemens
/ TO the Speakers gallery, where ne sat
| awhile. the observed Of all the observed,
and then took him 10 the Speakers apart
/ ment, where he remained most Of the
! afternoon, writing. 1t reminds me Of the
/ time forty years ago, when / was a
! Washington correspondent" he said.
/ Things were a little different then,
I though