Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-29
DRAMAT|STS PLEAD.
Composers Also Ask That. Tall
ent Be Protected.
EMUSIC MASTER" PIRATED
Author Says Gallery Receipts Are
Killed.
AND THERE THE PROFIT LIES
Victor Herbert Accuses Talking Ma
chine Companies Of Spelling a.
Well as Appropriating Melodies.
AND THERE THE PROFIT LIE

It was predicted last night by members
tees that a compromise will be reached
which will settle the controversy between
the manufacturers and purveyors OF me-
chanical music producing machines and
moving picture machines on one side and
composers. playwrights and theatrical
managers on the other. The basis OF the
compromise it is said, will be the pay
ment of a percentage by the me-
chanical device people to authors
and composers when their works
are reproduced, the mechanical in
terests to be given a license in considera-
ton Of the percentage. This compromise
is to be perfected at a meeting of the in
terests involved to be held in the near fu-
tIre. The basis of the settlement was
reached after three days argument before
the Senate and House committees On IL
brary. In joint session. This hearing end
ed late yesterday with the sudden appear
ance of disposition to compromise. Such
compromise would relieve the demand for
legislation on the subject, and consequent
ly removefrom the pending codification Of
the copyright laws one of the most serious
impending problems in that measure.
The final hours of the hearing were al
lotted to the authors and composers the
arguments in their behalf being made by
Lawyers Arthur Steuart of Baltimore
Nathan Burkan. Lingon Johnson and Mr.
Evans of New York.
Daniel Frohman and William ]. Brady
were among those who appeared yester-
day in the Library of Congress at the
hearing on copyrights granted to drama
fists and composers by the joint patent
committee.
After they had spoken Charles l.. Klein,
a dramatist. made a plea for protection
for authors. The author should feel
when he has completed his work. that the
work will belong to him. he said
air. Klein said that for the first nine
or ten years of his career he had written
plays Of Indifferent success. These
plays he continued. were never taken
by the pirates. The moment l struck a
success it was played in, l think. thirty
states at one time and the little money
got out of 1t I could not afford to spend
in legal proceedings"
Music Master" Pirated.
He had been told that one of his plays,
1.-The Music Master now being present,
ed in New York by David Belasco. was
losing money in its gallery because q
vi .k1,o toll l..
it. And the gallery he added. sis what
the managers depend upon for their pro-
fits." Mr. Klein had not seen the produc-
ton at the nickel theater and Senator
smoot suggested to him that he go there
and see 1t for himself.
IF you find that 1t is your pay" he
asked. could you not close the place by
law?'
II do not think So" replied Mr. Kline.
Victor Herbert. the composer. next adj
dressed the committee. He represented,
he said, the American Federation of Musi-
clans. which has membership of 10000.
He reiterated the arguments he made last
year before the committee against the
mechanical machines being allowed to pro-
duce the works Of composers saying that
an injustice was being perpetrated on
Americans who. after popularizing their
works. must stand aside and see others
reap the benefit. He read advertisements
from talking machine companies to show
full selections, those that had become
widely known and popular. These peo
pie" he exclaimed. ARE appropriating our
works and they are running US
Compositions Garbled.
would you be satisfied asked Senator
Smoot. las a musical composer. If there
percentage royalty by all of these me-
chanical reproducing devices. with the
further proviso that any monopoly of any
mechanical reproducing device. upon pay
ment to you of your royalty, could make a
record of any musical composition that
you may producer"
II think that 1 should have supervision
over the matter" replied Mr.. Herbert
THE artistic side of 1t Is important to
us. They turn out records alleged to be
our compositions that are not our work
at ALL
1.-The committee is anxious to give you
people some relief" said Mr.. Currier
II hope they WILL replied Mr.. Herbert.
Il am not here asking favors. but what
I think are my rights as an American
citizen
Mr.. Herbert said he could not accept
the theory that the authors would have
a monopoly under a law for their proper
protection.
There is monopoly. but it is the same
kind of monopoly that a man who
house, interjected Representative Leake
Of New Jersey. a member of the House
committee on patents.
Nathan Buckran of New York. repre-
senting the publishers. argued against
exclusive rights being granted to any
talking machine company to make
records.
"White Rats" Appear.
Harry Knowles Of New York. represent
ing the White Rats of America" made
up of vaudeville artists. read resolution
adopted by his organization declaring in
favor of the Kittredge- Barchfeld bills. be-
cause they felt that these bills gave them
more protection than the others,
though said Mr.. Knowles, IF there Is
a disposition on the part of the committee
to amend the Smoot-Currier bills in sat-
isfaotory manner we will indorse them"
He told of Arm in Chicago that pro-
cures copyrighted sketches and short
plays and advertises them for sale at a
small figure. He thought that if the law
would enjoin theater managers from pro-
ducing these pirated plays the evil might
be stopped. He also asked that the pres
ent law be so changed that it will be
necessary to file but one copy of a play
for the purpose of copyright. instead of