The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-03-29
LABOR MEN WIN
BY COPYRIGHT LAW
Bills Presented in Congress
Protect Unions of
America.

II makes no difference which way the
wind blows. organized labor viii score a
victory IN the passage OF a new copy
right law. The labor forces at the Cap
1tol have succeeded in having incor-
pOrated In the two bills. which are most
likely OF passage. the clause for which
Il has fought. namely that providing
that no foreign-bound, printed. or en-
gTaved books can be sold in the
United States. and that all books copy
righted under the laws of the United
States must be printed. engraved,
bound. and finished by American labor.
Objection has been made 70 this, and
there has been a strenuous fight in all
the hearings on this and other clauses,
but they have been incorporated in the
bill.
It is provided by the present copy
right law that all books copyrighted in
the United States must be printed In
the United States, but there vas no
provision 10 protect the bOOkbinders the
stereotypers. pressmen, and the photo
and HthO engravers and the other crafts
who work on books
In one Of the hearings before the
Senate and House Joint Committee,
4ALAu III Ll4C DClldLC 4OULA III LA4D l14bA d
Of Congress. Mr.. Ogilvie. Of the Ogilvie
Publishing Company, cited an instance
where a publishing firm had had the
type for large edition Of American
school text books set In this country
and sent to Japan. where plates were
made, the engraving, printing, and
bookbinding done and the entire lot
shipped back to San Francisco. With
all expense paid, including the customs
duties. the cost was S to 10 cents a
piece less for production than if done
in their entirety in the United States.
President Feeney, OF the local book
binders union. who is representing the
International Union Of BOOkbinders
and the local Central Labor Union.
spoke on this before the Joint Commit
tee Thursday night. when more than a
hundred persons were present, including
many noted authors, composers, poets,
and publishers. He pointed out the evil
conditions which would result from such
q practice, saying that these books
which had deprived American working
men Of work were used by their own
children, as the children Of the labor
ing men were IN the vast najQSity %
public school children Of the country.
would put the American workmen out
of business. as il was plain that pub
Fishers for their own profit would send
iaH work abroad 70 be done by coOlie
labor. The publishers also favored q
'olause that would prevent such a prac-
i1ics. as the establishments would have
TO abandon large plants in this country
band send their work out 10 meet what
would undoubtedly grow 70 be a rUinous
icompetition by new firms, not them
lseIves publishers, but merely commits
sion men, who would take a large share
OF the profits.
J. J. O'SuIlivan, OF the Department Of
commerce and Labor. IS representing the
printers before the committee, and the
Legislative committee Of the Central
Labor Union Is looking after the general
interests Of American organized labor.
II is probable the hearings on the bill
will not DC completed for several days.
as there are hundreds who wish 10 be
keard, and It viii probably not be re-
ported for some time to come. Senator
iSmoot is presiding over the meetings
In the Senate room, as chairman Of the
Senate Committee. and consequently the
Joint Committee on Copyrights and Pat
ents