In conclusion it is urged that the Committee on Patents should render immediate relief by recommending the amendment, or some amendment, favorably on which immediate action by the House may be taken in the passage of the same. We submit that the matter of the passage of the amendment should not be delayed on the pretense that the same can be inserted and taken care of in the general codification of the copyright law, for it seems on a casual perusal thereof that there are many imperfections and unfair and unjust discriminations therein and that it is safe to say that it will take some time to come before it can be reported if it will be reported at any time. Although the Bennet bill has been introduced in January, we have received no invitation to attend any of the conferences in the preparation of the codification of the copyright law, and knew nothing of the kind being contemplated until we arrived at Washington for this hearing, and it is safe to say that there are a great number of others interested in the copyright law who have been ignored. It is therefore respectfully submitted that action on the Bennet amendment should not be delayed, but that relief should be granted at this session. Respectfully submitted. HERMAN FROMME. _287 Broadway, New York City. Counsel for F. N. Innes, of Chicago, Ill.; The A. W. Tams Music Library, of New York, and George Lowell Tracy Music Library, of Boston, Mass._ _Brief in opposition to H. R. 11943 to amend the copyright law respecting public performance of musical works._ On behalf of the Music Publishers' Association of the United States, the following is submitted supplementing the hearings already had on H. R. 11943, "A bill to amend title 60, chapter 3, of the Revised Statutes of the United States, relating to copyrights." The music publishers and the composers of music whom we represent are opposed to the bill, which in effect provides for the public performance of religious and secular works of a musical character without first obtaining consent therefor from the copyright proprietor. PROPERTY RIGHTS OF COMPOSERS. The laws of the United States have recognized two distinct property rights in a musical composition that has been copyrighted. 1. The copyright proprietor has the exclusive right to reproduce copies of the original work. This he may assign in toto or with any limitations he may choose to impose on such assignment. 2. The copyright proprietor has the exclusive right of public performance of the copyrighted work. This right also may be assigned in part or in toto. The United States has adopted these provisions from the English copyright laws, as have most of the other Christian nations. Under English statutes--