Mr. DAVIS. I thank you. Now, the Æolian Company, being back of the independent members of the Music Publishers' Association, have influenced in turn the music publishers as an association to insert in this bill clauses which will cover mechanical methods of reproducing music; and in proof of this I will say that as a result of Mr. Solberg's kindness yesterday afternoon in allowing me to search the records of the star-chamber proceedings presided over by the Librarian of Congress, that the first introduction of those clauses was made by Mr. Bacon for the Music Publishers' Association in the form of an amendment which now appears in all of its substantial terms as subdivision (_g_) page 2, of the bill. Now, the independent music publishers in turn control the great majority of composers, so that there is thus formed a complete monopolistic octopus, in which the Æolian Company forms the head and brains, the Music Publishers' Association the body, the independent publishers the writhing arms, and the composers the suckers and baiters. [Applause.] The Æolian Company is a ten-million-dollar concern whose monopolistic game has already been uncovered in several courts, as I will show by proofs, and the music publishers are here to pull its chestnuts out of the fire. [Applause.] Now, if the inventors of this country knew what was in this bill there would be enough here to fill up every room in this great building, but they do not know it. It will strike them like a thunderbolt out of a clear sky when they learn that there are clauses in this bill which not only seem to lessen or destroy the scope and commercial value of our existing patent and confiscate our physical property, etc., but also imprison us in case we infringe the proposed copyright act. Now I will read you from---- Mr. CHANEY. What is your first subheading there that you are going to talk from? Mr. DAVIS. That it will discourage invention, but I would like to take up this bill first; I would like to take it a little out of set up in my preamble. Mr. CURRIER. Subdivision (_g_) on page 2? Mr. DAVIS. Subdivision (_b_) on page 1. Mr. CHANEY. All right; "To sell, distribute, exhibit, or let for hire," etc.? Mr. DAVIS. Yes, sir. Mr. CURRIER. I do not see how that touches your industry. Mr. DAVIS. No, sir; I had my marked copy here---- Mr. CURRIER. I should say "(_g_)" was the first one that would affect you. Mr. DAVIS. Yes, sir "(_g_);" you are right, Mr. Currier. Mr. CHANEY. That is, "To make, sell, distribute, or let for hire any device, contrivance," etc.? Mr. DAVIS. "To make, sell, distribute, or let for hire any device, contrivance, or appliance especially adapted in any manner whatsoever to reproduce to the ear the whole or any material part of any work published and copyrighted after this act shall have gone into effect, or by means of any such device or appliance publicly to reproduce to the ear the whole or any material part of such work."