"_Provided_, That in the case of a musical composition authors or their assigns shall have the exclusive right to use said copyright musical compositions in the form of perforated rolls for playing attachments, copyright on which music rolls may be obtained by said author or his assigns in the same manner as now provided by law for copyright on musical compositions." I have not been able to discover that this proposed amendment of the law was ever introduced in the form of a bill into either House of Congress. It may have been. But I am informed that it was formulated for the purpose of introduction as a bill in Congress in the terms above set forth. It was found impracticable to obtain the new legislation in such specific and undisguised form, and resort is now had to a pretended revision or codification of the entire copyright law, for which there is not the slightest necessity and which will inevitably give rise to a great amount of litigation before the meaning and effect of the words used in the new law can be legally understood, for the sole purpose that the Æolian Company may have with its contracting publishers and copyright owners "pleasant and profitable business relations," as expressed in the notice from the Æolian Company to the contracting publishers, dated May 5, 1902 (a facsimile of which I have filed with your committees). This notice states "a number a copyright owners satisfactory to us have made with us agreements similar to our agreement with you." Although the matters above referred to have been opened up before your committee in the remarks of Mr. O'Connell, I have felt it my duty to give my view of the matter in brief form, both in confirmation of what Mr. O'Connell has said, and for the purpose of indicating that the bill itself and proposed amendments thereto must be scrutinized by your committees with the greatest care before it is reported. As to amendments of the bill, I see no alternative to the striking out of paragraph (g) of section 1. If the combine exists as is alleged it is obvious that the patents, inventions, machinery, and plants of all those manufacturers of mechanical records who are not inside of the combine, that is to say, of all the manufacturers of perforated music rolls excepting the Æolian Company, and all the manufacturers of talking machines and records excepting the two companies who are alleged to be members of another combination or trust for the exclusive manufacture of such machines, and of all without exception of the manufacturers and users and sellers of pianos and organs which are operated by perforated music sheets, will be rendered practically useless, the owners of such manufactories will be put out of business, and their workmen will have their field of labor and bread taken away.