A little girl I knew spoke of a compromise as something where everybody got what they did not want. Now, in that sense this bill is not a compromise. It represents, rather, the consensus of opinion of the originators of copyrightable property, of the reproducers, publishers and similar interests, and of representatives, as Mr. Putnam has told you, of various other interests. On behalf of the league we believe, sir, that you have before you a working basis for a just, broad, clear, workable copyright bill; and we feel confident that such a bill will emerge from your deliberations. We ask you, sir, to keep in mind two vital points: First, that the rights of the producing classes shall be first of all thought of, but not to the detriment of the great body of reproducers and readers, on whom the author classes depend for the possibility of realizing from their productions. As has been said to you, copyright is on a different basis from patents, in that it not only does not interfere with the rights or privileges of others as succeeding inventors, but that the world is the better for any original work contributed by help of the copyright laws to the community without detriment to anyone, and therefore it should have a broader scope before you in copyright legislation than in patent legislation; and we ask that in that view, in that spirit, the rights of the producing classes shall be kept in mind. Secondly, sir, this is a very difficult and complicated question. Those of us who have met in conference have recognized most fully the care, fairness, and wise consideration which have been given to all interests by the copyright office and the difficulties under which a practical bill has been framed. We ask you, sir, in your considerations in the committee and in the discussions in Congress so far as they are shaped by the committee, that you will keep in mind, sir, the importance of keeping a consistent bill throughout these difficult provisions. The copyright office has been of the greatest service to all of us in that very function; and I have no doubt, sir, from our experience, that it will be of the greatest service to your committee.