Mr. CUTTER. Whether they were asked here or not I do not know. Of course, this being a public hearing, they had a right to appear. But the point I want to make is this: That a great many of our libraries have to import books through these men, because they get a cheaper rate of importation through them than through some of the firms that are also publishers of books. This would prevent the importation of some of these books through those firms. It would practically ruin their English business, largely ruin it; and on behalf of a library that uses that method of importation largely, it seems to me that some provision might be made for other importers than those who are publishers of books. Those are the only arguments that I wish to present. Mr. CHANEY. To what section of this bill do you now refer? Mr. CUTTER. I am referring to the subsection of this same section on page 24--section 30. Mr. CHANEY. Do you mean subsection E? Mr. CUTTER. Yes. Mr. CURRIER. No; the subdivision called "First." Mr. CHANEY. Oh, I see. Mr. CUTTER. I suggest this amendment to the clause reading, "When imported, not more than one copy at one time, for use and not for sale, under permission given by the proprietor of the American copyright." I suggest leaving out the consent of the American copyright proprietor. That changes existing law only in these particulars: It allows the importation of only one copy instead of two copies, as the existing law does; it gives the importer who has established a business here based on legislation, and who is closely in touch--the firms that I speak of serve libraries and learned men mostly with expensive books and have practically no sale to the ordinary public--it would give them an opportunity, and it would give a scholar in this country who wants a book for a particular purpose for his own use and not for sale an opportunity to import it. Mr. CHANEY. So that if you strike out "under permission given by the proprietor of the American copyright" it satisfies them? Mr. CUTTER. It would satisfy the request of the importers, who are not publishers. Mr. CURRIER. Do you appear for the importers? Mr. CUTTER. I appear for one of them only. The CHAIRMAN. Do you feel that you are authorized to speak for the others? Mr. CUTTER. I am authorized to speak for one firm only. The CHAIRMAN. Do you feel that you represent the other importing firms? Mr. CUTTER. I do not; no. I am quite convinced that I would be allowed to represent them, but I have had no communication with them. Mr. BONYNGE. But you think you state their views on the subject? Mr. CUTTER. I have not any doubt of it. Mr. CHANEY. You spoke of "ancient history" back as far as 1901. Do you regard anything back behind that as ancient history?