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25162), by Mr. Washburn January 15, 1909 (H. R. Fourth Con- bill 26282). On January 20, 1909, a fourth public gressional hearing, specifically on "common law rights as ap- ^""^^^^909 plied to copyright," was given by the Copyright Sub- committee of the House Committee on Patents, to which had been referred the preparation of a final draft, which hearing was reported with the inclusion of a communication of Arthur Steuart, Esq., Chair- man of the Copyright Committee of the American Bar Association, giving a careful analysis of the several common law rights possible as to copyright property. After this hearing there were further reintroductions of copyright bills by Mr. Washburn January 28, 1909 (H. R. bill 27310), by Chairman Currier Februeiry 15, 1909 (H. R. bill 28192), and in the Senate by Senator Smoot February 22, 1909 (Senate bill 9440).

The Currier bill was referred to the Committee of Passage of the Whole February 22, when a report (H. R. report *** "' ^axcb 2222) was presented. On February 26, amendments *' ^'*** were agreed to by the House Committee on Patents; on March 2 the bill had a further reading, and on March 3 was briefly discussed and passed by the House. Senator Smoot had reported to the Senate March I, 1909, with a report from the Committee (Senate report 1108), and on March 3 the bill as passed by the House was brought before the Senate, briefly discussed, and passed. The exact votes were not recorded.

It had scarcely been hoped at the beginning of Approval by 1909 by the friends of copyright that the act could President be passed during the short session, but the energy of Chairman Currier, complemented by Senator Smoot in the Senate, carried the bills through, and on March 4, the last day of the administration of President Roosevelt, himself an author of distinction and mem-