Senator MALLORY. What is the reason assigned for uniting these two fees in one; do you know?
Mr. REMICH. I was not here, and I did not hear the reasons.
Senator MALLORY. I was not here, either, so I do not know.
Mr. PUTNAM. For the benefit of the Senator I might explain that the idea was this, Senator: That the office will hereafter furnish the certificate in all cases as a matter of course, which heretofore has been furnished only when requested; and that in furnishing it it should charge for it as heretofore, making the charge therefor $1.
Senator MALLORY. Still, the certificate is not necessary except where it is desired to prove the fact that the copyright has been secured.
Mr. PUTNAM. It was with the idea that it was a precaution that the copyright proprietor ought in reason to take.
Senator MALLORY. I have no doubt that there are many persons situated as this gentleman is who do not want any certificate except in very rare cases.
The CHAIRMAN. To what extent do you now issue certificates?
Mr. PUTNAM. Mr. Register, to what extent is that done?
Mr. SOLBERG. For last year the total of registrations numbered 116,000, and of those 28,087 were certificates.
Mr. SOLBERG. It should be remembered that requests for certificates additional to the certificate paid for at the time of registration are constant, and in addition to fees submitted to secure certificates, constant inquiry is made of the Copyright Office and answered at some service cost as to what entries have been made by particular firms. They ask us "just what entries did we make in May last?"
The CHAIRMAN. What were the gross receipts of the Copyright Office for the last fiscal year?
Mr. SOLBERG. The receipts--this is for the calendar year, Senator, those being the latest figures which I have.
Mr. SOLBERG. The fees for the total calendar year were $78,518, of which the certificate fees were $14,043.
The CHAIRMAN. What are the expenses of the office?
Mr. SOLBERG. The total expenses of the office can not be given. The comparison given here is between the appropriations for service only, and I could give you that for the year.
Mr. PUTNAM. That is for the fiscal year. In this case we have had to take the last fiscal year, with your permission.