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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.
The Income Tax.
POINTS ON THE NEW LAW.
H
WASHINGTON, D. C , April 6th, 1895.
T
HE dutiable import of musical instru-
ments into the United States during
the month of February amounted to $76,626,
against $41,130 in February of last year.
The value of the eight months ending
February, 1895, were $560,618, being a de-
cided gain over $496,421 for the same
period of the year before.
Musical instruments of domestic manu-
facture were exported from the United
States to the amount of $76,795 worth in
February, as compared with $54,134 worth
in February, 1894. For the eight months
ending in February the shipments amount-
ed to $797,270, a marked increase over the
shipments for the same .period of the year
before, which amounted to $649,846.
Of this total there were exported in Feb-
ruary 762 organs, valued at $42,934, against
the shipment of February, '94, which
amounted to 512 organs, valued at $34,021.
For the eight months there were reported
7,711 organs, valued at $471,684, as com-
pared with the shipment of the eight
months of the year before, which amounted
to 5,921, valued at $367,128.
Of this total also the United States
shipped to other countries in February 66
pianofortes, valued at $16,627, against 35
of the same instruments which were valued
at
$9,955 in February of the year before.
The eight months' shipments amounted to
623 pianos, valued at $171,824, as compared
with 407, valued at $118,714 in February
of 1894.
The exports of all other musical instru-
ments not otherwise specified and parts of
same, amounted in February to $17,234, as
compared with $10,158 for the same month
of the past year. The values for the eight
months in this line have amounted to
$153,762, as compared with the much larger
figures for the same period of time in 1894,
which amounted to $164,004.
The re-exports of dutiable musical instru-
ments in February amounted to $152,
against $137 for the same month in T894.
The total amount of re-exports for the eight
months footed up $6,997, a marked gain
over the corresponding period of time the
year before, which only footed up $4,183.
There were no musical instruments re-
maining in customs warehouses either dur-
ing the months of February in 1894 and
1895, or for the eight months of both years.
GEORGE L. and Otto J. Schaeffer, of Steu-
benville, ()., have formed a partnership,
and will open a music store.
KOPS BROS., of Chicago, will open a new
music store in La Crosse, Wis., in the
building now occupied by the "Racket."
Mr. T. A. Box will be in charge of the busi-
ness.
ERE are some points which the well-
to-do members of the trade should
bear in mind now that the new Income Tax
law is in full force. It will save them
trouble, and show them just what their
duties and liabilities are with reference to
the tax.
In the first place, the tax which is now
being assessed is levied upon incomes re-
ceived between Jan. 1st, 1894, and Dec.
31st, 1894, and that the amount of the tax
is 2 per cent. Only those whose incomes
are $4,000 or less are exempt from taxa-
tion.
Those who are subject to taxation include
all citizens of the United States—resident
or non-resident—as well as resident aliens.
Non-resident aliens are taxed on all incomes
derived from any source in the United
vStates.
In the case of taxable incomes, only that
portion of the income which exceeds $4,000
is subject to the tax.
case of estates of deceased, insane or insol-
vent persons.
Another exemption is made in the case
of salaries of State, county or municipal
officers, which are not subject to the in-
come tax.
Weaver Organs Complimented.
AGREEABLE to a contract entered into
some three years ago—the result of a public
competition between seven different manu-
facturers—the Weaver Organ and Piano
Co., of York, Pa., have placed fifty organs
in the public schools at Baltimore, Md.
This contract has just expired. Meanwhile
the Weaver instruments have given such
general satisfaction, and have so highly
pleased the school commissioners that they
voluntarily renewed the contract at a recent
meeting for several years more, and also
ordered some organs on the new contract.
This is something the Weaver Organ and
Piano Co. have every reason to feel proud
of. It is a high compliment, being entirely
unsolicited.
TWO EXCEPTIONS TO THE TAX.
There are only two exceptions to the
general rule that all incomes are subject to
the tax from whatever source they may be
derived, and these are incomes which are
derived from rents, or other sources of
profit on real estate, and from interest on
State, county or municipal bonds. Such
incomes are exempt.
In estimating the amount of income to
be taxed the law provides that only one de-
duction of $4,000 is to be made from the
aggregate income of any one family, com-
posed of the parents and minor children.
In the case of a tax on the income of a
corporation, individual stockholders are
exempt from taxation or incomes derived
from dividends on the stock of such cor-
poration.
The law requires that every person hav-
ing an income of more than $3,500 a year
must make a return of such income to the
Collector or Deputy Collector of Internal
Revenue of the district in which he re-
sides, and guardians and trustees must file
returns for their ward.
RETURNS BY APRIL 15TH.
This year the returns must all be made
before April 15th, and the tax must be paid
on or before July 1st, but hereafter the re-
turns must be made each year before
March 1st.
The penalties for neglecting to comply
with these provisions are very severe. If
persons fail to make proper returns within
the prescribed time authority is given to
the Collector to assess the amount of such
incomes and add 50 per cent, to the amount
of the tax as a penalty.
Where it is shown that a false return has
been made, a penalty of 100 per cent, may
be added to the amount of the tax, and 5
per cent, will be added for all taxes that
remain unpaid ten days after notice and de-
mand, and interest at the rate of 1 per cent,
a month imposed as a penalty until paid.
This rule, however, does not apply in the
The Braumuller Catalogue.
T
HE Braumuller Piano Co., 402-410 West
Fourteenth street, have issued an il-
lustrated catalogue for the spring season of
1895.
Illustrations are given of their
boudoir upright and cabinet grand pianos,
aech of which are manufactured in four
different styles of cases. An illustrated
description of the special features contained
in these instruments is given, also extracts
from the trade press. Among the patented
improvements treated of in this catalogue
and used in the Braumuller pianos, are the
new harmonic scale, the tuning pin sup-
port, patent tone deflector, pianissimo cen-
ter pedal and automatic desk swing. In
their introductory they say:
"While in the past no effort has been
spared by us to produce a piano as nearly
perfect as it is possible, yet it will be con-
ceded that there must always be some slight
room for improvement, and we therefore
feel justified in claiming for our present
output, superiority over anything we have
yet produced.
"With the new styles of cases which we
herewith offer, and our new perfected
scales, together with the general improve-
ment in some minor details, we feel more
than ever warranted in claiming for the
Braumuller piano the title of 'absolutely
first-class.' "
. .
," •'• '
The Wegman Piano Co.
T
HE Wegman Piano Co. have in prepara-
tion a new catalogue, which will con-
tain illustrations of their three latest styles
—"A," " B " and " C . " In these instru-
ments will be found the automatic fall-
board, top front, and other important fea-
tures peculiar to this house. Business with
the Wegman Piano Co. is looking up. For
the past two weeks the number of orders
coming in indicate that spring trade is in
our midst.