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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.
always be criticised from a broad stand-
point.
No man should criticise the utterances of
a paper without first posting himself as to
just what constitutes legitimate journalism.
IMPORTS AND THE TARIFF LAW.
HE Treasury report of exports and im-
ports of musical instruments for the
past twelve months, ending December
31st, 1895, which appeared in this paper
last week, throws strong light on the work-
ings of the present tariff law.
For years the doctrine was disseminated
broadcast by one of our political parties
that it would prove to the interest of the
country to lower the import duties. It
was contended that a multitude of advan-
tages would accrue to mantrfacturers and
consumers alike; raw material could be
imported at a low price, and manufactured
articles could be sold cheaper—the people
would derive the benefit direct—and all
that.
The agitation was successful, and these
theories were put into effect when the Wil-
son Bill became a law.
What has been the result in the music
trade industry?
Duringthe year 1894-5 we imported $622,-
419 worth of musical instruments, against
$1,252,686 in 1895-6—an increase of over
50 per cent.
These figures are stupendous—alarming,
in fact—but they might be palliated did
our exports show as substantial an in-
crease.
What do we find ?
In 1895-6 we exported musical instru-
ments to the value of $286,082, as against
$231,256 in 1894-5—a puny increase com-
pared with the volume of our export trade.
And yet there can be found people who
proclaim in the face of these figures that
this condition of things is beneficial to our
industry and the country at large!
Beneficial, no doubt, to manufacturers in
Europe who have received during the past
year over six hundred thousand dollars
in increased trade from this country. A
large sum of money truly, which would
have kept our workingmen employed and
our factories busy.
The question arises, how are we to com-
bat this steady increase in our import
trade which is now evident month after
month?
It seems to us we must restore the
former, or, at least, increase the present
tariff duties, or otherwise cheapen the
cost of production by lowering wages,
quality, etc., in order to compete with the
foreign manufacturer.
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This, however, opens up a wide field for
discussion, and will hold for a future time.
The interesting article on wool from
the pen of Mr. L. Cavalli, elsewhere in
this issue, bears on another phase of this
question, and is well worth perusal. It
demonstrates that wool growers are also
suffering from the effects of the "Cleve-
land millennium." Their bill of losses
amounts to $100,000,000 since the enact-
ment of the Wilson free wool bill.
No wonder we have had business depres-
sion, bond issues and governmental bank-
ruptcy !
important points in widely separated local-
ities were included in that morning's ship-
ment. Judging from indications all about,
this will be a Steinway year.
THERE is nothing new to chronicle re-
specting the Smith & Nixon reorganization.
"Progress has been reported," and details
will be forthcoming in due time.
JOSEF KUDER,
of Sohmer & Co.,
leaves on Tuesday with his wife, for a
short trip to Florida.
FRED. KRANICH, of Kranich & Bach re-
turned Thursday from a business trip
through the New England States.
HERE is no denying the fact that
WILLIAM DALLIBA DUTTON, of Hard-
the medium price piano—the cheap man, Peck & Co., New York, left the city
piano—call it what you will—is here to on Friday morning, on a short business
stay for quite a little time, judging from trip to Philadelphia. He will return early
in the week.
the number of manufacturers who are now
THE Mason & Hamlin Co. intend to open
entering upon the manufacture of "good
a
branch
house in Bangor, Me.
pianos at a low price."
CHAS. CLARK will be in charge of a branch
In this connection a most important duty
store of the B. Shoninger Co. in South Nor-
lays with the dealers handling these instru-
waik, Conn.
ments, and that is to tell the truth about
FRED. SCHLENDER'S music store, 145
them.
Gwinnett street, Brooklyn, was entered by
This is the duty of the hour.
thieves last Wednesday, who carried off
The public may be induced by misrep- $125 worth of musical instruments.
resentation to purchase instruments which
A. HOSPE, JR., the well-known music
are not in any respect worth the prices trade dealer of Omaha, Neb., has been
asked for them. It can be fooled.
elected president of the recently organized
But the honest dealer desirous of being Retailers' Club, of that city.
fair to his customers and fair to the manu-
WM. F. BOOTHE, of the Sebastian Som-
mer
Piano Co., left this week on a short
facturers, will sell the cheap piano at its
:
business
trip.
real value.
:'
There is a business principle in a matter
G. A. CHENEY, of Pratt, Read & Co., Deep
like this which should rise superior to River, Conn., was in town Tuesday.
sordid considerations.
LOOK out tor the A. M. McPhail Piano
A cheap piano sold at its real price can Co.'s catalogue, which will soon make its
in the end only tend to make customers appearance.
for high-grade instruments; cheap pianos
ALBERT T. STRAUCH, of Strauch Bros.,
sold abcve their value, however, will work returned last Saturday from a very success-
an injury to the trade at large and to the ful Western trip.
seller.
THE soloist at Thursday's ^Eolian con-
cert
was Jeanne Franko, violiniste.
It is the duty of the dealer to keep the
cheap piano in its proper place—to sell it
PRESTO made its appearance last week
at its real value. In this way he will with an artistically conceived cover.
reflect credit on himself and the industry in
AMONG the members of the trade in town
which he is interested.
this week were: C. H. Sweezy, Middletown,
N. Y., R. C. Forbes, Watertown, Conn.,
Edmund Cluett, of Cluett &Sons Troy, N.
ii P ) U S I N E S S , " said Nahum Stetson,
Y., Col. Harry Sanders, of Sanders &
\j
whom we saw at his desk yester Stayman, Baltimore, Md., P. J. Healy and
day, "has materially improved within the son, Chicago.
past few days; the satisfactory adjustment
J. R. MASON, secretary of the Sterling
of the bond matter has had a beneficial Co., will leave next Monday for the West.
effect all around, Now if people would He will journey as far as St. Paul, stopping
only carry their heads erect, throw a little at various points en route.
energy into their movements, the improve-
ALLEN T. DODWORTH, one of New York's
ment of trade would be greatly acceler- old time bandmasters, died last Thurs-
ated. Orders are coming in for Steinway day at his home in Pasadena, Cal. He was
pianos; here are orders for shipment this 74 years old.
E. E. ANDRUS, music dealer, Vassar,
morning." Looking at the tags as they lay
Mich.,
has sold out his business.
upon Mr. Stetson's desk we saw that many
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