Music Trade Review

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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
LYMAN
Editor and Proprietor
PUBLISHED EVERY SATURDAY
3 East 14th St., New York
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ing matter $75.00.
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Entered at the New York Post Office as Second Class Matter.
NEW YORK, flARCH 12, 1898.
TELEPHONE NUMBER,
1745—EIQHTEENTH STREET.
THE KEYNOTE.
The first week of each month, The Review will
contain a supplement embodying the literary
and musical features which have heretofore
appeared in The Keynote. This amalgamation
will be effected without in any way trespassing
on our regular news service. The Review will
continue to remain, as before, essentially a
trade paper.
THE WHEAT FROM THE CHAFF.
Wiser and braver still are those who, hav-
ing dispovered the "causes," have replaced
old ideas by modern methods and have pre-
pared themselves to enter the battle for trade
equipped with powerful armament and com-
petent generals. Success is certain to alight
on their banners. t
rather hard on the merchant transacting in-
stallment trade, provides that the merchant
or dealer who makes the seizure of any
goods sold on account of nonpayment of in-
stallments shall hold the same in his posses-
sion for twelve months before he can resell.
This is designed with the object of pro-
tecting people who are compelled through
NOTWITHSTANDING the outcry of the accident or other inabilities to meet their pay-
sensational papers which have several times ments.
Assemblyman Perkins is the author of a
"declared war," the patriotic action of both
branches of the Legislature this week in appro- bill relating to the giving of statements by
priating $50,000,000 for the national defense, merchants desiring to obtain goods on credit.
has had a most reassuring effect upon the This bill has the support of the New York
business of the country, and has created a Credit Men's Association and proposes to
amend an existing law which, as it now stands,
good impression abroad.
The keynote of the discussion, previous to provides that a purchase of property by
the passage of the measure, was " i t is not a means of a false pretence is not criminal
war appropriation, but a peace measure," and where the pretence relates to the purchaser's
this sensible view of the matter is in keeping means or ability to pay unless the pretence is
with the calm, level-headed, patriotic policy in writing and signed by the party to be
which has actuated the President since the charged.
destruction of the "Maine."
Mr. Perkins' bill proposes to qualify the
There is no better or more effective means foregoing as follows:
"For the purposes contemplated in section five
of preserving peace than being by amply pre-
hundred and twenty-eight and this section a pub-
pared to meet any war emergency. The Pres- lished, signed statement of one's means or ability
ident with $50,000,000 at his command is now to pay coming to the knowledge of the vendor
enabled to protect adequately the enormous shall have the same force and effect as a signed
statement made to him. If said signedstatement
interests of the nation and he can be relied shall state that it is for the purpose of obtaining
upon to do his full duty should more serious continuous credit, and if said continuous credit
shall have been given* in reliance on said signed
complications arise.
statement, each sale for a reasonable time after
It is indeed refreshing to notice the the making of said statement shall,for the purpose,
unanimity with which all parties joined of prosecution under this section and section five
hundred and twenty-eight, be considered to have
hands in support of the administration this been made in reliance upon said signed statement."
week, particularly when a number of sensa-
Another bill introduced by Senator Guy,
tional papers have been indulging in the
and which had a hearing before the Judi-
most unreasonable and unfounded attacks on
ciary Committee of the Assembly last Wed-
the executive.
nesday, is designed to prevent misleading
While realizing that it is by no means im- and dishonorable advertising, especially to
possible that we may ultimately have to face put an end to the holding of transient " bank-
trouble with a foreign power, it is a good rupt," " f i r e " and "assignee sales," which
omen, both for trade and for the soundness not only injure the business of the honest
of the conclusions which we shall reach in the merchant, but being fraudulent in their na-
Cuban affair, that Uncle Samuel and his big ture, mislead and deceive customers. The
family have so far kept cool and businesslike. bill is warmly supported by the Merchants
DEGARDING the business outlook for the
present season, it is pleasing to note that
there is a healthy optimistic sentiment abroad.
Especially noteworthy is the fact that a num-
ber of manufacturers have resolved to do
something they have never done before—
they have determined to quit making poor
excuses. They have discovered that it is
not always well to blame times or conditions
for inability to make progress.
They have more critically and carefully
looked into their own methods and manage-
ment and not a few have found room for im-
provement, and the beauty of it is that the
new scheme is working like magic.
They have found that the policy of con-
servatism—admirable though it may be in
many ways—is not a wise or a paying one in
this progressive age.
On all sides, concerns with the right kind
of management continue to get bigger and
stronger whether depression or prosperity is T H E legislative mill at Albany is at present
grinding away at a number of bills which
the general condition of the country. They
directly
interest the members of our industry
are doing more business to-day than they
ever did before, because they recognize the as well as merchants throughout the State.
importance of keeping their wares and name They are no doubt designed for a good pur-
before the public, and seeking business in- pose, but some of them, particularly one of
the installment bills, may work direct injury
stead of being sought.
There are still others whose machinery is to piano dealers and others doing business on
rusty, clogged with indifference, and who the installment plan.
One of these bills which was introduced by
seem to overlook the necessity of applying
Mr.
Ford in the Senate provides that there
the essential oils. Some of these people will
shall be printed upon each contract or in-
never catch up again.
stallment
sale papers, the legal provisions de-
The reason is not difficult to find, and much
of it is caused by a failure to understand that fining the rights of purchasers, and unless
success to-day must be won along new lines. such provisions are printed, the vendor shall
Wise are they who have looked inside, not not be allowed to resell the goods seized in
outside for the causes which have kept their default of installment payment.
Another bill along the same lines which is
business from advancing.
and Manufacturers' Board of Trade of this
city, and by business organizations in all the
leading cities of the State. The prospects
are that the bill will be favorably reported,
and will shortly become a law.
The State Bankruptcy Bill is another meas-
ure which bids fair of a speedy passage.
The, purpose is to give the honest debtor a
"fair show" and to drive out of existence
the frauds and schemers who exist by fleec-
ing the honest merchant. This measure has
met with warm support. It is a step in the
right direction toward strengthening the
bankruptcy laws.
It is a remarkable fact that business men
as" a general thing do not take sufficient inter-
est in legislation that would better their in-
terests, and to this is due the fact that