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F NEW YORK
VOL. XXIX. No. 4 .
Published Every Saturday by Edward Lyman Bill at 3 East Fourteenth Street, New York, July 22,1899,
$2.00 PER YEAR.
SINGLE COPIES 10 CENTS.
Salesmen and their Customers.
Worcester Dealers Organize.
An American Bank in Caracas.
To whom does the customer "belong"—
to the firm who manufactures or purveys
the goods, assumes the risk and collects
the bill, or to the salesman who has by his
personal efforts or social connection ob-
tained the order? This is a vexed question,
constantly arising.
As between manufacturers, there can be
no question. Public policy requires that
trade conditions be maintained on a basis
of free and open competition, and most
States have statutes designed to prevent
any combination of manufacturers aim-
ing to restrain competition; but as be-
tween a firm and its employees, the ques-
tion has been the cause of endless mis-
understandings and contentions, particu-
larly when the employee leaves his firm
and starts in business for himself. Then
there is usually a contest, greatly to the
benefit of the customer, as to which firm
shall supply him. To such firms the re-
cent action of Judge Beach, of the New
York Supreme Court, will have startling
interest.
The question before the Court was: Four
employees of an insurance agency gave up
their positions at the beginning of the year
and formed a partnership to engage in the
insurance business. Justice Beach has now
restrained them from obtaining, or attempt-
ing to obtain, any of the business of their
former employers, or in any way diverting
their customers.
If this injunction is made permanent it
will be the most important legal decision
affecting business in many years, says the
Furniture World. It will go far toward
eliminating the "personal question," in so
far as the employee is concerned, and will
afford protection to the employer in a de-
gree never before known. It will prevent
an employee from making use, for his own
benefit, of a trade acquaintance and of
facilities gained at the employer's cost, and
by means of service in the conduct of the
employer's affairs, for which the employer
paid, week by week, while it will not pre-
vent such employee from going into busi-
ness on his own account and gaining a field
for trade.
The piano dealers of Worcester, Mass.,
have formed a trade organization for mu-
tual protection and benefit with Frank A.
Leland as president, Chas. F. Hanson,
vice-president and Chas. A. Williams sec-
retary and treasurer. A meeting will be
held shortly to adopt by-laws and draw up
a constitution. It is understood that all
the local dealers are in hearty sympathy
with the movement and will join.
Manufacturers doing business with Ven-
ezuela will be pleased to learn through Con-
sul Plumacher, in a communication to the
State department, that the establishment
of a bank is about being undertaken at
Caracas by United States citizens repre-
sented by Geo. W. Upton. The capital of
the bank is to be $2,895,000. It is to be
installed in four months and the charter
will last fifty years.
The need of such a bank as a medium of
exchange with this country has long been
needed. It will be a decided means of aug-
menting our trade with Venezuela.
The new tariff law of Venezuela by
which the President of that country is em-
powered to add twenty-five per cent, addi-
tional to all duties, has just gone into
effect.
Forfeited Their Bail.
PIANO MOVERS SUMMONED FOR TRIAL FAILED
TO APPEAR.
William Meyer, William Hopper, Charles
Hackett and James Calloway, piano mov-
ers, for the Wissner & Co. piano concern,
failed to appear for trial on a charge of
assault and battery in the General Sessions
Court yesterday and their bail was de-
clared forfeited, says the Jersey City News.
The men are alleged to have committed
an assault on Mr. and Mrs. Franklyn, of
First street and the Boulevard, Bayonne,
who had purchased a piano of the Wiss-
ner concern and defaulted in payment
therefor. The piano movers called and
attempted to take the piano without due
process of law. A row ensued during
which he and his wife were assaulted.
Assessments too High.
Writs of certiorari were granted in Su-
preme Court Tuesday, against the asses-
sors to test taxes assessed against people
in Queens County. They are returnable
in Long Island City before Justice Mad-
dox on September 18. Among the actions
are Steinway & Sons, assessed for $1,350,-
000, claiming that $600,000 is enough, and
the Astoria Homestead Company, for
$2,000,000, asking that $600,000 be fixed.
The "Peerless" in the West.
The Peerless Piano Player, which was
exhibited by Mr. A. P. Roth at the Vic-
toria Hotel during his recent visit to Chi-
cago, created the most favorable impres-
sion upon the many members of the trade
who heard it in concert. Its effectiveness
in results and its many individual points of
merit were the means of changing a great
many "doubting Thomases" to enthusi-
astic boomers of the Peerless. This de-
vice will unquestionably become ere long
a strong factor in the Western trade.
Purchased a Mallet & Davis.
The Hallet & Davis piano is scoring a
number of successes this year, which dem-
onstrates how strong a favorite it is with
the discriminating purchasing public.
This week Mr. Hiram W. Libbey purchased
from Mr. W. C. Altpeter, of Rochester, N.
Y., one of the new style Hallet & Davis
Colonial pianos for his palatial yacht. Mr.
Libbey is one of the wealthiest men in
Rochester, and his yacht, which is among
the finest of the country, goes all over the
world. One thing is certain, that wherever
Mr. Libbey visits his piano will give a
good account of itself as a worthy repre-
sentative of American manufacture. This
attractive style of Hallet & Davis piano
certainly is a fitting adornment for Mr.
Libbey's splendid yacht which is not unfa-
miliar to yachtsmen around New York.
Big Fire in Lafayette.
[Special to The ReviewJ.
Lafayette, Ind., July 17, 1899.
A fire originating in the boiler room of
the publishing house of the Echo Music
Co. did damage a few days ago to stock and
building estimated at $15,000. Fully cov-
ered by insurance.
Behning Activity.
The Behning Piano Co. are breaking all
records this year. In order to fill orders
they have been compelled to work over
time during these summer months. There
seems to be no cessation of activity and
the report is that " business up to date has
been the best in the history of the house."
Davis & Gibson, of Auburn, Ind., have
dissolved partnership.
W. R. Davis &
Co. will continue the business.