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THE
It
TRRDE
CONTROL OVER TRANSPORTATION.
ARTHUR CLIFFORD COX.
PATERSON'S GREAT FIRE.
A strong plea for the extension of govern-
mental control over transportation is made
in the final report of the Industrial Com-
mission just submitted to Congress. That
report urges that the policy of governmental
supervision and control of railroads, as
originally laid down in the Senate committee
report of 1886 and embodied the following
year in the Interstate Commerce act, be re-
vived and strengthened; that the authority
of the Interstate Commerce Commission nec-
essary for the adequate protection of ship-
. pers, and clearly intended by the framers of
the law, be restored, and that the powers
and functions of the commission be enlarged
practically as contemplated in the so-called
Cullom bill of 1900, except as to authority
to prepare and enforce a uniform classifica-
tion. The further suggestion is made that
legislation should provide for a definite
grant of power to the commission to pass,
upon formal complaint, on the reasonable-
ness of freight and passenger rates or charg-
es, to declare given rates unreasonable, and
to control classification both as to items and
grouping.
Still other recommendations
made contemplate the establishment of a per-
manent corps of expert auditors to supervise
the accounts of railroad companies and the
enactment of legislation to prevent stock-
watering.
Arthur Clifford Cox, who, as reported in
last week's Review, has assumed the general
management of the retail piano deparment of
Mason & Hamlin's New York branch, has
been in receipt of numerous congratulatory
letters from his friends, who predict for him
a distinguished success in his new position.
Mr. Cox has always been identified with
instruments of the highest grade, and he is
therefore in the closest sympathy with the
Mason & Hamlin product. We recall a com-
pliment paid to his ability by one of the most
distinguished architects in New York, to
Lauter & Co. and J. F. Jordan Burned Out—Now
Temporarily Located—The Bravery and Cour-
age of the People of Paterson Admirable.
THE PHILIPPINES AND THE FUTURE.
The best authorities, civilian and military,
who have returned from the Philippines, af-
firm that the inhabitants of these islands are
extremely musical; in fact, Governor Taft,
who is now in this country, says that he never
met a Filipino who was not musical.
With the increased culture which Ameri-
can possession and civilization must bring to
the islands, it is not far-fetched to look for-
ward to a big market some day in the Phil-
ippine Islands for American pianos and the
smaller musical instruments.
Thousands of American school teachers are
now carrying education and enlightenment
into the homes of the people. With educa-
tion will come culture, and with culture will
come the need for something better than the
crude musical instruments they now enjoy.
Here is where the American piano will
come in.
PECK SUCCEEDS ROGERS IN ERIE.
The Steinway parlors, formerly run by
E. B. Rogers, at No. 815 State street, Erie,
Pa., have been leased for a term of years by
M. E. Peck and the entire stock of pianos
has been purchased by him. Mr. Peck has
been engaged in the sale of pianos and or-
gans in Erie county for the past twelve years.
He has secured the services of G. D. Gid-
dings, who has been in the pianc business
in Erie for twenty years, having formerly
conducted the largest business in this line
ever established in the city.
Mr. Giddings will act as manager and
salesman. He will handle such excellent
makes as the Steinway, Knabe, Kurtzmann
and many other fine models. Mr. Peck in-
tends to conduct a thoroughly up-to-date
business.
A. CLIFFORD COX.
whom he had sold a grand piano. He said:
"Mr. Cox has talent of the highest order. He
has such a charming way of presenting argu-
ments I could imagine him in no other en-
vironment than that of the most artistic char-
acter."
%' . . •
It was twelve. years ago "when Mr. Cox
began with Chickering & Sons. He soon rose
to be head salesman at Chickering Hall. Af-
ter two years he accepted an offer from Stein-
way & Sons, where subsequently a new posi-
tion was created, making Mr. Cox charge
d'affaires in the retail department, a special
high salary accompanying.
He thoroughly understands the successful
handling of the most exclusive piano patrons,
and the acquisition of a man of his marked
abilities must materially augment the Mason
& Hamlin prestige.
It is an association which presages well
for the future of the Mason & Hamlin in this
city.
The O. S. Kelly Company, of Springfield,
O., shipped several car loads of piano plates
this week to the big piano factories of the
country. The company send on an aver-
age about two car loads a clay. The output
a day is about 250 plates.
There is a most attractive display of
Needham organs and pianos at the Need-
ham warerooms. Fifteenth street and Fifth
avenue. They are many in number and
choice in style, and are, as usual, displayed to
excellent advantage.
Fires seem to be epidemic these days—
not ordinary fires, but actual catastrophes.
For conflagrations such as occurred recently
in Waterbury, Conn., and Sunday last in Pat-
erson, N. J., both involving a total loss of al-
most thirteen millions of dollars, veritably
daze one.
Among the members of the trade whose
stock and premises were totally destroyed in
Paterson were Lauter & Co., whose loss will
approximate $18,000, and J. F. Jordan,
whose property was also eaten up by the
Haines and whose loss will be pretty big.
Insurance adjustments are now being pro-
ceeded with. Meanwhile, temporary prem-
ises have been secured by Lauter & Co. at 109
liroadway, and also by Mr. Jordan.
The conduct of the people of Paterson dur-
ing the terrible visitation has been most ad-
mirable and has won the admiration of the
people of the United States. Instead of sit-
ting down and lamenting their loss, they
have, with a courage that is typically Amer-
ican, informed inquiring friends that they did
not need assistance.
Already they have commenced rebuilding
and probably six months from now a visitor
to Paterson will wonder just how far the
tire extended. And yet, an idea of the extent
of the fire may be derived from the fact that
the area of destruction footed up roughly
twenty-five city blocks.
Good for Paterson !
•
A BRANCH IN HAVANA?
[Special to The Review.]
Detroit, Mich., Feb. 11, 1902.
C. A. Grinnell, of the Woodward avenue
music firm of Grinnell Bros., has been
obliged to take a few weeks' rest, and left
a few days ago for an extended trip through
the South, accompanied by his wife. Close
application to business had somewhat im-
paired Mr. Grinnell's health, and the advice
of his physician was that he take a vacation.
Mr. and Mrs. Grinnell went directly to
Cincinnati. From there they will go to New
Orleans for the Mardi Gras, and then Cuba
will be visited. It would not surprise Mr.
Grinnell's business friends if he announced
on his return that a branch store in Havana
has been added to the other branch stores
controlled by the firm.
DEALERS LIKE THE RADLE.
F. Radle, maker of the Radle piano, has
received a number of highly flattering letters
of late from dealers who buy his pianos—
and sell them. Their opinions, summarized,
are to the effect that it pays the dealer to han-
dle the Radle piano. Mr. Radle, in referring
to this subject in a recent talk with The Re-
view, said: "The Radle piano gives the
wide-awake dealer a double advantage everv
tune—it makes money for him, and at the
same time it makes friends for him. Inci-
dentally, it makes business for us and our
business is growing continually, I am glad
to sav."