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REVIEW
THE
flUJIC TIRADE
V O L . x x x v i . No. 22. nw&ki Eyery Sat. by Eftwarl Lymaii Bill at 1 Malison Aye., New Tort. May 38,1903.
WORLD FAIR CONGESTED.
THE ADVANCE OF THE MEHLIN.
Managers Astonished at Demands for Space, and
Unable to Cope With Situation.
The substantial progress of the Mehlin
business has been one of the notable features
of the piano trade for some time past. The
unique personality of Paul G. Mehlin and his
three clever, loyal and devoted sons stands
out to-day in bolder relief than ever before.
They are looked up to as men who do things
in the piano industry and do them well m a
modest, unostentatious way. The record
they have already made and are still making
is one of which the trade at large may well
be proud. The Mehlin pianos of IQ03, both
grand and uoright, are models of good taste,
pure tone and perfect workmanship. The
firm are able to dispose easily of all they can
make, even with their present extended facil-
ities. It has been found impossible, at any
time during the nast two years, at least, to
keep a Mehlin grand on the wareroom floor
in this city more than a few hours. It is the
same at the Mehlin agencies. The Mehlin
star is in the ascendant. The firm prosper
exceedingly and their good fortune is con-
ceded by all to be but the just reward of hon-.
est, capable endeavor in the right direction.
[Special to The Review.]
St. Louis, Mo., May 27, 1903.
It has been suddenly realized by the man-
agement of the World's Fair that the exposi-
tion is not large enough by one-half to com-
ply with the applications for exhibit space,
although covering twice the area of the
World's Columbia Exposition.
Department chiefs state that the demand
is unprecedented in the history of expositions.
Foreign governments are increasing their re-
quests for space, instead of cutting down, as
they have been requested to do by the man-
agement. An instance is the recent diplo-
matic manoeuvre by which the visiting Japan-
ese Royal Commission secured more space
than any European government,
Commissioner General Lewald, represent-
ing the Kaiser, and Commissioner General
Legrave, representing France, have heard of
the Japanese move, and have now demanded
an increase.
The Japanese concession was
obtained under protest. Neither Lewald nor
Legrave has yet protested, but what they in-
tend to do unless Japan is cut down is a prob-
lem which agitates the exhibit division.
The question which now agitates the Divi-
sion of Exhibits is not the seeking of ex-
hibits, but what to do with the tremendous
mass with which it is threatened. The Palace
of Education is filled. The Palace of Agri-
culture is congested, on the face of the appli-
cations lying on the desk of its chief, who is
industriously paring them down to fit the
space at his command. The Transportation
Building was comfortably filled some time
ago. The demand of France for 40,000 square
feet for automobiles alone is an indication of
how the vehicle industries are preparing to
exhibit. The French did not get their space,
although they are still after it.
STEINWAY EMPLOYEES' "OUTING."
The employees of Steinway & Sons will
hold their thirteenth annual picnic and sum-
mer night's festival at Donnelly's Boulevard
Hotel, College Point, L. L, Saturday, June
27. As usual, the proceeds will be devoted
to the relief fund of the organization. An
enjoyable programme has been outlined,
which includes athletic sports of all kinds. A
big crowd is expected.
The Bradnack Music Co., Middletown, N.
Y., and Arthur Wittich, Reading, Pa., have
recently secured the agency for the Kranich
& Bach pianos.
SINGLE COPIES, 10 CENTS.
$2.00 PER YEAR.
ASSIGNING EMPLOYES WAGES.
A Very Common Practice Which Is a Nuisance to
Employers—Credit Companies Making
Money Out of the Scheme.
The ever increasing no-money-down,
credit-to-everyone concerns in the cities and
larger towns of New England have become
an almost intolerable nuisance to manufac-
turers, and in not a few instances notices
have been posted in shops announcing in
terms which show that the employers mean
what they say that an assignment of wages
to such a credit house will be considered suf-
ficient cause for dismissal. The workman or
clerk, whether man or woman, finds it only
too easy to procure almost any kind of goods,
especially clothing, and oftentimes luxuries
of wearing apparel, jewelry and the like. All
that is necessary is to show that they have
positions and to sign an assignment of wages.
This latter document is an ironclad agree-
ment, drawn by skilful lawyers, and is well
within the law, but wholly in favor of the no-
money-down concern. Many workmen and
working women find that it is not so easy to
keep up the payments, and then comes the
assignment of wages, presented at the office.
So numerous are these calls in some shops
INAUGURATE "ONE PRICE" SYSTEM.
that clerks have had much extra duty to per-
The Pacific Music Co., representatives of form keeping track of assignments. It has
the Knabe, Fischer and Crown pianos in Los become an actual expense to employers, and
Angeles, Cal., have made a formal announce- they are shutting down on the whole busi-
ment, through attractive page ads. in the ness. Credit houses know the concerns who
local papers, that they will hereafter conduct refuse to retain employes making assign-
their business on the "one-price system" ex- ments of their wages, and as fast as it be-
clusively. The officers of this enterprising comes known the employes of such concerns
company are: A. M. Salyer, president; A. J. are no longer granted credit. The posting of
Utley, vice-president; C. A. Salyer, secre- a notice that an assignment of wages to no-
tary ; C. H. Du Bois, treasurer.
money-down houses will mean dismissal be-
comes a kindness to employes because it re-
FISCHER WITH BEHNING CO.
A. Fischer, who for seventeen years was moves a temptation. According to the
connected with the manufacturing depart- Iron Age, in Massachusetts, and doubtless in
ment of the Decker Bros, in this city, has other States, it is possible for a wife to tie up
been appointed superintendent of the Behn- her husband's wages through credit houses,
ing Piano Co.'s factory, New York. Mr. which is another complication which em-
Fischer is a man of the highest reputation, ployers have to face. The Massachusetts
and this move is one that will still further Legislature has considered various remedies
augment the wide esteem in which the Behn- for the no-money-down evil, but without
avail, the trouble being that to amend the
ing products are held.
statutes so as to remove the legal status of
BUSINESS WITH THE STANDARD ACTION CO. the credit houses would mean to abolish those
[Special to The Review.]
workings of the laws relating to the assign-
Boston, May 20, 1903.
ment of wages, which are strictly beneficial in
At the factory of the Standard Action Co., their effects and for which the statute was in-
Cambridgeport, Willis Mabry reports that tended.
concern busy as usual. The "Standard"
goods continue to be the real standard in the
Carlos Ortiz Castellanos, of Merida,
estimation of a large proportion of the piano Mex., has secured the agency for the James
manufacturers who appreciate really reliable & Holmstrom pianos, and has placed a
substantial initial order.
actions.