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THE
REVIEW
fflJJIC TIRADE
VOL. XXXIX.
No. 8.
Published Every Sat, by Edward Lyman Bill at I Madison Aye., New York, August 20,1904.
AGAINST TWENTY PERCENT. INCREASE
American Shippers' Association Protests—
Recommend
That
Shippers
Refuse to
Sign Uniform Bill of Lading.
Under date of August 10th a circular has been
issued by the American Shippers' Association em-
bodying the following:
The conference called under the auspices of
the Illinois Manufacturers' Association met June
28th in Chicago and perfected an organization
known as the American Shippers' Association,
and created an executive committee composed of
the following: John B. Daish, Thos. C. Moore, E.
E. Williamson, G. D. Wandless, L. T. Jamme, F.
W. Maxwell, L. A. Clark and John M. Glenn.
About seventy-five organizations were represented
The Executive Committee appeared before the
Uniform Bill of Lading Committee in Chicago.
July 14th and protested against the adoption of
the proposed uniform bill of lading on the ground
that it made an increase of twenty per cent, in
rates; that it compelled shippers to make special
contracts and because the instrument would be
•'not negotiable." Other important objections
were made to the proposed bill.
The Uniform Bill of Lading Committee, under
date of August 1st, issued a-circular receding
from the position taken by the railroads as to
two features only and postponed the date of the
effectiveness of the instrument to January 1st,
1905. A diligent effort is being made by the Uni-
form Bill of Lading Committee to create the im-
pression that all of the requests made by the
shippers have been complied with and that the
circular of August 1st meets with our demands.
Your Executive Committee has carefully consid-
ered this circular and is of the opinion that it
does not satisfactorily adjust the question for the
following reasons:
1. The concessions made by the Uniform Bill
of Lading Committee that the shippers' signature
need not be affixed to the uniform bill of lading
does not in our opinion relieve the shippers from
the twenty per cent, penalty demanded if the
goods are shipped at carrier's risk. The incor-
poration in the Official Classification of the condi-
tions of the proposed uniform bill of lading and
the general use of it will make its provisions
binding on the shipper, if, as the railroads claim
is the fact, the Interstate Commerce Commission
holds that the classification, with all rules and
regulations printed therein, constitutes part of
the tariffs issued by the railroad companies. If
the conditions as set forth in the circular of
August 1st are complied with January 1st, 1905,
as indicated by the carriers, they will be as bind-
ing and effective as if the unmodified bill of lad-
ing had become operative October 1st.
2. The use of the words "not negotiable" on
the bill of lading destroys in many instances the
commercial value of the paper.
3. A number of the conditions of the uniform
bill of lading are neither just nor reasonable, and
throw an undue burden upon the shipper.
We believe that a simple shipping receipt with-
out any conditions will protect the carrier and
shipper alike and will be as effective in a legal
controversy as the proposed uniform bill of lad-
ing with its numerous conditions.
We are in favor of fair and honest dealing with
the carriers and we do not believe that they are
warranted in trying to force an advance in rates
and onerous conditions on the shippers on the
pretense of a simplification of business methods.
It is therefore recommended:
First, that shippers refuse to sign the uniform
bill of lading.
Second, that shippers insist that the words "not
negotiable" be stricken out from all "order" bills
of lading.
It is further recommended that shippers use
their present bills of lading and shipping receipts.
Your committee will do everything in its power
ro secure an equitable adjustment of the matter.
HAMILTON GETS MASON & HAMLIN.
Big Pittsburg House Gets the Famous Boston
Piano—Will Control Sales—An Important
Move.
(Special to The Review.)
Pittsburg, Pa., August 15, 1904.
One of the most important occurrences in trade
circles in this city is the announcement that the
S. Hamilton Co. have just secured the agency for
the Mason & Hamlin line. This. I understand,
includes pianos and organs.
It is well known that the Hamilton house is
one of the most important in this section of the
country, and have played a prominent part in the
dissemination of musical knowledge throughout
this section. It is to be presumed that when the
house of Hamilton secures such an important line
that they propose to exploit the Mason & Hamlin
products in no uncertain manner. This deal is a
cause for congratulation on both sides, for it in-
sures the Mason & Hamlin product a splendid
source of distribution in this city and the great
Pittsburg house have a line of instruments which
are conceded artistic in every particular.
SINGLE COPIES, 10 CENTS.
$2.00 I'EK YEAH.
whom high railroad fare is a considerable item,
will have an opportunity of reaching this market
at a greatly reduced rate. You will probably say,
'How are the rates any lower than in former
seasons?' This is the way of it, and New York
houses, factories, etc., are keenly alive to the
fact:
"From nearly all over the country special
fares, with a reasonable return time limit, are in
effect to the St. Louis Fair. From the western
States, Indiana, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and nearly
all the southern States, practically a one and one-
third round trip fare, with a sixty-day return
limit, is one of the reduced rate propositions
offered to the Exposition. The rate being an
open one and the limit i wido one, the small
buyer will visit the Exposition, devote some time
to sight-seeing, and leave for New York from
St. Louis when the reduced rates, arranged by
the Merchants' Association of this city, become
operative, from July 30 to August 3, inclusive,
and August 20 to 24, inclusive. The return limit
on this special fare being thirty days, the buyer
cr dealer will be able to complete his purchases
in New York and return to St. Louis in time to
conclude his sight-seeing long before the expira-
tion of the sixty-day limit on his ticket from his
home to St. Louis."
An investigation of the above statement shows
that many of the large houses, including the
piano manufacturers in this city have sent out
to their trade, in the sections of the country
named, circulars pointing out the way in which
they can secure exceptionally low railroad rates
to New York. Consequently merchants, both small
and large, in the territory mentioned, are now
aware of the situation, and New York firms can
congratulate themselves on having accomplished
a very satisfactory stroke of business.
VOUGH MOVING AHEAD.
(Special to The Review.)
BUYING SEASON PROMISES WELL.
How the St. Louis Exposition Is Benefiting
New York—Buyers Taking Advantage of
Specially Favorable Transportation Rates.
Wide-awake New York business men are begin-
ning to realize that the St. Louis Exposition is
likely to prove of much benefit to the trade in
this city. While general business apathy exists
in all trades throughout the country, usually the
case during a season preceding a Presidential
election, the head of a prominent jobbing house,
wno is well posted regarding trade conditions,
pointed out the other day that the present buy-
ing season, contrary to expectations, would be
a good one. He said:
"While the purchases of those visiting this
market during the season just about to open may
fall short as to large individual amounts when
compared with previous seasons, there is every
reason to believe that a far greater number of
buyers will come here than was the case last year.
This, too, in view of the Exposition in St. Louis.
For the first time in many years the very small
merchants, particularly those doing business in
the extreme South, Southwest, and West, to
Waterloo, N. Y., August 15, 1904.
The Vough Piano Co. report a splendid condi-
tion of business. The Vough changeable pitch
piano has been making steady headway and all
who have tested the merits of the Vough piano
have been enthusiastic in its praise. The con-
cern have just placed a style C, mahogany, in the
new music hall in the Manhattan Hospital on
Ward's Island, N. Y., and in the Hadley Hall,
New York State Hospital at Willard's Point, N.
Y. These instruments contain the Vough change-
able pitch. Everything indicates a most desir-
able condition of affairs with the Vough people.
THE "DUFFIANO" AND FOREIGN EXPERTS.
Since Peter Duffy, president of the Schubert
Piano Co., New York, has been abroad, he has
placed several orders for the "Dufnano," his pat-
ent steel piano back. Foreign experts are re-
ported as being very much impressed with the
tonal improvement in connection with its adop-
tion for their instruments. Mr. Duffy's latest ad-
vices were from Hamburg, and from thence he
will tour Germany. His homecoming is placed
on Sentember 10.
The home trade of the Schubert Piano Co. is
reported in a mogt satisfactory condition.