Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE
4:6
EDWARD LYMAN BILL - Editor and Proprietor
J. B. SPILLANE, Managing Editor
J . HAYDEN-CLARENDON, Editor
Published Every Satnrday at 1 Madison Avenue, New York
SUBSCRIPTION, (including postage). United States aud
Mexico, $2.00 per year; Canada, $3.50; all other coun-
tries, $4.00.
Telephones—Numbers 4677 and 4678 G r a m e r c y
Connecting all D e p a r t m e n t s
NEW YORK, NOVEMBER 14, 1908
COMMENTS B Y - „
A matter of considerable impoitance to the
music publishing fraternity is the forthcoming
hearing before the Committee of Ways and
Means on Tariff Revision, of which Schedule
"M" in the itinerary embraces the duty on im-
ported printed music. The hearing in question
will take place on Saturday, November 21, 1908,
at 9.30 a. m. and 2 p. m., in the rooms of the
committee on the third floor of the House of
Representatives office building, unless otherwise
ordered in the interim. Under the existing law
(Act of June 24, 189?) the duty on imported
printed music is 25 per cent, of the wholesale
selling price. Publishers desirous of being heard
on the subject should apply to the clerk of the
committee some time previous to the day set for
the hearing, so that they may be assigned a
place on the program for that- day. In making
application the publisher should give his name,
permanent address, temporary address at Wash-
ington, whom he represents, on what particulars
he desires to be heard, what he expects to advo-
cate, and how much of the committee's time he
expects to occupy. He should also enclose a copy
of his brief and of any documents he rlesi es
filed with the committee. These should be in-
dorsed with the lull name and address of the
person submitting them and the number of the
paragraphs of the existing law (Act of June 24,
1897) to which they relate. Further details tan
be obtained from Senator William H. Payne,
clerk of the Committee of Ways and Means,
Washington, D. C.
The "Grafter" by Mail.
So much has been done by the music publish-
MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
ing fraternity to eradicate the local professional
copy evil that it seems a pity more care is not
taken to locate the grafter who uses the mails as
the means of obtaining professional copies. This
species of parasite seems to be getting more at-
tention nowadays than his prctotype who per-
sonally visits the numerous publishing houses
with a worn-out and dirty looking card or pro-
gramme, as the ease may be, for the purpose of
securing professional courtesies. The modus
operandi of the mail fiend is too well known to
need any detailed comment. He writes a plaus-
ible letter, asking for a "bunch of professionals,"
mentioning one or two songs specifically, to prove
that he is in touch with the latest publications.
The Review has already exposed this class of
grafter, but strangely enough, although the local
publisher has done a great deal to prevent him-
self being victimized by callers, he has appar-
ently done little or nothing to stop the inroads
made on his professional department by illegiti-
mate requests for "free copies" through the mail.
A Case in Point.
On September 22, 1908, the following letter was
received by a well-known New York publisher,
written on paper, the heading of which was type-
written, with the inscription "Prof. Irwin's
Troubadours. Irwin's Ideals." The address given
was the Hotel Alexander, 352 Geary street, San
Francisco. It reads: "Gentlemen—I write you
these few lines, seeking your kind indulgence
to favor me with some professional copies of
some of your latest publications and instrumen-
tal hits, including (here follow the names of two
songs). I open my season with my companions in
a few weeks and am desirous of securing all the
latest hits, and assure you that 1 will give your
publications full recognition on all programs.
Awaiting a favorable reply and thanking you for
your past favors, I remain, yours very truly,
Jack Irwin."
Although this was by no means the first letter
of its kind received from Mr. Irwin, the publish-
ing house referred to, sent "professional" copies
of their most popular songs, filing the letter
away, however, for future reference. Strangely
enough, on October 22, one month later, a similar
letter arrived from Mr. Irwin asking for the
same songs as had been previonsly sent. Need-
less to say, he was not accommodated. Of course,
it is quite likely that Mr. Irwin is the proprietor
of "Irwin's Troubadours" and "Irwin's Ideals,"
but diligent inquiries failed to locate either of
the two companies; indeed,-the editor of the New
York Clipper, who is closely in touch with every
theatrical company in America, has never heard
of either Mr. Irwin or his Troubadours. Granting
for the sake of argument that Mr. Irwin is a
bone-fide theatrical manager, why he should
write two identical letters within a month, asking
for the same songs, requires come sort of an etf*
planation.
And Yet Another.
H. E. Rupp, of Meadville, Pa., is a gentleman
of considerable audacity, as several of his com-
munications to a New York publishing house
prove. In.tne first place, Mr. Rupp is economical,
as he does not apparently believe in wasting
writing paper when asking for "professional"
copies. A scrap of ledger paper is apparently
quite good enough for the publishing houses from
whom he solicits favors, and he has a stock pro-
gram which might pull the wool over the eyes
of a music publisher who had been in the busi-
ness say a week or so, but which certainly
could not deceive a person of larger experience.
On July 9, September 28, and October 16,
Mr. Rupp wrote the following letter, the same text
being used on each occasion and the same pro-
gram doing duty to establish his identity as a
"legitimate performer." "Gentlemen—Kindly send
me a bunch of all kinds of songs for next sea-
son." In each letter Mr. Rupp gave his theatri-
cal route as Meadville, Pa., and as previously
observed, in each case he sent the same program
announcing a performance of "Harry Earle's
Big Minstrels." Inquiry of the chief of police
at Meadville elicited no response, and therefore
we perforce place Mr. Rupp in the Rogues' Gal-
lery of grafters as a warning to music publish-
ers who are daily being victimized by Mr. Rupp
and his kind.
The Cure,
After all, Messrs. Irwin and Rupp are but types
of a class which for years have preyed upon the
music publishers of the countiy. It is, of course,
essential to supply legitimate performers with
professional copies and it may be said with truth
that legitimate performers are found in all parts
of the country. The only cure, therefore, for the
mail fiend is for each and every publisher's pro-
fessional department to keep a card index of all
who apply for professional copies. This, to-
gether with a filing system for each letter re-
ceived, would be a net through which even the
smallest professional copy grafter would find it
somewhat difficult to crawl. The writer again
begs the music publishing fraternity to do their
utmost to stop this graft, which fortunately has
been steadily on the decrease during the last
twelve months.
The Aeolian Co., of New York, recently pub-
lished a list of 150 of its most popular rolls. In-
cluded in the list is the famous Flower Piece, en-
titled: "Yellow Jonquils," by Paul F. Johanning,
published by White-Smith Music Pub. Co. This
is a beautiful little number and well deserves this
high tribute to its merits.
THE MOST POPULAR. PIANO PIECES
We are the Publishers of
"HAVANA"
Leslie Stuart's Latest Opera
"THE GIRLS OF GOTTENBERG
(Now in its third month in New York)
AND
" MISS HOOK OF HOLLAND "
fir C*n.
I *A
37 Wes
& LiO., Ltd.,
«
NEW
17th
Street
YORK
A collection of 35 standard
piano pieces arranged and in
some instances simplified by
the famous American com-
poser and musician, George
Rosey, intended especially for
the use of second and third
year piano students, and for
the use of amateurs who wish
to have good piano music
which they can play without
any great degree of technical
ability. The contents include
a wide variety of composi-
tions and is of such a nature
as to appeal to every lover
of piano music. Regular price,
75c.
Price to the trade,
c. per copy; 25 copies or more at 2 5 c ; 100 copies or
more at 22%c.
Published by HINDS, NOBLE & ELDREDGE
31-35
W e s t
1 5 t h S t r e e t ,
N
e
w Y o r k
NOW
READY!
AH the musical numbers of that charm-
ing comic opera by PIXLEY & LUDERS
ii
Marcelle
f f
C i t y
With LOUISE GUNNING
T. B. Harms & Francis, Day
& Hunter
"FLUFFY RUFFLES"
MUSICAL COMEDY
HARRY LAUDER'S
SONG HITS
Successful Songs in
The Girls of Gottenberg
1431 BROADWAY, NEW YORK
At the Casino Theatre, New York
ANOTHER CHAS. K. HARRIS SONG
"A Man,
A IVIald,
A Moon,
A Boat."
A Novelty That Will Sell. The Most
Original Ballad Ever Written.
Sold by your music jobber or direct from
the publisher
CHAS.
31
K. HARRIS, N ^ s t Y 3 & K S t
MEYER COHEN, Manager.
" EVERY NUMBER A SUCCESS "
is the unanimous opinion of press and public
BE
P R E P A R E D
STOCK UP A T ONCE
M. WITMARK & SONS
NEW YORK
CHICAGO
PARIS
LONDON