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THE
MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
EDWARD LYMAN BILL - Editor and Proprietor
J. B. SPILLANE, Managing Editor
Executive and Reportorlal Stall:
B. BKITTAIN WILSON,
A. J. NicKLiN,
CAKLETON CHACE.
AUGUST J. TIMPE,
L. M. ROBINSON,
WM. B. WHITE,
BOSTON OFFICE:
GLAD HENDEBSON,
L. E. BOWERS.
CHICAGO OFFICE:
JOHN H. WILSON, 824 Washington St.
E. P. VAN HARLINGEN, 87 South Wabash Ave.
Telephone, Main 6950.
Room 806. Telephone, Central 414
PHILADELPHIA:
MINNEAPOLIS and ST. PAUL:
ST. LOUISt
R. W. KAUFFMAN,
ADOLF EDSTEN.
CLYDE JENNINGS
REVIEW
ness on such a basis. Moreover, the principal offender was forced
to pay a sum of money as damages, as well as the entire court costs.
Every once in a while some dealers get the idea that contracts
can be broken with impunity—that prices based upon patent rights
can be assailed in courts—but they are evidently ill-advised, and
where the matter is fought out they learn to their cost that the
patentees' equity, represented by the manufacturer, must be re-
spected.
The aggressive and successful work of Mr. Camp in the ca>es
in Chicago just referred to is particularly important just now, be-
cause of the recent decision handed down by Judge Ray in the
United States District Court, which led those not acquainted with
the history of the case to believe that his decision would kill price
maintenance and open the market for patented goods to price
cutters.
W
ITH the formation of the new Department of Labor in
Washington with a representative in the Cabinet, the name
LONDON, ENGLAND: 1 Gresham Buildings, Basinghall St., E. C.
of the former Department of Commerce and Labor has been
changed to the Department of Commerce, and the designation of its
Published Every Saturday at 873 Fourth Avenue, New York
head becomes "Secretary of Commerce."
Enteted at the New York Post Office as Second Class Matter.
This change gives an added dignity to both commerce and
SUBSCRIPTION, (including postage), United States and Mexico, $3.00 per year; Canada,
labor, but whether it will result in any greater accomplishments in
»8.60; all other countries, $4.00.
ADVERTISEMENTS, $2.50 per inch single column, per insertion. On quarterly or
either field is a question to be determined. The work of the bureau
yearly contracts, a special discount Is allowed. Advertising Pages, $75.00.
REMITTANCES, in other than currency forms, should be made payable to Edward
and offices remaining in the Department of Commerce will not be
Lyman Bill.
materially changed. There are nine of these—the Bureau of
Departments conducted by an expert wherein all ques-
Player-Piano and
tions of a technical nature relating to the tuning, regu-
Foreign and Domestic Commerce, the Bureau of Corporations, the
lating and repairing of pianos and player-pianos are
dealth with, will be found in another section of this
Bureau of the Census, the Bureau of Lighthouses, the Bureau of
paper. We also publish a number of reliable technical works, information concerning which
will be cheerfully given upon request.
Fisheries, the Bureau of Navigation, the Bureau of Standards, Coast
and
Geodetic Service, and Steamboat Inspection Service—truly a
Exposition
Honors Won
by The Review
Grand Prix
Paris Exposition, 1900
Silver Medal.. .Charleston Exposition, 1902
sufficient
number of departments, and important enough to keep an
Diploma
Pan-American Exposition 1901 Gold Medal
St. Louis Exposition, 1904
Gold Medal. .Lewis-Clark Exposition, 1906
energetic Secretary of Commerce busy.
LONG DISTANCE TELEPHONES—NUMBERS 5982-5983 MADISON SQUARE
There are three bureaus whose operations are of interest to
Connecting all Departments.
business men. For instance, the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic
Cable address : "ElbllL N e w York."
Commerce, formed last year by the consolidation of the Bureau of
NEW YORK, MARCH 22, 1 9 1 3
Manufactures and the Bureau of Statistics, is charged in general
with the duty of fostering, promoting, and developing the various
manufacturing industries of the United States and their markets at
home and abroad by gathering and publishing all available and use-
EDITORIAL
ful information concerning such industries and markets. Part of
the information published by the bureau is furnished by American
HERE seems to be no limit to the unbusinesslike methods
consular officers, whose reports are edited and published in Daily
adopted by some members of the trade. When pianos are
Consular and Trade Reports and in special monograph series. The
sold on the deferred payment plan running over a period of four
reports of special commercial agents of the Department of Com-
or five years it certainly becomes a long drawn-out business. merce, traveling both abroad and in the United States, are also
We have at hand two or three advertisements of well-known
published in monographs and distributed among the manufacturing
dealers who are offering to sell the best known pianos in the interests of the country. The Bureau of Foreign and Domestic
world on the instalment basis, carrying the final payments over
Commerce compiles and issues the import and export statistics of
from four and a half to five and a half years after the first payment
the United States, and the traffic of foreign countries. Other activi-
is made.
ties consist in handling a heavy volume of correspondence, com-
Now, such business as this seems to us to be too long drawn
municating news of opportunities abroad for American firms, and
out.
assisting generally in the expansion of trade.
It is difficult to tell just exactly on what basis a business
The Bureau of Corporations is authorized to investigate the
stands when conducted on such lines.
organization, conduct, and management of the business of any cor-
How would it be to come to an agreement that no pianos
poration, joint-stock company, or corporate combination engaged in
should be sold on time carrying the final payment beyond a
interstate or foreign commerce, except common carriers subject to
three-year plan?
the interstate commerce act, and to collect for the use of the Presi-
To conduct any business on such a basis requires practically
dent information concerning such corporations.
unlimited capital, and it is plain that someone must have good
The work of the Bureau of the Census includes, besides gath-
carrying power back of them to transact such a business.
ering statistics regarding the population every ten years, the col-
lection of figures on the extent of various manufactures every five
ESPITE the fact that the United States courts have time and
years, and making various special investigations from time to time.
time again upheld price contracts based on patent rights,
The manufacturers of the country are especially indebted to the
there are concerns that endeavor to cut prices with perfect indif-
Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce for its helpful infor-
ference to their agreements and to the established fact that patented
mation. Through this bureau American consular officers abroad
articles must be sold at the price fixed by the manufacturer.
have furnished most valuable information regarding markets and
In last week's Review reference was made in a despatch from
trade possibilities that have stimulated the interest of manufacturers.
Chicago to the splendid work of Elisha K. Camp, counsel for the The bulletin issued by this Bureau has also accomplished much in
Columbia Graphophone Co., who, learning that agents of this in-
keeping manufacturers in touch with trade possibilities throughout
stitution in that city were selling Columbia records at cut prices,
the world.
appeared before the United States District Court and pressed the
With the division of the bureaus of commerce and labor it is
suits against these parties with such vigor that Judge Carpenter,
obvious that the Secretary of Commerce will have greater oppor-
who presided, at once issued a preliminary injunction. Following
tunities to develop his department along broader lines to the end
an inquiry that consumed only a few days, he made the decision
that the commerce of the country is helped in a still more substantial
permanent, thus effectually stopping any future attempts to do busi-
wav-
SAN FRANCISCO: S. H. GRAY, 88 First St.
DETROIT, MICH.: MORRIS J. WHITE.
CINCINNATI, O.: JACOB W. WALTERS.
BALTIMORE, MD.: A. ROBERT FRENCH.
INDIANAPOLIS, IND^ STANLEY H. SMITH
MILWAUKEE, WIS.: L. E. MEYER.
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