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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
COMMERCE BOARD MAKES NEW ORDER FOR RATE INQUIRY
Three Members Oppose the Plan but Are Outvoted by Four Colleagues—Inquiry to Determine if
Present Rates Yield Adequate Revenues for Carriers—Would Bar Further Protests.
(Special to The Review.)
WASHINGTON, D. C, June 30, 19l3.—An amended
order, in lieu of that rescinded last Saturday, was
issued to-day by the Interstate Commerce Com-
mission for an investigation into an increase of
freight rates by the Eastern railroads, and which
is of general interest to piano manufacturers and
dealers throughout the country. It differs in
phraseology, but does not differ in principle from
the order recently rescinded.
The decision to investigate was reached by a
bare majority, three of the body—Commissioners
Clements, McChord and Marble—dissenting. Each
dissenter wrote a brief opinion, holding, in the
main, that the commission, having nothing concrete
before it, was without authority to establish mini-
mum rates.
In connection with the issuance of the order,
the commission makes two observations:
"First. The fact that we have decided further
to investigate this subject must not be taken as
an intimation that the commission has reached the
conclusion that revenues are inadequate, or that
rates should be advanced. Upon this question no
opinion has been formed.
''Second. That the statute gives to any party
the right to attack by complaint any rate, and no
general conclusion which the commission may reach
and announce in this investigation can affect that
right."
In the preface to its order the commission says
that "being of the opinion from a consideration of
the allegations of the petition that the need of and
justification for additional revenue should be at
the present time further examined," an inquiry is
ordered into these points :
"Do the present rates of transportation yield ade-
quate revenues to common carriers by railroads
operating in official classification territory?"
Commissioner Clements further suggests that
such action would predetermine rates and preclude
.'he shippers from filing protests against an advance
they may regard as onerous.
' "This I cannot believe is within the contempla-
tion of the law or was in the mind of Congress
when it was enacted," he says.
PIPE ORGAN MAKERS TO EXHIBIT
At the Annual Convention of the National As-
sociation of Organists to Be Held at Ocean
Grove, August 4 to 9 — Noted Organists to
Be Heard in Recital—Important Papers to
Be Read During the Convention.
Included in the program prepared for the an-
nual convention of the National Association of
Organists, to be held at Ocean Grove, August 4
to 9, will be a number of organ recitals, including
one or more by T. Tertius Noble, of St. Thomas'
Church, lately of York Minster. Arrangements
have also been made for the reading of a number
of important papers, which will cover a variety
of subjects concerning church music in its varied
phases. These papers will be discussed by a num-
ber of speakers.
Arthur Scott Brook, who has charge of the organ
exhibit to be given at the convention, reports that
practically all the leading organ builders in the
country will be represented. Among those who
have already reserved spaces are: Austin Organ
Co., Hartford, Conn.; Skinner Organ Co., Boston,
Mass.; Moller Organ Co., Hagerstown, Md.;
Hutchings Organ Co., Boston, Mass.; Steere Organ
Co., Springfield, Mass.; Hook & Hastings Co.,
Kendall Green, Mass.; Wirsching Organ Co.,
Salem, O.; Estey Organ Co., Brattleboro, Vt.;
nue in Detroit. He desires to get rid of some of
Fred I. White, Reading, Mass.; Edwin B. Hedges,-
PIANO MAN CUSTOMS COLLECTOR.
his. music trades responsibilities, in ordelr to give Westfield, Mass.; Kinetic Engineering Co., Phila-
John Bell, Dealer of Port Huron, Mich., Ap-
more of his time to his official duties. The Kurtz- delphia ; the Gem Piano Pedal Board Co., Syra-
pointed to Important Post in That City by
mann piano is his leader, but he handles a number cuse, N. Y.
President Wilson—New Members of Starr
of others.
Several other firms have the matter under con-
Sales Force in Detroit—Detroit Piano Stores
H. B. Maxwell and James Bratherton have sideration and, without a doubt, this exhibit will
May Close Saturday Nights—Heat Hurts.
joined the sales force of the Starr Piano Co. Mr. be the largest ever held in this .country. Dem-
Maxwell has had a good deal of experience with onstrations will be given every day by the repre-
(Special to The Review.)
the Starr line, having entered the employ of the sentatives of these firms, under the personal
DETROIT, MICH., June 30, 1913.—John Bell, of
Port Huron, one of the most prominent piano mer- company at its Toledo branch ten years ago. He direction of Mr. Brook.
chants of Michigan, was a visitor at Detroit stores was there for two years. Later he spent several
The convention will close on Saturday night,
this week. He is prominent because he has just years with the Cable Piano Company's store in To- August 0, with the production of Handel's "Mes-
been appointed collector of customs at Port Huron ledo and then went to Cleveland with the Frederick
siah" by a chorus of seven hundred voices, a large
by President Wilson, and has been mayor of the Co. From there he came to Detroit. Mr. Brather- professional orchestra, and a quartet of soloists,
city for seven years. He resigned the latter posi- ton was for three years with the piano department including Dan Beddoe and Frederic Martin.
of Wanamaker's in New York. Prior to that he
tion to accept the Federal one.
An exceptionally large attendance of organists
His principal business here was to close up a was with a Buffalo music house.
is exiected.
W. B. Williams, of the Sterling Co., made this
branch store he has been operating on Gratiot ave-
port this week. He was homeward bound from a
Western trip and stopped only long enough to take
aboard supplies and an order from Grinnell Bros.,
then setting sail for Sterling headquarters.
C. A. Grinnell spent three days on an automobile
tour of the State, visiting some of the Grinneil
branch stores.
The members of the Detroit Music Trades' As-
sociation are considering whether it will be possi-
ble for them to join in a Saturday night closing
movement which has been adopted by the mer-
chants in other lines of business. The piano men
would like to give their force the benefit of shorter
hours, and would like to get the relaxation thereof
Established 1789
themselves, but the piano trade is a little different
from others, and it seems out of the question to
close. The great bulk of the business is done on
contract, and considerable of it with men who can-
"Not to have the LATTER PIANO on our fVor
not find the time to visit the stores and make pay-
would be stupendous folly, for I find it the one piano that
evokes instant enthusiasm from the prospect wlio knows".
ments on their contracts at any other time than
Saturday night.
The heat wave which struck this region about a
It has history, reputation,
week ago had made business duller than in a long
musical
and artistic merits
time. About the only activity it produced was to
to an exceptional degree.
induce several piano firms to get out advertising in
the shape of fans. The Farrand Co. and Grinnell
Bros, were two of the enterprising ones.
The
Francis Bacon
PIANO
The Ideal Leader
These words of one
L A U T E R dealer will
be echoed by you a month
after you have put the
L A U T E R to the test
for yourself.
The L A U T E R pres-
tige is the result of superb
QUALITY.
LAUTER CO.
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY
TO EXHIBIT AT STATE FAIR.
Piano Men of Twin Cities to Be Well Repre-
sented at Minnesota State Fair.
The Convertible piano is a
piano in which the player-
action can be installed at any
time— the sensation of the
year.
(Special to The Review.)
ST. PAUL, MINN., June 30, 1913.—The piano mer-
chants of the Twin Cities are making arrangements
for their exhibits at the coming Minnesota State
Fair to be held on September 12, and which is at-
tended by thousands of people from all parts of
the State. It is expected that the piano trade will
be more extensively represented this year than for
a number of years past, for the results from the
various exhibits, as a rule, are decidedly satis-
factory.
Francis Bacon Piano Co.
505 Fifth Avenue
New York