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THE
MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
MEW
EDWARD LYMAN BILL - Editor and Proprietor
J. B. SP1LLANE, Managing Editor
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H. BRITTAIN WILSON,
A. J. NICKLIN,
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NEW
YORK,
MARCH
7,
1914
EDITORIAL
W
HAT is claimed to be the most drastic workmen's com-
pensation law yet enacted in the United States goes into
effect in New York State on Jnly i, and the piano trade is directly
interested in that the manufacture of pianos, organs and piano
actions is scheduled under (irotip if> of the occupations coming
under the law.
There are four ways for manufacturers to meet the require-
ments of the law. The first is by insuring in a State insurance
fund, the second is to insure in the regular accident insurance com-
panies, the third is for manufacturers to form a mutual association
in one or several trades for insurance, and the fourth is for the
employer to assume the entire risk under the law after satisfying
the State commission of his ability to meet any possible obligations
to his employes.
It is the general opinion in the local trade that the assuming of
the entire risk by individuals or the handling of the insurance
matter through a mutual association,is out of the question, and there
only remains the choice of protection through general insurance
companies or the State insurance fund.
Certain provisions of the new measure have led authorities to
question its constitutionality and it is very probable that the matter
will be fought out in the courts as soon as there is an opportunity
to present a test case, and the New York Piano Manufacturers'
Association, as well as the individual piano manufacturers, should
support any opposition that may develop against the law.
A well-balanced workmen's compensation law that is fair to both
employer and employe is something much to be desired by every
fair-minded man, but a measure that, through carelessness or ignor-
ance in its construction, can, under certain conditions allow the
relatives of an employe, after his death, to collect weekly com-
pensation in excess of his earnings when alive is a burden that the
manufacturers should not be compelled to bear.
Meanwhile the law has been passed and becomes effective
in July.
K analysis by J. E. Bennet, a prominent New York attorney,
of the so-called "anti-trust" bills recently introduced in Con-
gress, and which appeared at length in The Review of last
week, should bring home to every piano man, whether manufacturer
or dealer, the fact that the proposed laws represent not merely some-
thing to be talked about as affecting the great trusts and, therefore,
probably having a reactionary effect on business of all kinds, if
passed, but, rather, something that bids fair to affect the interests
of every concern engaged in interstate commerce.
Under the present wording of the bills, popularly or unpopu-
larly, known as the "Five Brothers" bills, every piano manufacturer
and every piano dealer who may sell pianos in, or ship pianos to,
States other than that in which his store is located will find that he
comes under the provisions of the laws and be put to considerable
trouble and expense thereby, for, as Judge Adamson said recently
in defining interstate commerce, "If a man owned a hen in one State
and she went across the State line and laid an egg in another State,
this would be interstate commerce."
Besides forbidding the charging of different prices for the same
commodity in different parts of the country regardless of distance
and local conditions, restricted competition, the interlocking of direc-
torates and other matters, Bill No. 4 provides for a "trade commis-
s : on" which can demand reports regarding the most inconsequential
details of the business of those engaged in interstate commerce and
gives the commission power to appoint special agents to make such
investigations as it may consider necessary of the business of any
such concern.
All the bills are primarily aimed at the trusts and were probably
framed with most worthy motives ; but, as Mr. Bennet aptly says,
"It seems to me that the Administration, instead of shooting at the
bullseye with a rifle, has loaded a blunderbuss full of all kinds of
shot which will scatter in thousands of directions where it was not
intended to shoot."
The smaller business men of the country—those not in the trust
class—have been duly warned of the dangers lurking in the new
bills and should see that the blunderbuss is changed to the rifle before
the former goes off. The piano men should lend their support to
the opposition for their own protection. That one's business is shot
to pieces by ignorance or accident doesn't make the fact any
pleasanter.
It is gratifying to note that the national Administration has
taken note of the faulty construction of these bills, and Washington
advices this week indicate the bills will be entirely reconstructed so
as to overcome many points which have been adversely criticised.
~ HE letter sent to the piano merchants of Indiana by M. J. Mart-
tene, president of the Piano Merchants' Association of that
^
State, is well worth reading by- association heads in other States, as
well as by State Commissioners of the National Association of Piano
Merchants of America.
This is a vigorous, attention-compelling letter. It points out
that out of 350 piano merchants in Indiana but fifty are members
of the local association, and President Marttene says that this ratio
looks bad for the business and is bad for the business. It argues
either short-sighted business judgment or a failure to appreciate the
importance of associated effort for the protection and improvement
of the piano business.
At no time in the history of the piano trade was it so necessary
that piano merchants should co-operate and work for the common
good as now. Tn each State there are subjects of importance coming
up all the time which call for intelligent, united action.
Legislation inimical to the interests of piano merchants, par-
ticularly in the matter of instalment sales, is being introduced in
the various States, and this is but one of a number of questions
which need supervision and action through association effort.
Every dealer in Indiana should be an association member and
every piano man throughout the United States should manifest a
practical interest in the National Association of Piano Merchants
and also join that body. Tn this connection the views of President
Oscar A. Field, which appear elsewhere in The Review, are worthy
of consideration.
The opportunity to meet with the recognized leaders of the
industry, with the men of high trade ideals alone makes member-
ship in the association worth while.