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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
EDWARD LYMAN BILL - Editor and Proprietor
J. B. SPILLANE, Managing Editor
Executive and Reportorial Stall:
B. BBITTAIM WILSON,
A. J. NICKLIN,
CAKLBTON CHACE,
AUGUST J. TIMPE,
L. M. ROBINSON,
WM. B. WHITE,
GLAD HENDERSON,
L. E. BOWERS.
BOSTON OFFICE:
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E p VAN
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HENRY S. KINGWILL, Associate,
PHILADELPHIA:
MINNEAPOLIS a n d ST. PAUL:
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ADOLF EDITEM.
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Published Every Saturday at 373 Fourth Avenue, New York
Entered at the New York Post Office as Second Class Matter.
SUBSCRIPTION (including postage), United States and Mexico, $2.00 per year; Canada,
$3.50; all other countries, $5.00.
ADVERTISEMENTS, $8.00 per inch, single column t per insertion. On quarterly or
yearly contracts, a special discount is allowed. Advertising pages $90.00.
REMITTANCES, In other than currency forms, should be made payable to Edward
Lyman Bill.
Departments conducted by an expert wherein all ques-
j o n s o f a technical nature relating to the tuning, regu-
lating and repairing of pianos and player-pianos are
itXlllllldl
d e a l t w i t h i w i l ] b e f o u n d i n a n o t h e r i e c t jon of this
paper. We also publish a number of reliable technical works, information concerning which
will be cheerfully given upon request.
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Exposition Honors Won by The Review
Grand Prix
Diploma
Paris Exposition, 1900
Silver Medal. • .Charleston Exposition, 1908
Pan-American Exposition, 1901
Gold Medal
St. Louis Exposition, 1904
Gold Medal. .Lewis-Clark Exposition, 1905
ILOITO DISTANCE TELEFHOITES—OTTMBERS 5982—5983 MADISON BQ.
Connecting' all Departments
Cable address: "Elbill, N e w T o r i . "
NEW
YORK,
MARCH
21,
1914
industrial enterprises, there is reason to expect a further revival
of trade; but a point has been reached where it will be necessary
for legislators to keep hands off and to aid rather than hamper the
upbuilding of business in the United States.
"This is not a question of politics, but of plain common sense,
as the people are beginning to realize. Corporations of heavy capi-
talization are to-day public institutions in the sense that their
ownership is widely scattered through the distribution of stock
among the largest number of individual shareholders whose
fortunes were ever similarly joined in such undertakings.
"Recent developments at Washington have indicated rather
plainly that a certain element in Congress is still bent upon an anti-
trust crusade in an effort to win support from unthinking people
who oppose everything big largely because they themselves have
never developed the capacity to handle big things. Business men
are in no mood to be trifled with along such lines, for the hardships
of a period of real depression have emphasized the necessity of
doing everything possible to promote sustained recovery."
In the present anti-trust bills which are being considered in
Washington the small business man is being dealt with in the same
hostile way as the offenders who constitute the small army of "Big
Business."
Paternalism and supervision is the great panacea for all exist-
ing wrongs to-day, and the Government seems to be drifting into
the socialistic sphere quite rapidly.
Despite its efforts to annihilate "trusts," the Government,
knowingly or unknowingly, is getting into the trust business itself,
for through the parcel post extension it is actually financing the
great mail order houses o'f the United States, and ergo, wiping out
private enterprises employing many thousands of men at fair wages.
And this leads us to ask, why Congress shouldn't appoint one
of its favorite investigation committees to determine what effect
the parcel post and rural free delivery are having on the gradual
wiping out of the retail merchant, particularly in small towns and
country districts, and whether it is working an injury to 1 the jobber
and the merchant generally.
I
N the light of Governmental activity against any form of
monopoly, or restricting agreement in this country, the busi-
EDITORIAL
ness practices of some other countries are most interesting. Con-
sider, for example, this news from Uruguay:
'"T" > HE unusually severe weather—notable for its low temperature
The wholesale merchants of Montevideo have decided to" enter
X
and storms—which has prevailed throughout the greater
into a ten-year mutual agreement, with liberty to extend it for
part of the United States for the past six weeks, has resulted in a another five years, to regulate trade operations. Control of the
very quiet business in the piano" trade. Manufacturers have found
agreement is to be intrusted to a committee consisting of a bank
it impossible to ship instruments with any degree of safety owing
manager and four importers, who will inflict a fine of $2,000 for
to the injurious effect of cold on varnished surfaces, and piano
any infringement of the agreement. Some of the principal clauses
merchants have found it difficult to make sales or deliveries, owing of the agreement follow:
to the roads being practically impassable.
Sales are not to be effected on credits exceeeding six months.
With the approach of settled and more favorable weather,
Goods sold must be invoiced in the same month, it being for-
however, there is a better feeling- abroad in all branches of the bidden to deliver them in one month and date the invoice another.
industry. For we are now entering the spring season, and its
A maximum of 6 per cent, discount to be allowed to pur-
sunshine is filling not only the land, but the people therein, with
chasers paying for goods before the 15th of the month following
more optimism regarding the future of business.
the sale.
The most serious detriment to improved and settled conditions
Payments made in the same month as the sale to be entitled
in the business world to-day is the apparently hostile attitude of
to an extra discount of one-half of 1 per cent. Interest at 12 per
Congress toward business of all kinds.
cent, to be charged on any notes renewed.
Delivery of goods on consignment prohibited.
The so-called trust bills which have been under consideration
by Washington officials, and which have been referred to before
It has been suggested that the above terms be modified by
in The Review, have unquestionably been a great factor toward
reducing the length of credit allowed from six to five months,
contracting business. In fact, pending legislation is a veritable
except for sales made out of the country, and in allowing a dis-
wet blanket on industrial progress.
count of 7 per cent, on cash sales.
What a Godsend such rules woiild be for the piano manufac-
It was thought that with the passing of the tariff bill there
turer were it possible to put them into practice in the United States.
would be a chance for the business man to recuperate. But cor-
But perish the thought!
rective legislation has forced him into further uncertainty as to the
future of his enterprise and plans for its advancement. The Gov-
ernment, or at least, the party in power, at present is making the
HERE has been a recrudescence of "was-is" advertising
great majority of honest business men suffer for the sins of the few.
throughout the West recently, and we are in receipt of a
The situation is a serious one, for business men not knowing
great many of these familiar advertisements, in which the products
where they are at, are naturally narrowing down their business
of reputable manufacturers arc priced at ridiculously low figures,
activities.
"
in order to whet the appetite of buyers. Now that laws exist in
The situation was well summed up the other day by the a great many States against misleading advertising, it is up to the
National City Bank of Chicago, when it said:
local dealer to take action against offenders when it becomes nec-
"If the country is spared radical legislation of the kind calcu-
essary ; or, where a local association exists, to enlist the aid of its
lated to unsettle business and restrict the activities of the great
officers.
T