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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
IMPRESSING TERMS OF CONTRACTS UPON BUYERS.
Piano Merchants Cannot Be Too Careful on This Point for It Prevents an Endless Amount of
Dissatisfaction Later—An Experience Which Shows Importance of This Matter.
(.Special to The Review.)
DETROIT, MICH., July 6.—"Piano merchants can't
be too careful about impressing the terms of their
contracts upon buyers," said the head of one of
Detroit's successful houses this week. "It wo.n't
offend the square dealing element; it won't endan-
ger a sale that is worth having; but it will give
people who are inclined to shirk, or to kick, or to
evade interest, a notice that they have come to the
wrong place.
''controversy over the terms of a sale that has
been made is a waste of time and energy. If a
merchant's contract is made to be lived up to, let
him see that there is no mistake made by the pur-
chaser. Many piano buyers sign their contracts
without reading them. In fact, I believe the ma-
jority of them do. When they are disappointed in
some provision of it, which is called to their at-
tention later, they are sore because they did not
know of it. If they are asked to read when they
buy, and the clauses which are apt to excite criti-
cism are printed in black-face type, they cannot
miss them, and can have no excuse fo.r trying to
evade or dispute.
"Just how far some men will go in an attempt
to get the best of a piano merchant, or any other
kind of a merchant, was demonstrated here a few
days ago. A man came in to settle his contract
and wanted me to, deduct the entire amount of in-
terest, which was some $40. He made the claim
that I had agreed verbally not to charge him inter-
est even though his contract called for interest. It
was preposterous, for several reasons. In the first
place, there is one evil that Detroit never has been
bothered with in spite of her numerous piano trade
malpractices, and that is selling without interest.
Even the 'was-now' houses always charged interest.
But this man claimed that I had offered to reduce
the price of the player $25 in return for the privilege
of inserting the interest clause, and then had
promised not to charge the interest anyway. Can
you think of anything more ridiculous? Why, he
would have been a fool to accept such a verbal
promise as against his signed contract to. do other-
wise.
"But he insisted, and made an issue of it. If he
had been decent about it I would have compro,-
mised with him to avoid a row. I am peacefully
inclined. Fighting requires too much waste of
energy, good nature and time to be profitable.
But he practically called me a liar, and to have ac-
ceded to his demand then wo.uld have been a vir-
tual admission that I was a liar, so I told him if
he did not pay he would have to stand suit. He
knew his contract would hold, so he paid. But
he no.w goes about with a grouch, trying to .bluff
himself into a belief that I wronged him. And
there you are!
"I am more than ever convinced that every clause
of a contract should be plainly understood by the
purchaser in order that a sale may be a surely good
sale."
TRADE CHANGEJN 50 YEARS.
Vast Growth of Exports Over Imports in the
Last Half Century—Some Interesting Fig-
ures Set Forth That Are Worth Study.
The annual report on the commerce and navi-
gation of the United States in the fiscal year 1913,
just issued by the Bureau of Foreign and Domes-
tic Commerce, reveals conditions of trade and in-
dustry in marked contrast with those prevailing in
earlier years.
In a total trade of $4,273,000,000 last year, ex-
ports exceeded imports by $653,000,000, while at
the middle of the last century, as shown by earlier
reports of the series, imports were largely in ex-
cess of exports. Then imports of manufactures
were more than five times the exports thereof,
while in 1913 exports of manufactures were more
than six times the imports of like classes. Mean-
while manufactured articles have largely replaced
farm products and raw materials, except cotton, as
the leading articles contributing to the export trade.
Only in the carrying trade has the United States
lost ground in the last half century. In 1850, for
example, 70 per cent, of the foreign commerce was
carried in American bottoms, while last year 80
per cent, was carried in foreign bottoms.
Additional interest attaches to the 1913 report,
entitled "Commerce and Navigation of the United
States," by reason of the fact that it contains the
final statistical exhibit of the commerce handled
at individual ports, many of which, under the re-
organization effective July 1 last, lost their iden-
tity and are now included in rearranged customs
districts bearing general titles, such as Massachu-
setts, Michigan and St. Lawrence. The continued
FOR EASIER FACTORY LAWS.
DEATH OP PROFVWM. DRESSLER.
relative advance in importance of the Southern
Governor Glynn Heeds Real Estate Men's Pro-
Organist and Composer Was Last of Old
ports is strikingly brought out in the report.
tests Against Drastic Changes Which Are
School of American Musicians—Father of
While New York still holds a pre-eminent posi-
Louis R. Dressier, for Twenty-five Years
Annoying Manufacturers in the Trade.
tion, having handled $2,000,000,000 of the $4,500,-
Manager of Piano Department of Chas. H.
000,000 worth of merchandise making up our for-
(Special to The Review.)
Ditson & Co. Also Prominent as an Organist.
eign trade, Galveston has rapidly gained and is
ALBANY, N. Y., June 30.—"The real estate men
easily the second port of the country. OUier
Prof. William Dressier, 88 years old, one of the Southern ports and certain of those on the Ca-
and manufacturers throughout the State are
clamoring for an inning, and I think they ought to last of the old school of American musicians, died
nadian border and Pacific Coast are also growing
get it," said Governor Glynn to-day, in discussnig on July 3 at his home, 140 West Sixteenth Street.
rapidly in commercial importance. New Orleans
certain phases of the inquiry by the Factory In- He was born in Nottingham, England, and his is the third po.rt, Boston fourth, Philadelphia fifth,
father was at one time Court Flutist to the King Baltimore sixth, San Francsico seventh, the Puget
vestigating Commission in New York to learn
of Saxony. Mr. Dressier was graduated from the
what amendments to the factory laws were
Sound ports eighth and Buffalo ninth, closely fol-
Cologne Conservatory of Music in 1847. Shortly lowed by Detroit.
necessary.
"I am in receipt of many letters from real es- after, he was first violinist of the Opera House in
Customs revenues last year aggregated $313,-
tate owners in various sections of the State, par- Wiesbaden and then became Conductor.
000,000,
and particulars regarding over 3,000
He came to this country in the early fifties as
ticularly in New York City," the Governor con-
classes, varying in importance from such great
solo pianist and accompanist to Ole Bull. After
tinued, "urging me to favor efforts to furnish
traveling several seasons with concert companies, groups as cotton laces, embroideries, etc., which
relief from what is called too drastic legislation
Mr. Dressier settled in New York and devoted him- paid $22,000,000 in duties, to snowshoes, paying
affecting building construction generally. As I
self to teaching, playing in churches and compos- $633,000,000.
have already pointed out, I believe serious heed
ing. He was a former choirmaster and organist
should be given these complaints, to the end that
proper safeguards will be placed about the realty of the Fourth Avenue Presbyterian Church. He LARGER TRADE_PAST SIX MONTHS
interests of our State, representing as they do played in other churches, among them St. Charles Than for Corresponding Period of Last Year,
Borromeo's, St. Peter's Roman Catholic in Brook-
hundreds of millions of dollars/'
Says President Kayton, of the Milton Piano
Co.—Significant Report.
The Governor said that New York was in ad- lyn, and St. Peter's in Jersey City, where he re-
vance of other States in legislation justifying the mained for eighteen years. This long term in
A. H. Kayton, president of the Milton Piano
Catholic churches led him to compose much music
demands of labor, guaranteeing factory employes
the right to live as well as the license to work. for their services and many of his compositions Co., Fifty-fourth street and Twelfth avenue, New
York, stated this week that the sales for the last
"I do not believe there should be any laxity have been used all over the world.
Prof. Dressier was for many years musical six months were somewhat ahead of those during
in the care of our factory employes. At the same
editor for the old publishing house o,f William the corresponding six months of last year.
time I do not believe in legislation so radical that
"This is certainly a most excellent showing,"
it means an attack on the valuation o.f real estate Hall & Son and J. L. Peters. Mr. Dressier married
said
he, "and demonstrates the high regard and
or driving out of our 'State manufacturing con- Miss May Hyde, of Norwich, Conn. He is sur-
esteem Milton pianos have won in the opinion of
cerns or other large business enterprises.
Real vived by three children, all musicians. One
the music-loving people the wo,rld over. There
estate owners tell me that strict compliance with daughter, Miss Mathilde Dressier is a 'cellist and
are now over 75,000 Matchless Milton upright and
Louis
R.
Dressier,
his
son,
is
organist
and
director
some of our laws would mean reconstruction of
grand
pianos and Milton Invisible Players in use."
of music at All Soul's Unitarian Church and for
their buildings, while others insist there is such
more
than
twenty-five
years
has
been
manager
a general mixup of orders from State and local
SIEGLING MUSICJiOUSE EXPANDS.
authorities in New York City that it is often a of the piano department of Chas. H. Ditson &
Co., New York.
question as to whether an order given by a local
The Siegling Music Ho.use, Charleston, .S. C ,
authority to-day will not be rescinded by the State
which handles the Aeolian Co., Kranich & Bach,
INCORPORATED.
authority to-morrow."
Shoninger, Kurtzmann, R. S. Howard and other
The Governor feels that the Factory Investi-
The Moore Music Co., Florence, S. C, has been lines of pianos, has opened a branch store in Flor-
gating Co.mmission will determine this important
incorporated with capital stock of $25,000 by 'W. ence, S. C, where the full line will be installed.
problem in time to make the remedy certain at the
P. Moore, C. B. Rnffin, H. P. Moore and William The business of the company was established
next session of the Legislature.
Reid.
ninety-five years ago.
WINTER & CO.
220 SOUTHERN BOULEVARD, N E W YORK
Manufacturers of
Superior Pianos
and Player Pianos