Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE
FAVORS WAR TAX BOARD
MUSIC
TRADE
REVIEW
C. H. PARSONS ACKNOWLEDGES AID AEOLIAN HEADQUARTERS IN DAYTON
Congressman Fitzgerald Believes That Board Representative of Piano Industry in Washington
Should Be Formed to Advise Congress Con-
During Discussion of War Revenue Bill Wants
cerning Status of Various Industries, and to
Credit Given to Those Who Assisted Him
Prevent Inequalities in Taxation
Chas. H. Parsons, who acted as represent-
WASHINGTON, D. C, November 26.—Congress- ative in Washington of the piano industry dur-
man John J. Fitzgerald, chairman of the Appro- ing the discussion and until the passage of war
priations Committee of the House of Represent- revenue bill, has just sent to the trade the fol-
atives, is strongly in favor of the appointment of lowing acknowledgment for the co-operation
a War Tax Board, which would have no exe- given him in his work by the various manufac-
cutive authority, but which would exist for the turers and merchants. Mr. Parsons said:
purpose of furnishing information to Congress,
"The following notice has just reached me
so that a more equitable distribution of war through Percy S. Foster, secretary:
taxes could be accomplished than has been done
" 4 By unanimous vote of the officers of our
up to the present time. Congressman Fitz- trade bodies assembled with the Music Indus-
gerald, together with many of our leading legis- tries Chamber of Commerce, I was requested to
lators and business men, believes that the pres- convey words of hearty appreciation to you for
ent distribution of war taxes is apparently in- your faithful and efficient service in connec-
equitable, and states that he would welcome tion with the work before Congress relative to
the formation of an advisory board or com- the new war tax legislation.'
mittee that would be able to acquaint Congress
"The 5 per cent tax as originally imposed by
with the exact status of the principal industries the House of Representatives was a matter of
of the country, so that tax bills might be vital importance to every manufacturer and
framed which would impose no unfair burden dealer in the country, and while it is natural for
on any one industry. Congressman Fitzgerald a man to grab anything in the way of commen-
said:
dation that he can, whether he deserves it or
"Owing to the absence of a sufficient amount not, my conscience troubles me that several
of information on the subject, however, it is gentlemen who, for the general good, devoted
perfectly possible that the ultimate effect of a much time and effort to the work, were not in-
tax might be entirely different from what was cluded in the above resolution.
anticipated when that particular levy was orig-
"The fact that while I was paid for my work,
inally established. The appointment of a com- they were not, certainly entitles them to grati-
mittee or board, competent to judge and ad- tude of the trade.
vise Congress of these matters beforehand,
"It is perhaps owing to my neglect that this
would of course be of great assistance both to matter has been overlooked and I therefore de-
the legislators and to the people."
sire to make the following statement:
"The day after I arrived at Washington at
the opening of the campaign the following gen-
MENGEL CO. GETSJCROEGER LINE
St. Louis Piano Firm Secures Agency for This tlemen arrived and we had several protracted
conferences in my room as to future procedure.
Line of Instruments
The committee consisted of Col. Conway of
ST. LOUIS, MO., November 26.—The Mengel Music Chicago; J. A. Turner, of Tampa, Fla.; Robt.
Co., of 4300 Olive street, have secured the Seals, of Birmingham, Ala.; Henry Mayer, of
agency for the Kroeger line of instruments, ac- Paris, Tex.; C. W. Parker, of Charlotte, N. C ;
cording to an announcement made last week. and Col. Hollenberg, of Little Rock, Ark.
"These gentlemen remained several days and
The concern has been engaged in the music
trade in this city for a number of years, and did further splendid work interviewing their
A. F. Mengel, president of the company, is well- several Senators and Representatives in opposi-
known in trade and musical circles here. The tion to the bill. Later in the campaign I de-
Kroeger line will be featured as a leader by the sired to impress a certain congressman with
Mengel Co., and in addition the Victor line of whom I thought Col. Conway might have special
talking machines, and a complete line of small influence and I wired him that I needed him in
Washington, and he came at once, at his own
goods will be carried as heretofore.
expense, without delay.
"Finally, in the last days of the campaign it
GERMAN GOODS MAY BE HERE SOON
suddenly looked as if the Conference Committee
Carl W. Stern, of M. J. Corbett & Co., who has would insist that the 5 per cent tax, already
kept in close touch with the situation regarding thrown out by the Senate, should be restored;
the release from Rotterdam of goods of German and in this contingency, believing that Col. Hol-
and Austrian origin, which includes the ship- lenberg had influence in certain important quar-
ments of musical instruments referred to in ters, I wired to him that he was wanted, and
The Review recently, said this week that he did he came from Little Rock by first train. I might
not know just when this merchandise would be add that I heard him put up one of the best
shipped to this country, but he thought that talks on the injustice of putting any excise tax
it would be soon. In this respect Mr. Stern on our industry which it has been my privilege
took issue with Walter Scott, vice-president of to hear.
Butler Brothers, who in a recent statement pre-
"1 will only add that I think that the thanks
dicted that these goods would not move from of the associations are also due to the Rudolph
Rotterdam within six months, and probably Wurlitzer Co., who sent their attorney, G. W.
longer.
Pound, to Washington at their own expense
Mr. Stern also believes the goods have been with instruction to remain until the campaign
well stored and will be received in good condi- was closed, and his advice and counsel through-
tion, contrary to opinion expressed in this coun- out were valuable.
try recently.
"If the disinterested work of these gentle-
men is recognized by the associations I shall
G. A. ALBERTmSSES AWAY
feel happier in accepting their kind commenda-
STOCKTON, CAL., "November 26.—G. A. Alberti, tion of my own efforts."
local piano dealer, who had been prominently
connected with the piano trade in this section
Lewis & Palmer, piano dealers of DeKalb,
since 1889, passed away at his home here last 111., formerly located on North Third street,
week following an operation. He is survived have moved into new headquarters on the Lin-
by a widow and two daughters.
coln Highway.
WINTER & CO.
220 SOUTHERN BOULEVARD, NEW YORK
Manufacturers of
New Store Opened Last Week, in Charge of
D. E. Ahlers—Beautifully Furnished
DAYTON, ()., November 26.—The new store of the
Aeolian Co., 114 North Main street, was opened
here last week, and hundreds of music lovers
were in attendance at the recital held the open-
ing day, when Miss Norrine Gorman, harpist,
was featured. The new quarters are elabor-
ately furnished, and are decorated with French
gray paper, ivory woodwork, and furnishings
in mahogany. The first floor is devoted to a
display of Aeolian-Vocalions and a compre-
hensive library of Columbia records. The sec-
ond floor is used as a sales and display room
for the Aeolian line of players, together with a
roll department. The third floor contains a
full line of pianos, both upright and grand, and
the top floor is used as a repair shop. D. E.
Ahlers is in charge of the management of the
local store, and his many years of experience in
the piano field have rendered "him exceptionally
competent to direct the activities of so im-
portant an institution as is the Aeolian store in
this city.
FILE BANKRUPTCY SCHEDULE
Figures in Morehouse & Loomis Piano Co. Case
Made Public
HARTFORD, CONN., November 26.—The More-
house & Loomis Piano Co., of New Haven, filed
a petition in bankruptcy in the United States
District Court last week, showing liabilities of
$21,478.
Of this amount $10,564 is secured,
$9,838 unsecured, and $1,000 accommodation
paper. The assets are piano leases to the ex-
tent of $16,410 assigned to creditors as security,
book accounts of $590, stock in trade of $559,
and $5 in the bank. The largest secured cred-
itors are Kindler & Collins, of New York, and
Steger & Sons Piano Mfg. Co., Chicago. Among,
the unsecured creditors is the Ludwig Piano
Co., of New York.
TAX BILL USED_BY SWINDLER
Impostor in Denver Collecting War Tax From
Owners of Musical Instruments
A report from Denver, Colo., indicates that
swindlers have already seized upon the War
Revenue Bill to victimize owners of player-
pianos and talking machines. An impostor in
that city has been making a house-to-house
canvass. He represented himself as an agent
of the Internal Revenue Department and pro-
ceeded to collect 3 per cent of the purchase
price of pianos or musical instruments. To the
skeptical ones he displayed a copy of the law
with paragraphs regarding musical instruments
plainly marked. The local Internal Revenue
officer has issued a warning against the swin-
dler.
H. L. MASON AIDING GOVERNMENT
BOSTON, MASS., November 26.—Henry L. Mason,
chairman of the board of directors of the Mason
& Hamlin Co., is now doing his bit for the coun-
try by serving as a member of the War Depart-
ment Commission on Training Camp Activities.
Mr. Mason will probably devote himself par-
ticularly to the musical activities in the camps.
DEATH OF HENRY A. SPICER
NORTHVILLE, N. Y., November 26.—Henry A.
Spicer, who had been connected with the piano
trade for the past 30 years as a traveling sales-
man, passed away at his home here last week.
He had been in ill health for the last two years,
during which time he was not actively engaged
in business. He is survived by a widow.
Superior Pianos
and Player Pianos