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THE MUSIC TRADE
FEBRUARY 7, 1920
REVIEW
11
CONVENTION OF THE MUSIC INDUSTRIES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE—(Continued from page 9)
September last, there were pointed out certain rather of self-criticism. We have not carried
deficiencies in our machinery for doing our conviction to them; we have not sold them the
work, and certain recommendations were made organization idea. This, then, is an important
looking to a broadening of our organization item of our future plans. The Supply Men's Di-
so as to place it upon a basis which would enable vision will, with energetic and convincing work
us to put into operation more effectively our on our part, become a strong and helpful sec-
comprehensive plans for the expansion of the tion of the Chamber before another convention
work of the Chamber and carry on the various is held.
activities which have been in the minds of the
Talking Machine Members
officers of the Chamber and of those of the
A most significant and far-reaching accession
various affiliated Associations. Chief among to our membership in the past year has been
these activities are:
that of the great talking machine manufac-
The increased scope and support for the Bu- turers as individual members. It is a great
reau for the Advancement of Music.
pleasure for me to welcome them on your be-
The establishment of a Statistical and Com- half and to promise them the service and co-
parison Bureau.
operation in the important matters in which we
An Export Bureau.
shall all be interested. We hope that they
The enlargement of the Trade Service De- will be strongly inspired to organize a Talking
partment, so well begun by the Merchants' As- Machine Division and thus assure their proper
sociation.
and important share in the work of the Chamber.
The actual incorporation into our organiza-
Taxes
tion of the personnel and work of the Better
Our industry is not only subjected to the
Business Bureau.
customary income and other taxes placed upon
The establishment of a periodical Trade Bul- all persons and trades, but there is also imposed
letin for circulation among the trade.
upon us the discriminating and unjust excise
The establishment of an Industrial Bureau for tax of 5 per cent upon our sales. The theory
the purpose of handling the all-important ques- and essence of taxation under our scheme of
tions of industrial relations and manufacturing government is that taxation shall bear equally
standardization and classification.
upon all citizens and that no one or no staple
In approaching a solution of the question of industry should be singled out for an additional
how the Chamber can be so placed on a footing burden of taxation.
as to give its members the service outlined in
It is well known that the income and excess
part as above, your Board of Directors have profits taxes have much to do with the present
concluded that the employment of a skilled and high level of prices throughout the country and
competent director or manager is essential and when we add to these the discriminating 5 per
that such employment would leave your gen- cent excise taxes imposed upon our own and a
eral counsel free to devote his attention to few other products, we can easily see that the
purely legal matters in the same highly suc- taxes on our product are disproportionately and
cessful manner which has characterized all of unnecessarily high.
his work heretofore.
Through our Legal Department we have kept
The engagement of such a person is receiving in close touch with this matter at Washington.
the careful consideration of your Board of Di- We have warded off and forestalled various at-
rectors. Not the least of the duties and work tempts of the Revenue Department to construe
lying ahead of your board and of the secretary the various provisions of the law to our disad-
or manager is that of convincing the numerous vantage. Our future efforts should and will be
factors of our industry of the transcendent directed with a view to effect a repeal of the
importance of such an organization as ours, of excise tax so far as it affects our product, and
the necessity of it at this time and in the in this we shall have the powerful co-operation
future, and of the invaluable service it can and of our talking machine brethren.
will render to them.
Finances
When I refer to the supply men as holding
The Finance Committee will hand in the bud-
themselves aloof from our organization, I do get for the coming year and will have impor-
not say it in a spirit of criticism of them, but tant recommendations to make concerning ad-
ditional financing. The admirable and produc-
tive stamp plan proposed by the Merchants'
CHARACTER
Association through its accomplished and far-
seeing president, Mr. Conroy, has been highly
"Admirable Quality; Acknowledged Reputation"
successful, and I take this occasion to warmly
-—(Standard Dictionary)
commend and congratulate the merchants for
their splendid co-operation and support.
Our financial requirements will increase as
our program of activities multiply. I feel sure
that the Chamber will fully justify the confi-
dence its members have reposed in it and that
they will not deny it the increased financial and
material support which will be so necessary
Manufactured by
to its broader future.
In conclusion, let me assure our members of
my deep appreciation of the whole-hearted co-
operation and support which your president has
enjoyed from the officers and staff of the
and
Chamber during his term of office.
P. E. Conroy's Illness Regretted
At the conclusion of his report Mr. Aldcroftt
expressed the deep regret of the organization
have for 33 years
members over the absence of P. E. Conroy,
justified their right
president of the National Association of Music
to be called
Merchants and a director of the Chamber of
Commerce, who was confined to his bed in St.
Louis with the "flu." O. A. Field, who had just
come from St. Louis, made a satisfying report
regarding the improvement in Mr. Conroy's
condition.
FACTORIES
PIANOS
Smith, Barnes
Strohber Go.
Pianos of Character
North Milwaukee, Wis.
Chicago, 111.
OFFICE
1872 Clybourn Avenue
Chicago, III.
THE SECRETARY'S REPORT
The secretary of the Chamber, C. C. Chick-
ering, reported that the Chamber had taken in
four new individual members during the year,
they being the Sonora Phonograph Sales Co.,
Victor Talking Machine Co., Columbia Grapho-
phone Mfg. Co. and Thomas A. Edison, Inc.
There were also added, as division members, the
Music Publishers' Association of the United
States and the National Association of Talking
Machine Jobbers.
THE TREASURER'S REPORT
John G. Corley, the treasurer, next presented
his report, which was, in part, as follows:
For account of National Bureau for the
Advancement of Music from sales of
books, co-operative advertising, etc. $6,030.49
From dues of division members:
National Piano Manufacturers' Asso-
ciation of America
16,666.67
National Association of Music Mer-
chants (from sale of official stamps) 25,328.75
National Music Roll Manufacturers'
Association
2,727.25
National Musical Merchandise Asso-
ciation of the U. S
1,000.00
National Piano Travelers' Association
100.00
National Association of Piano Tuners
100.00
National Band Instruments Manufac-
turers' Association
National Organ Builders' Association
of America '.
1,500.00
National Music Supply Association of
America
Music Publishers Association of the
United States
500.00
National Association of Talking Ma-
chine Jobbers
Total dues of division members. .. .$47,922.67
Dues of individual members
475.00
Total dues
$48,397.67
From interest on bank balance
58.19
From rent of room 512
400.00
From National Music Show and Festi-
val, advances repaid
1,250.00
Total receipts
Balance on hand, June 2nd, 1919
$56,136.35
451.17
Total
Disbursements, as per schedule
$56,587.52
47,896 32
Balance on hand, in Lincoln Trust
Co., New York, January 31, 1920.. .. $8,691.20
The disbursements were as follows, the totals
only being given:
General office expenses, including sal-
aries of George W. Pound and assis-
tants, etc
$15,983.44
Treasurer's department
1,545.95
Better Business Bureau
1,263.04
National Bureau for Advancement of
Music
27,853.89
Advance to Music Show, subsequently
refunded
1,250.00
Total disbursements
$47,896.32
Net cost of operating general office.. .$15,583.44
Net cost of operating treasurer's de-
partment
1,545.95
Net cost of operating Better Business
Bureau
1,263.04
Net cost of operating National Bureau
for Advancement of Music
16,823.40
Net cost of Music Week
5,000.00
Total net operating cost
$40,215.83
REPORT OF GEORGE W. POUND
Following the treasurer's report, the next
order of business was the reading of a most
exhaustive report by George W. Pound, general
counsel of the Chamber, which covered in great
detail the activities of his office during the year
and trade conditions in general. The report
read as follows:
We are meeting in the day of our greatest
{Continued on page 13)