Music Trade Review

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THE
MUSIC
TRADE
RMEW
PUBLISHED BY EDWARD LYMAN BILL, Inc.
President and Treasurer, C. L. Bill, 373 Fourth Ave., New York; Vice-President,
T. B. Spillane, 373 Fourth Ave., New York; Second Vice-President, Raymond Bill, 373
Fourth Ave., New York; Secretary, Edward Lyman Bill, 373 Fourth Ave., New York;
Assistant Treasurer, Wm. A. Low.
J. B. SPILLANE, Editor
RAY BILL, B. B. WILSON, BRAID WHITE, Associate Editors
WILSON D. BUSH, Managing Editor
CARLETON CHACE, Business Manager
L. E. BOWERS, Circulation Manager
Executive and Reportorial Staff
EDWARD VAN HARLINGEN, V. D. WALSH, E. B. MUNCH, C. A. LEONARD, LEE ROBINSON,
EDWARD LYMAN BILL, SCOTT KINGWILL, THOS. W. BRESNAHAN, A. J. NICKLIN.
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Lyman Bill, Inc.
Departments conducted by an expert wherein all ques-
tions of a technical nature relating to the tuning,
regulating and repairing of pianos and player-pianos
p
a r e dealt with, will be found in another section of
this paper. We also publish a number of reliable technical works, information concerning
which will be cheerfully given upon request.
Plavoi*
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Exposition Honors Won by The Review
Grand Prix
Paris Exposition, 1900 Silver Medal...Charleston
Exposition, 1902
Diploma....Pan-American
Exposition, 1901
Gold Medal
St. Louis Exposition, 1904
Gold Medal—Lewis-Clark Exposition. 1905
LONG
DISTANCE
Vol. LXXII
TELEPHONES—NUMBERS 6982—6989 MADISON SQ.
Connecting all Departments
Cable address: "ElbllL N e w York"
NEW YORK, MAY 14, 1921
No. 20
AN APPRECIATION
HIS Convention Issue of The Review would not be complete
T
without an expression of appreciation for the co-operation
shown by various Association officials and committee chairmen in
supplying reports and papers in advance of the convention date. C. L.
Dennis, secretary of the National Association of Music Merchants,
and F. A. Steele, of the Chamber of Commerce, were particularly
zealous in their efforts to furnish the press with as much advance
material as possible, their newspaper training enabling them to realize
the problem and understand the solution. To them, and to all others
who aided in this manner, our hearty thanks are given.
BETTER PUBLICITY FOR PLAYERS AND ROLLS
HE suggestion made by Thomas M. Pletcher, president of the
T
Q R S Music Co., to the effect that a substantial fund be created
by the player-piano manufacturers and music roll makers for the
purpose of carrying on a wide national advertising campaign to
stimulate interest in the ptayer-piano and player-piano music was one
of the constructive thoughts to come out of the convention sessions,
and, although there might be a long stretch between the laying of such
a plan and its accomplishment, the suggestion in its broader sense
is worthy of general consideration in the belief that it might lead to
the development of some program at least that will give to the
player-piano, and particularly the player roll, the publicity which
seems so essential just now.
RE-SUBMITTING THE TAX REFERENDUM
NE of the really interesting developments of the annual meeting
O
of the Chamber of Commerce of the United States at Atlantic
City last week was the decision, brought about through the protests
of many interests, including the music industry, to re-submit to the
membership of the National Chamber the referendum covering the
continuation of the practice of placing excise taxes upon products
not in general use.
The protest from the Music Industries Chamber of .Commerce
REVIEW
MAY
14, 1921
and other trade bodies at the time the referendum was first submitted
did not receive much attention, even though it was pointed out that
the phraseology was distinctly ambiguous and the majority of the
members did not know upon what they were voting.
In view of the work that has already been carried on in the tax
fight, the re-submission of the referendum should bring forth an
overwhelming vote in opposition' to the excise tax plan. It will be
remembered that the original referendum was carried only by a very
narrow margin. It would be well for the members of the trade who
are members of the National Chamber, or indirectly connected with
the members, to see that the vote on the referendum the next time
is in accordance with the dictates of reason.
KEEPING UP THE TAX FIGHT
HE announcement that the Senate Finance Committee began its
T
hearings on tax revision on Monday of this week should be
accepted as a definite word of warning to the music industry to
redouble its efforts in opposition to the continuance of any war
excise tax, and in the support of a sales tax plan that will bring in
the required revenue and at the same time distribute the burden on
an equitable basis.
The Music Industries Chamber of Commerce has had its general
counsel and representatives of the Legal Bureau stationed in Wash-
ington practically continuously for a number of weeks keeping in
close touch with the situation with a view to being prepared for any
sudden developments.
Although the beginning of the hearings does not in any sense
indicate that a final tax bill will be decided upon speedily, it does
mean that the various interests will work hard to influence legislation
in their particular favor. The music industry is strongly behind the
Smoot Bill, and Senator Smoot can be expected to fight hard for his
own measure, but the opposition is persistent and strongly in evidence.
This is no time for resting on the oars.
CUTTING WAGES VERSUS CUTTING FORCES
S a result of the questionnaire recently sent out to 2,000 business
A men
by the Chamber of Commerce of the United States, some
interesting information was gathered relative to the manner in which
mercantile establishments are operating to reduce costs. In some
cases the manufacturers and merchants report that most attention
was being given to the matter of personnel, and that the tendency
was to eliminate unnecessary employes rather than to make general
reductions in salaries and wages.
This question of handling the personnel of an industrial institu-
tion in the face of existing conditions has brought forth many and
varied opinions. There are those who favor keeping 100 per cent,
of the force employed at reduced wages rather than the maintenance
of 75 per cent of the force at the old wages, on the theory that with
everyone earning something at least there is developed a spirit of
confidence. When the force is cut down materially the spirit of
those who remain is likely to be disturbed by the thought that they
may be next to lose their employment, and efficiency cannot exist
where the mind is not at rest. Then, too, a radical reduction in
working forces means the entire cutting off of the buying power of
those employes who are eliminated, as compared with simply a
reduced purchasing power when there is an ordinary wage reduction.
THE MATTER OF FREIGHT RATES
general adjustment of industries to a new level in the matter
I N of the production
costs and wholesale and retail prices, the fact is
constantly becoming more strongly apparent that there must be an
early and substantial reduction in railroad freight rates if business is
to receive the impetus expected and hoped for. Freight rates have
climbed to a point where they are little short of prohibitive, and
represent a substantial factor in the increased cost of manufactured
products to the retailer and consumer.
The railroads realize apparently that some such move is to be
expected of them, and are consequently working to reduce operating
expenses through cutting down the number of workmen and shaving
wages. It is not entirely a voluntary move on "the part of the rail-
roads, but they have evidently been forced to it by the fact that the
general depression has resulted in thousands upon thousands of idle
freight cars piling up on the sidings, and with very little revenue
coming in through freight transportation.