Music Trade Review

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FEBRUARY 5, 1921
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
JULES S. BACHE TALKS ON TURNOVER SALES TAX PLAN
G- E. MANSFIELD WITH KURTZMANN
Well-known Financier Addresses Large Audience of Piano Men at the Piano Club of New York,
Outlining Arguments in Favor of Raising Revenue by Means of the Turnover Tax
Well-known Piano Man Becomes Associated
With Buffalo House as General Traveling
Representative—Has Had Wide Experience
Jules S. Bache, well-known banker and tax
expert, spoke before a large audience at the
Piano Club of New York, 137th street and
Third avenue, on Friday of last week in behalf
of the turnover sales tax which he is strongly
advocating. Mr. Bache was introduced by R. B.
Aldcroftt, president of the club, and, after a few
well-chosen introductory remarks, launched
into his subject.
Mr. Bache declared that it is not over-taxation
but rather unwise and inequitable taxation that
is burdening the world, and made a strong at-
tack upon the present forms of income and sur-
taxes as being bad economically and destined
to short life. He cited cases where other coun-
tries have found it wise to eliminate such
taxes. The speaker held that the business de-
pression of 1920 was due to the collection of
six and a half billions of dollars in taxes from
the public in 1919, taxes that in the main were
not fairly distributed on a pro rata basis. He
maintained that much profiteering was the re-
sult of individuals endeavoring to protect them-
selves against cumulating tax burdens.
In advocating the turnover tax Mr. Bache de-
clared that in its enactment it must be levied
under the following provisions:
1st. It must leave nothing to the judgment
of the payer;
2nd. It must be automatically collectible;
3rd. It must so operate as in no way to dis-
turb the otherwise stable condition of the money
market;
4th. It must save, in its easily understandable
features and workings, the terrific expenses to
which taxpayers are now put in making up their
tax statements, estimated by ex-Commissioner
Roper at $100,000,000 per annum. It is be-
lieved that if our tax department were working
properly it would cost another $100,000,000 per
annum to keep the taxpayers out of jail as the
result of bad advice for which they pay $100,000,-
000 per annum;
5th. It must prove possible of estimate as to
its return from year to year, so that no such
slump can occur under it as this year's returns
will witness in comparison with the tax returns
o) last year;
6th. It must spread the burden so evenly and
equitably that no outstanding injustices to the
business world will result. Mr. Bache gave
a number of interesting illustrations of the
manner in which the turnover tax would oper-
ate, and the success with which it was operating
in various countries, including Mexico, France
and Canada. One of the conditions of the tax
plan would be the licensing of every business
man, compelling him to keep books on business
transactions upon which the tax can be based,
provided sales amount to over $6,000 per annum,
and making tax defaulters liable to the charge
of larceny.
The .speaker cited objections to the plan as
presented by the Secretary of the Treasury, and
in meeting these objections held that the pyra-
miding of taxes would not reach an average
total of more than two and a half per cent on
food and clothing. Each sale, however, is to
be taxed, even in the case of large corporations
where goods are billed from company to inter-
company through the various processes of manu-
facture.
Mr. Bache's talk was listened to with great
interest by the piano men, a number of whom
seemed favorably inclined towards the plan as
presented. His arguments in favor of the turn-
over tax are printed in booklet form, copies of
which are available on application to Mr. Bache
at his New York office, 42 Broadway, and for
which no charge is made.
George E. Mansfield
wholesale department of C. Kurtzmann & Co.,
piano manufacturers of Buffalo, N. Y., as general
traveling representative.
Mr. Mansfield is
thoroughly experienced in the wholesale piano
field. Until January 1 he was connected with
the house of Ludwig & Co., New York, as gen-
eral manager. Before that he was connected
with the New York office of the Packard Piano
Co., and in the course of his career has been
associated with the Amphion Co. and the
National Piano Co. He has a personal ac-
quaintance with the retail trade that will stand
him in good stead in his latest connection.
CLAUDE BUCKPITT BUYS BUILDING
GEO. BARNETT OPENS IN FRANKLIN
MISS GRACE KERNS IN RECITAL
Piano and Talking Machine Dealer of Elmira,
N. Y., Will in Future Be Housed in His Own
Business Property in That City
Piano House Entertains Public at Formal Open-
ing—To Carry A. B. Chase, Knabe, DeRivas
& Harris and Other Lines of Pianos
Popular Soprano Scores a Great Success in Her
Recital—Mason & Hamlin Piano Used
ELMIRA, N. Y., January 29.—Claude Buckpitt,
dealer in pianos and talking machines, of 113
North Main street, practically has completed
details whereby he acquires title from Adam
Mander to the Mander or Lyceum Block at
156 and 158 Lake street, the first floors of which
are occupied by W. H. Miller and James Falsey,
respectively. It is expected that the deal will
be completed within a day or sx> and Mr. Buck-
pitt will take possession at once. The price
to be paid is approximately $40,000.
Mr. Buckpitt will remove his business from
Main street to the store occupied by Mr.
Miller, using the second and third floors as
well. Later he also may occupy the other store.
Mr. Buckpitt plans extensive improvements
to the property. He will tear out the north
wall of the Lyceum Theatre entrance on Lake
street and construct a handsome show window.
Later he will install a passenger and freight
elevator, and it is likely that new fronts will
be added to both stores.
Mr. Buckpitt came to Elmira in 1907 from
Schenectady, where he conducted a music
store. He maintained a store in the Merchants'
National Bank Building for two years, remov-
ing to the Snyder Building in 1909. His rapidly
increasing business now necessitates a further
expansion.
FRANKLIN, PA., February 1.—A new music house
has been added to the business places of Oil
City with the opening of the George W. Barnett
music store in the Kramer Block on West Front
street. Large crowds were in attendance at
the formal opening and enjoyed the musical
program.
Mr. Barnett has been actively engaged in sell-
ing pianos and other musical instruments for the
past twenty-five years with the exception of
eighteen months when he served in the World
War. He has been a resident of this city for
the past three years. He has represented some
of the largest music houses in the country dur-
ing his twenty-five years' experience.
He has opened his store with a stock of the
standard makes of musical instruments, includ-
ing the Art Symphonola, the A. B. Chase, the
DeRivas & Harris and Knabe pianos.
The stock of the C. A. Brawn Music Co., in
Bangor, Me., was badly damaged by fire and
water in a blaze which destroyed an adjoining
building recently.
RECEIVER FOR ACKOLET MFG. CO.
ViNCENNES, IND., January 31.—On the petition of
Lucius R. Henley the Knox circuit court has
appointed John A. Schild receiver for the Acko-
let Manufacturing Co., 1810 North Second ave-
nue. The company manufactures specialties,
principal among which is an automatic stop.
The petitioner is a stockholder and says that
the company's liabilities are about $20,000 in
excess of its assets. He says he is the endorser
on notes for the company to the extent of
$10,000.
George E. Mansfield, one of the well-known
figures in the piano trade, has just joined the
A large and enthusiastic audience greeted Miss
Grace Kerns, soprano soloist of St. Bartholo-
mew's, and a volunteer among those who sang
to American soldiers in France during the war,
who appeared in her first recital at Aeolian Hall
on the evening of January 27. She was in splen-
did voice and sang to Richard Hageman's ac-
companiment songs by Schubert, Schumann, an
American group by Horsman, Russell, Hage-
man, Jacobi and Hadley; songs in French by
Staub, Debussy, Poldowski, Fourdrain, closing
with a number of quaint and fascinating Irish
melodies arranged by Hughes.
The many admirers of Miss Kerns who are ac-
quainted with the distinctive abilities of this
accomplished artist were delighted at her suc-
cessful start in the professional recital field.
She has a vocal organ that is wide in range, full
of color, and which is always used intelligently
and convincingly. Her audience certainly as-
sured her of their good will and esteem by
their manifestations of pleasure at her inter-
pretations, while a large number conveyed this
sentiment in innumerable bouquets and baskets
of flowers. The Mason & Hamlin piano was
used and its strikingly beautiful tone quality was
no small factor in the success of the recital.
NEW DEALERS IN PENNSYLVANIA
P. G. Scallsmith, of Gettysburg, Pa., and C.
G. Martin, 641 Main street, Darby, Pa., have
recently been added to the ranks of talking
machine dealers handling the Victor line.