4
THE
MUSIC
TRADE
(Registered in the U. S. Patent Office)
PUBLISHED BY EDWARD LYMAN BILL, Inc.
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A. }'REDERICK CARTER, FREDERICK G. SANDBLO"
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Exposition Honors Won by The Review
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Cable Addre"R: uElblll, New York"
Vol . LXXVII
I
NEW YORK, SEPTEMBER 8. 1923
No. 10
TO CALL FOR A RAILROAD INVESTIGATION
HE National Co un cil of Traveling Salesmen's Associations,
which is in annual convention at Atlantic City this week, is
giving thorough consideration to whatever efforts that can be made
to have passed Federal legislation which will make for the more
efficient financing and operation of the railroads with a view to .
bringing about reductions in freight rates and passenger fares suf
ficient to gra nt r eal relief to the shippers and business travelers.
The action of the railroads in securing an injunction against
the Interstate Commerce Comm ission, preventing that body from
putting into effect its order providing for interchangeable mileage
books for the use of comme rcial travelers, has had the effect of
rousing various organizations of travelers to the fighting pitch with
the result that the National Council plans to bring all the pressure
possible on Congress during th e next session to force an investi
gation of the entire railroad sit uation.
It is likely that in their war on the railroads the travelers
will have the support of manu facturers and business men generally
who have, or sho uld have, a real part in the fight for better service
and more equitable transporta ti on rates.
T
THE MUSIC MERCHANTS' NEW SLOGAN
T the sugg'e~tion of President \Vatkin, of the National Associ
ation of Music Merchants; there has been adopted as the
slogan fo r that body the phrase "An Association in every city, in
eve ry S tate in the'l' nion." Then, too, comes the announcement
that the efforts of th e Association officer s will be directed during the
year to building the pre sent membership of 1,300 up to th e 2,000
mark before the next convention in New York.
It is an ambitious program and, although it is hardly likely that
the end of the Association year will see th e great group of local
associations desired, there should be a strong possibility of the
membership being increased by so me hundred s, if sufficient local
interest can be dev eloped in the affairs of the national organization.
The trouble with the great majority of local associations is
that they are apparently without purpose and accomplish little of
definite value for the individual. In the Association session s the
A
REVIEW
SEPTEMBER
8, 1923
ethics of advertising term s, trade-in s, etc., are discussed at length,
but little is done of real or permanent value. Discussions of trade
problem s are calcu lated to hdp those who participate, but it has
been proved that discussions alone will not kee p associations
alive .
It is significant that every association which shows real life in
the music indu stry has accomplished, and is accomplishing, some
thing definite. Take the Ohio Association , for instance, whose con
vention will be held in Cincinnati next week. The work of its
legal adviser and those assisting him as com mittees has alone re
paid the individual member many tim es for any money he ha s
spent in its support. The activities of the Ohio body are confined
not 'm erely to discussion, but continue right through the year for
the purpose not so much of telling the individual dealer how he
should behave, but to give him the legal protection and adv ice that
would otherwise cost him more than association dues.
Layout some real work for the local association and produce
tangible results that the individual dealer can appreciate and the
organization will live. Simply get into the rut and it will die. Both
points have been proven in our own trade.
I. THE
AMERICAt.;fPLA YER LEADS THE
WORL~
A
CCORDING to Government figures covering exports of pianos
and player-pianos for the fiscal yea r ending June 30, last, th e
exports of player-pianos alone showed an increase of approximately
137 per cent over the volume of those instruments sent abroad
during th e preceding tw elve months, with exports of straight pianos
showing an increase of approximately SO per cent.
The figures are signifi cant, not alone in showing the growth of
export business and em phasizing the possibilities thereof, but also
in bringing strongly to mind the fact that the American player
piano is steadily gaining a stronger foothold in foreign markets.
Th ere are a number of countries throughout the world wherein
pianos of German or British make are perferr.ed, not for stru c
tural or price reasons, but because of the quality of tone that is
always associated with European-made instruments and which
would not be tolerated in thi s country. \\'h en it comes to player
pianos, howev er, there is no question but that the United States ·
leads the world.
While considering th e Government figures ' it is well to con
sider the statements .of J. Alfred Eady, of Auckland, N . Z., who
in an interview with The H.eview last week declared that the
American player-piano was getting a st rong foothold in his coun
try, and that it would be a long time before British or Continental
manufacturers wou ld be able to produce a player action that would
measure up either in quality or price with the American products.
That American-made player actions with the delicate mechan
ism that must be con tain ed therein are a: product that will stand
up in every part of . the world, regardless of climatic conditions, is
a tribute to th e manufacturers of thi s country. Having won such
a notable lead in the player-pi,:no field abroad, effort should now
be directed to holding that lead and making it permanent.
TAX QUESTION AGAIN TO THE FORE
CCORDING to reports from \Vashington, there is every pros
pect that the next session 0 f Congress will see the dev elopment
of a new tax fight in an effort to adjust Federal taxation on a
basis tha t will appea r eq uitabl e to the majority of the business men
and voters of the country.
Despite the claims made by the present administration of
substantial savings in the budget,. and of the curtailment of ex
penses generally, there appears to be little id ea in Congress of
taking such sav ings into account in adjusting taxes. In fact, there
appears to be a real danger that a se riou s attempt will be made to
provide for a return of th e excess profits tax, and that the sup
porters of the sales tax will a lso be strongly in evidence.
It is not probable that any new tax program will affec t the
music industry except as in a general way it wi ll affect all business
men, but nevertheless it will be well for the industry to be on its
guard against any attempt to slip in a special tax on mu sical in st ru
ments in an effort . to relieve some other industry or some special
interest of a part of its tax burden.
It must be remembered that, in protecting the indu stry from
unju st taxation, every indi vidua l member of it must and can do
his individu a l sha re in the fight.
A