Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
NOVEMBER 26, 1927
The Music Trade Review
that some action may be taken subjecting such
concerns to control similar to that exercised
over the railroads by the Interstate Commerce
Commission. There has been much complaint
over the rates and irresponsibility of many of
New Tax Bill, Tariff Legislation, Readjustment of Postal Rates, Misbranding and the hundreds of lines now in operation and a
general demand for regulation. Along this line
Price Maintenance, and Commerce Appropriations to Be Acted Upon
there may also be some discussion of regula-
tion of interstate air lines, which now are
\I7ASHINGTON, D. C, November 21.—The
Appropriations for the operation of the Gov- carrying considerable express matter and which
* coming session of Congress will be re- ernment during the fiscal year 1929 also must are subject to control by the Department of
plete with legislation of interest to members be made before Congress adjourns. These will Commerce only as regards pilots and equip-
of the music industries and other business men include the $20,000,000 deficiency appropriation ment, being free so far as rates and service
of the country, more so, probably, than has bill and the public buildings bill, which failed are concerned.
been the case for several years.
at the last session as a result of the Senate
The Department of Commerce is expected
How much will be accomplished before ad- filibuster which made futile any attempts to to seek funds for the further expansion of its
journment next Summer, of course, is a ques- securing legislation during the closing days various services, it being desired to open new
tion, since much time will be consumed in of Congress.
offices abroad and to make a number of trade
consideration of important national questions,
A strong attempt will again be made to investigations in this country. The Post Office
such as flood relief and control, farm relief, bring about changes in postal rates, of con- Department will back postal reform. There
naval expansion, merchant marine, etc., and siderable importance to the music industries, will be some discussion and criticism of the
also a great deal of time is going to be taken probably along the lines of the bill which was Treasury Department's plan for the issuance
up with political speeches and stratagems, as among those snowed under in the Senate fili- of smaller paper money. Some hundreds of
members of Congress will go directly from the buster last Spring, which would have reduced bills dealing with business will be introduced
Capitol into a bitter presidential campaign.
the rates on newspapers, magazines and third- and a small percentage may be acted upon.
The music industry has a considerable class mail and provided for the collection upon
The coming session will be busy. It will
"stake" in the question of tax relief, which delivery of the postage on business reply cards, have to work hard and fast if it is to adjourn
will be one of the outstanding features of the restored the one-cent rate on private mailing early next Summer, as planned, so that full
session. Originally scheduled to cut $300,000,- lards, imposed a penalty for short-payment of attention can be devoted to the campaign of
000 from the country's tax bill, estimates that postage on first-class mail and readjusted the 1928, which will culminate in the election of a
the surplus for the next fiscal year will be special delivery service, extending it to mail president and vice-president, an entire House
only slightly more than $250,000,000 made such of other than the first class. Only the adop- of Representatives and one-third of the Sen-
a cut apparently impossible. Nevertheless, the tion of a conference report was necessary for ate. A good deal of less pressing business
Dempcrats and independent Republicans will the enactment of this legislation when the ses- will go over until the next session, in Decem-
fight for a heavy tax cut, while administration sion ended, but it now will have to go through ber, 1928, but the tax bill, the appropriations
supporters will seek to keep it down to a point the entire legislative mill again as a new meas- and a number of special measures must be
where future surpluses are not imperiled. ure.
dealt with before the end of this session.
Some relief will undoubtedly be afforded cor-
Important
trade-mark
legislation,
under
Political expediency to a large degree will gov-
porations, whose present rate of 13 l /t per cent which American owners of trade-marks would cru the legislation selected for enactment dur-
is considered far too high; some of the re- be more adequately protected, not only from ing the next few months.
maining war excise taxes may be eliminated, domestic infringements but from unauthorized
and some action may be taken to iron out use of their marks on foreign merchandise
the disparity in taxes on individual incomes imported into this country, will be brought up
between $20,000 and $60,000 as compared with again, as will the bill increasing fees for regis-
incomes both lower and higher.
tration of copyright, the first step toward
Possible attempts to secure the enactment reorganization of the Copyright Office, and of
of a new tariff law are also foreseen by ob- great importance to the industry, particularly
servers in Washington, as a result of the the sheet music, record and roll branches of
controversy over the French tariff discrimina- the trade.
tions against this country, but it is generally
One of the questions which must be dealt
believed that the present rates are operating with finally by the coming .session is that of
successfully and the administration will attempt parcel post service to Cuba, which can be con-
to confine tariff discussions to the administra- tinued only by the enactment of legislation
tive features, which are admittedly in need of removing the present restriction upon the im-
revamping.
portation of cigars. This is of importance to
the industry, since a considerable parcel post
trade has been built up with Cuba. Parcel
post service to Cuba now is conducted under
a temporary agreement, originally expiring
are shipped on time.
July 1, last, but extended until next March,
When
we make a
which can be made permanent only by acced-
ing to Cuba's demand for unrestricted entry
promise you can
of her cigars. The bill was "killed" last session
count
on it.
by representatives from the cigar manufactur-
ing States.
When you w a n t
Another attempt to secure misbranding legis-
quick service you
lation and price maintenance, the last of inter-
est to the music trades, is expected, the latter
can get it.
being given impetus by the independent vol-
The Sono-Rim makes the
untary investigation into the whole question
We have over
Miessner totally different
of price maintenance recently ordered by th"
200,000 sq. ft.
Federal Trade Commission. The results of
from any other piano
the commission's inquiry will be submitted to
of
manufacturing
The Sono-Rim is the greatest improvement
Congress in the form of a report, with recom-
space to back you
ever introduced in the small piano field.
mendations as to the enactment of legislation,
Built into the sound board and back, it pro-
up with.
but it is probable that efforts will be made
duces a full, round tone never possible before.
to secure the passage of a bill without waiting
It makes a strong sales appeal and further
strengthens the many other
important
for the report, which probably will not be
features which have constantly kept the
ready until the 1928-29 session.
Write us at the
Miessner in a class by itself.
A very important piece of business legisla-
It will pay you to learn more about the sales
first opportunity.
tion which failed last session but will again
possibilities of the Miessner.
Investigate.
be
revived
makes
illegal
the
interstate
trans-
Write for full information on the Miessner
franchise.
portation of stolen property. This bill is
approved by the Department of Justice as a
MIESSNER PIANO COMPANY
means of reducing commercial theft, and would
Established i n 1 8 0 6
136 Reed St.
Milwaukee, Wis.
operate along the lines of the Dyer law apply
ing to the interstate transportation of stolen
The PRATT READ PLAYER ACTION CO.
automobiles, which has been very successful.
THE LITTLE PIANO WITH THE BIG TONE
Deep River, Conn.
Federal control of interstate motor truck and
bus lines will be urged, with the possibility
Next Congressional Session Will Deal
With Many Important Business Questions
Pratt Read
Products
keys actions
players
PRATT, READ & CO.