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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW, MAY, 19U
Protest
Tax
Manufacturers and Dealers Urged to
Write Congressmen Protesting Proposed
Levy
on Musical Instruments
In the new tax schedule proposed by litzer Co., Cincinnati, O., has sent a letter
Secretary of the Treasury Morgenthau is
an item of 10 - on musical instruments
through which the government expects to
raise $3,600,000. With the proposal now
being considered both manufacturers and
dealers are already protesting to their
Congressmen and 'where possible mem-
bers of the Ways and Means Committee
pointing out that musical instruments are
educational factors which should be
exempt from excessive taxes.
On May 6th a committee headed by
R. C. Rolfing, president of the National
Piano Manufacturers Association was
granted a hearing before the Ways and
Means Committee in Washington.
A letter regarding this proposed tax has
been sent to all members of the National
Piano Manufacturers Association by its
president R. C. Rolfing urging each mem-
ber to protest to the members of the Ways
and Means Committee of Congress. In the
meantime Mr. Rolfing as vice president
and general manager of the Rudolph Wur-
to Senator Robert A. Taft of Ohio and the
two congressmen from his district protest-
ing the tax. Musical instrument manu-
facturers, jobbers, and dealers are urged
to do likewise. The members of the Ways
and Means Committee are as follows:
Democratic members: Robert L. Dough-
ton, (N. C); Thomas H. Cullen, (N. Y.).
John W. McCormack, (Mass.); Jere Cooper,
(Term.); John W. Boehne, Jr.. (Ind.); Wes-
ley E. Disney, (Okla.); Frank H. Buck,
(Cal.); Richard M. Duncan, (Mo.); John D.
Dingell, (Mich.); A. Willis Robertson.
(Va.); Patrick J. Boland, (Penn.); Milton H.
West, (Texas); Raymond S. McKeough,
(HI.)
Republican members: Allen T. Tread-
way, (Mass.); Frank Crowther, (N. Y.);
Harold Knutson, (Minn.); Daniel A. Reed,
(N. Y.); Roy O. Woodruff, (Mich.); Thomas
A. Jenkins, (Ohio); Donald H. McLean, (N.
J.); Bertrand W. Gearhart, (Cal.); Frank
Carlson, (Kan.); Benjamin Jarrett, (Penn.)
The Hon. Robert L. Doughton is Chair-
Sohmer as Leader for Pacific Northwest
The Pacific Music Co., Seattle, Wash., Miller recently made this statement:
"It was thirty years ago. As a youthful
of which Arthur B. Miller is the moving
spirit has recently opened a piano de- band and orchestra leader, I had come
partment under the supervision of Carl W. west seeking fame and fortune. Strum-
Jones. The Sohmer piano has been sel- ming the ivories in my favorite music
ected as a leader and will be distributed store there was one instrument I could not
man of this committee. Address him as
such, at the House of Representatives,
Washington. D. C.
Regarding the music dealers activity in
this matter Paul S. Felder. president of the
National Association of Music Merchants
stated:
"I am of the opinion that we should
bombard all members of the Ways and
Means Committee with letters from the en-
tire music industry all over the country
and we should enlist the support of the
Senators and the Congressmen one hun-
dred percent if that is possible. The peo-
ple back home can certainly do more with
their representatives than somebody on a
committee in Washington; although, I be-
lieve we need that too. I do not want to
sit back and let the piano manufacturers
and the band instrument manufacturers
bear the full burden. This is one time
when our Association can step out and
really get busy."
have had opportunity to observe pi*no
qualifications. I could not forget that
Sohmer. It became down through the
years my standard of tone comparison.
"Naturally I was delighted that many
of my musical friends shared this my
strong conviction and highly regarded
the Sohmer family in both the business
and musical -world. Even more gratified
was I to find that we were to be awarded
the Sohmer representation for a consider-
able territory in the Pacific Northwest."
"The piano fraternity of this section will
be interested to learn that Carl W. Jones,
for many years identified with the piano
departments of the West's largest con-
cerns will be "Dean" of our piano depart-
ment. Mr. Jones has a large circle of
musical friends and a wealth of exper-
ience. Incidentally, he has a respect al-
most to the point of reverence for the
Sohmer piano."
The photo herewith shows the entrance,
one of the display windows, and person-
nel of the Pacific Music Co., at 1411 3rd
Avenue in the heart of .downtown Seattle.
Reading left to right. Art DahL Carl W.
Jones, Arthur B. Miller, James Macdonald,
and H. M. Fisk. Seated, Doris Suddick and
Marguerite Carlson.
Production for First Quarter Rises
Entrance
to the
Pacific
Music Co.
Store
and
Members
of the
Organization
The production of pianos is steadily on
the increase and according to figures for
the first three months of the year ship-
ments are 16.78 \ ahead of the same
period last year. Unfilled orders are also
well in advance of those at the same
period last year. Through March 31st this
year 35,557 pianos were shipped against
30,449 in the same period last year. The
number of grand pianos shipped is about
the same as last year but the percentage
has naturally decreased on account of
the total increase.
Gulbransen Store in Baltimore
The Hammann Music Co., Baltimore,
Md. of which F. B. Hammann is the head
recently opened a new store at 206 North
liberty St. where Gulbransen pianos are
also in Washington, Idaho, Oregon and let alone. It was a Sohmer.
Montana. Regarding this decision Mr.
"Upon many occasions since that day I handled exclusively.