Music Trade Review
Issue: 1895 Vol. 20 N. 19 - Page 2
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.
I
EDWARD LYMAN BILL
Editor and Proprietor.
PUBLISHED
EVERY
SATURDAY
3 East 14th St., New York
SUBSCRIPTION (including: postage) United States and
Canada, $300 per year; Foreign Countries, $4.00.
ADVERTISEMENTS, $2.00 per inch, single column, per
insertion. On quarterly or yearly contracts a special dis-
count is allowed.
REMITTANCES, in other than currency form, should
be made payable to Edward Lyman Bill.
Entered at the New York Post Office as Second-Class Matter.
"THE BUSINESS MANS PAPER "
So far, this promise has not been fulfilled.
It is true we are no longer receivers of
stolen goods; but, judging from the recent
decision, there will be just as many foreign
publications in our midst as ever before,
and the foreign printer and publisher is
deriving all the benefit. Instead of having
an influence on American composers, the
copyright law has opened a market for the
compositions of English writers, to the
marked injury of composers here. In fact
it has not only given them a market for
their writings, but the publishers are reap-
ing a rich harvest of royalties for American
sales.
Now, we do not find fault with English
publishers or composers for taking advan-
tage of the conditions which exist, and
which this country has been kind enough
to make for them, but we do find fault with
S a journal is dedicated to the inter- the law makers or the constructors of this
ests of the trade of which it is an copyright law who place on the statutes an
exponent, and has therefore a mission to act which does not fulfill the purpose for
fill, so its chief should be devoted to the which it was designed.
paper. It was a saying of the late W. H.
Vanderbilt that no railroad man had any
THE COURIER'S RETRACTION.
business with a newspaper. It is equally
HE suit brought by the Steinert Co.
true that no person devoted to any other
against the Musical Courier, has at-
vocation, whether manufacturing or other tracted considerable attention, and there
business, should attempt to run a paper. A have been many conjectures as to its possi-
prime essential of successful journalism is ble result. There has existed a strong be-
independence, and that is not to be ex- lief that the case would never come to trial,
pected in a journal which is largely run in that it would be settled out of court, that
the interests of one firm. What kind of a there would be that mysterio\isy£>/
are supposed to get what they pay for?— suits. There were few, if any, who believed
but in some cases do not. There is s that the Courier would make an open re-
reason why independent papers succeed in traction; however, the unexpected often-
all trades.
times occurs, and there were many who
"*HE rehearing of the arguments upon
the income tax before the Supreme
Court was closed last Wednesday, and the
constitutionality of the law, will, it is ex-
pected, be decided about the 20th of the
month. The fate of the law is in Justice
Jackson's hands, and much discussion as to
his action in the matter prevails. The gen-
eral opinion is that the law will be declared
unconstitutional, and this will compel the
Administration to meet the deficit which
will consequently ensue. How it will be
met, and whether a special session of Con-
gress will be called, is purely problematical.
It seems likely, however, that the Presi-
dent and Cabinet will rise to the situation
and provide the necessary revenue to meet
the necessities of the Government without
a special session.
• • • • • • • • • • • •
A
•
%
'
•
.
•
•
..
T
DESCRIPTION of one of the World's
Fair medals so long promised ex-
hibitors, and now on exhibition in this city
for the first time, appears elsewhere in this
paper. The question is, when will manu-
facturers receive them? Well—"there's
the rub."
A
A
CCORDING to the Treasury bulletin
the exports for the month show a
decided gain in leading articles of manufac-
tured goods. The increase over the same
period for last year is quite considerable.
Such a condition of things is cheering, and
indicates that American manufacturers are
rapidly extending their foreign trade.
PON entering the Hazelton ware-
rooms on University place, one is
at once impressed with the air of dignity
which prevails—rooms well shaded, pianos
admirably displayed, yet not obtrusively
so, and everywhere an atmosphere of good
taste is evidenced. Indeed, the wholesale
trade of this house is conducted upon the
same lines—always characterized by the
dignified and not the boastful methods.
That is why the Hazelton piano occupies an
elevated plane in the piano trade of this
country.
U
THE COPYRIGHT LAW.
HAT an opera-bouffe piece of legis-
lation is the copyright law! For
years it has been simply a gold mine for
lawyers. The recent decision in the suit
between the O. Ditson Co. and Novello,
Ewer & Co., is only one of the numerous
illustrations which go to show how clever
counsel can interpret this pliant law to suit
themselves. We know of nothing more
ridiculous than that a "book" published
abroad must be printed here in order to ob-
tain copyright, while an opera, or a smaller
piece of music published by a foreign house
can be printed abroad and receive recogni-
tion from the copyright office here, just as
if it were a domestic publication.
There is something out of gear with the
copyright law. The passage of that statute
was urged on the plea that it would protect
American musicians against "ruinous com-
petition with stolen goods." It was further
contended that it would insure a great
awakening of musical activity in this country.
W
scanned twice the subjoined which appeared
on the editorial page of the Courier last
Wednesday:
We hereby retract and admit to be untrue all the
statements and insinuations heretofore published
in the Musical Courier which reflect or may be
taken to reflect upon the character or conduct of
Mr. Morris Steinert or upon the M. Steinert & Sons'
Co.
MUSICAL COURIER COMPANY
MARC. A. BLUMENBERG.
During the entire time which this matter
has been under discussion, we have re-
frained from criticism and have only noted
it as trade news, believing that it is not
quite the thing to try a case outside of the
courts toward which it is apparently hasten-
ing. Now that this particular case is of
the past, let us review it briefly. In the
Musical Courier were published certain de-
famatory statements relating directly to the
Steinerts individually and collectively.
The statements apparently were not pub-
lished as news matter, neither were they all
included in a single publication; they were
continued,and with intensified fervor. Sub-
tle insinuations were implied. The "state-
ments and insinuations" ceased at a time
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.
I
EDWARD LYMAN BILL
Editor and Proprietor.
PUBLISHED
EVERY
SATURDAY
3 East 14th St., New York
SUBSCRIPTION (including: postage) United States and
Canada, $300 per year; Foreign Countries, $4.00.
ADVERTISEMENTS, $2.00 per inch, single column, per
insertion. On quarterly or yearly contracts a special dis-
count is allowed.
REMITTANCES, in other than currency form, should
be made payable to Edward Lyman Bill.
Entered at the New York Post Office as Second-Class Matter.
"THE BUSINESS MANS PAPER "
So far, this promise has not been fulfilled.
It is true we are no longer receivers of
stolen goods; but, judging from the recent
decision, there will be just as many foreign
publications in our midst as ever before,
and the foreign printer and publisher is
deriving all the benefit. Instead of having
an influence on American composers, the
copyright law has opened a market for the
compositions of English writers, to the
marked injury of composers here. In fact
it has not only given them a market for
their writings, but the publishers are reap-
ing a rich harvest of royalties for American
sales.
Now, we do not find fault with English
publishers or composers for taking advan-
tage of the conditions which exist, and
which this country has been kind enough
to make for them, but we do find fault with
S a journal is dedicated to the inter- the law makers or the constructors of this
ests of the trade of which it is an copyright law who place on the statutes an
exponent, and has therefore a mission to act which does not fulfill the purpose for
fill, so its chief should be devoted to the which it was designed.
paper. It was a saying of the late W. H.
Vanderbilt that no railroad man had any
THE COURIER'S RETRACTION.
business with a newspaper. It is equally
HE suit brought by the Steinert Co.
true that no person devoted to any other
against the Musical Courier, has at-
vocation, whether manufacturing or other tracted considerable attention, and there
business, should attempt to run a paper. A have been many conjectures as to its possi-
prime essential of successful journalism is ble result. There has existed a strong be-
independence, and that is not to be ex- lief that the case would never come to trial,
pected in a journal which is largely run in that it would be settled out of court, that
the interests of one firm. What kind of a there would be that mysterio\isy£>/
are supposed to get what they pay for?— suits. There were few, if any, who believed
but in some cases do not. There is s that the Courier would make an open re-
reason why independent papers succeed in traction; however, the unexpected often-
all trades.
times occurs, and there were many who
"*HE rehearing of the arguments upon
the income tax before the Supreme
Court was closed last Wednesday, and the
constitutionality of the law, will, it is ex-
pected, be decided about the 20th of the
month. The fate of the law is in Justice
Jackson's hands, and much discussion as to
his action in the matter prevails. The gen-
eral opinion is that the law will be declared
unconstitutional, and this will compel the
Administration to meet the deficit which
will consequently ensue. How it will be
met, and whether a special session of Con-
gress will be called, is purely problematical.
It seems likely, however, that the Presi-
dent and Cabinet will rise to the situation
and provide the necessary revenue to meet
the necessities of the Government without
a special session.
• • • • • • • • • • • •
A
•
%
'
•
.
•
•
..
T
DESCRIPTION of one of the World's
Fair medals so long promised ex-
hibitors, and now on exhibition in this city
for the first time, appears elsewhere in this
paper. The question is, when will manu-
facturers receive them? Well—"there's
the rub."
A
A
CCORDING to the Treasury bulletin
the exports for the month show a
decided gain in leading articles of manufac-
tured goods. The increase over the same
period for last year is quite considerable.
Such a condition of things is cheering, and
indicates that American manufacturers are
rapidly extending their foreign trade.
PON entering the Hazelton ware-
rooms on University place, one is
at once impressed with the air of dignity
which prevails—rooms well shaded, pianos
admirably displayed, yet not obtrusively
so, and everywhere an atmosphere of good
taste is evidenced. Indeed, the wholesale
trade of this house is conducted upon the
same lines—always characterized by the
dignified and not the boastful methods.
That is why the Hazelton piano occupies an
elevated plane in the piano trade of this
country.
U
THE COPYRIGHT LAW.
HAT an opera-bouffe piece of legis-
lation is the copyright law! For
years it has been simply a gold mine for
lawyers. The recent decision in the suit
between the O. Ditson Co. and Novello,
Ewer & Co., is only one of the numerous
illustrations which go to show how clever
counsel can interpret this pliant law to suit
themselves. We know of nothing more
ridiculous than that a "book" published
abroad must be printed here in order to ob-
tain copyright, while an opera, or a smaller
piece of music published by a foreign house
can be printed abroad and receive recogni-
tion from the copyright office here, just as
if it were a domestic publication.
There is something out of gear with the
copyright law. The passage of that statute
was urged on the plea that it would protect
American musicians against "ruinous com-
petition with stolen goods." It was further
contended that it would insure a great
awakening of musical activity in this country.
W
scanned twice the subjoined which appeared
on the editorial page of the Courier last
Wednesday:
We hereby retract and admit to be untrue all the
statements and insinuations heretofore published
in the Musical Courier which reflect or may be
taken to reflect upon the character or conduct of
Mr. Morris Steinert or upon the M. Steinert & Sons'
Co.
MUSICAL COURIER COMPANY
MARC. A. BLUMENBERG.
During the entire time which this matter
has been under discussion, we have re-
frained from criticism and have only noted
it as trade news, believing that it is not
quite the thing to try a case outside of the
courts toward which it is apparently hasten-
ing. Now that this particular case is of
the past, let us review it briefly. In the
Musical Courier were published certain de-
famatory statements relating directly to the
Steinerts individually and collectively.
The statements apparently were not pub-
lished as news matter, neither were they all
included in a single publication; they were
continued,and with intensified fervor. Sub-
tle insinuations were implied. The "state-
ments and insinuations" ceased at a time
Future scanning projects are planned by the International Arcade Museum Library (IAML).