Music Trade Review

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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW.
our leader, js enjpying a great sale and the
high-.a-rti.stic standing it so justly merits."
We are constrained to reiterate what we
stated in these columns a few weeks ago,
thatrour contemporary would act well and
wisely if it pursued a policy of investiga-
ting the truth of statements which it makes
before publishing them. The publishing
of rumors or false statements is easy
enough, but it is not pleasant for the party
concerned to "eat crow," as the saying
goes. Again it is sometimes a mighty ex-
pensive proceeding,
. #
#
"Do I take an encouraging view of the
business outlook? Yes, sir, I do," said
Nahum Stetson, in the course of a brief in-
terview yesterday. " I am led to this
conclusion not alone by the business of
Steinway & Sons, but by the general con-
ditions of trade as far as I am able to gauge
them."
This opinion from such an eminent stu-
dent of music trade affairs as Mr. Stetson,
is cheering and in line with the remarks
made to us by several leading manufactur-
ers during the past week.
When asked about the change of the Stein-
way agency in St. Louis, as reported in a
local contemporary, he said, emphatically,
"There is not a particle of truth in the
statement."
#—#
The news which reaches us from Chicago
that Estey & Camp have purchased the fin-
ished and unfinished stock of Decker Bros.'
pianos, and which has been verified at
headquarters in this city, may be said to be
the final steps in closing up the affairs of
the estate. The deal is an important one,
involving a large amount of money. This
transaction would lead us to believe that
the old and distinguished house of Estey
& Camp may be more prominent and aggres-
sive factors in the trade East and West
than they have been hitherto.
Treloar Copyright Bill.
IT MEETS
STRONG
OPPOSITION
FROM PUB-
LISHERS.
DISPATCH from Washington under
date of March 19, says: An emphatic
protest against the bill introduced by Mr.
Treloar, of Missouri, regarding copyright
was made yesterday before the Patent
Committee of the House by Mr. George
Haven Putnam, of New York, and other
prominent publishers. The Treloar bill is
an elaborate one, and purports to create a
Commission on Copyrights and to make
important changes in the existing law of
international copyright.
Mr. Putnam
pointed out, however, in a forcible analysis
of the bill that it practically wiped out in-
ternational copyright and undid the work
in its behalf which had been accomplished
by its supporters several years ago.
The bill provides that no person shall be
entitled to a copyright unless he shall ad-
dress to the Commissioner of Copyrights
two complete copies of the copyright, book,
periodical, dramatic or musical composi-
tion or print, and that the two copies shall
be printed from types within the limits of
the United States or from plates made there-
from, or from engraved plates made within
the limits of the United States, or from
transfers made therefrom.
Mr. Putnam
declared that while some provisions of the
bill, including the provision for a copy-
right commission, would undoubtedly be
acceptable to publishers and authors and
to the friends of international copyright,
these provisions were embodied in other
bills which were before the committee, and
they were so involved with undesirable
provisions in the Treloar bill that the
friends of international copyright could
hardly accept it.
A
IN the course of an informal chat with
man, Mr. Hugo Sohmer said:
"We are a little ahead of last year; of
course, we don't expect big things during
a Presidential year, but the general out-
look is quite hopeful."
THE varied newspaper reports relating
to the removal of the Muehlfeld & Haynes
Piano Co. to New Brunswick, N. J., are
premature. The Muehlfeld & Haynes Co.
purpose moving out of town, when a suit-
able locality is found, but no definite ar-
rangements have been consummated.
THE REVIEW
RUDOLF DOLGE is taking a little'breath-
ing spell out West, and is expected to
return about the 26th inst.
Mr. Dolge
has been sticking very close to business of
late, and although he will doubtless keep
his "weather eye" open for Autoharp busi-
ness, he is virtually seeking relaxation.
" S A Y , " said a prominent Harlem manu-
facturer, in course of conversation with
THE REVIEW man, "what does Editor
' Know-it-all ' mean by stating that if
America goes to war with Spain, there will
be no change in the Presidency this elec-
tion?" THE REVIEW man felt his duties
were sufficiently arduous without being
called upon to defend the political views of
an opinionated trade editor, and remained
silent. A well-known road man, however,
who was evidently well posted in matters
political, volunteered the observation that
it was not usual to change Presidents dur-
ing a conflict of nations, and showed his
erudition by quoting an instance which
formed a precedent. "Don't you believe
it," said the piano manufacturer, waxing
warm in his wrath, "forty wars wouldn't
stop a change of Government this fall," and
then followed a political discussion which
would necessitate a "special edition" to
adequately describe.
It is understood that the purpose of Mr.
Treloar, who was a music publisher before
his election in a Democratic district of
Missouri, is to secure some further protec-
tion to musical compositions. The Com-
mittee on Patents may be willing to meet
his wishes in this single respect, but they
do not appear to see the necessity of over-
laying the provision regarding music with
other changes of the law.
OTTO L. BRAUMULLER, president of the
Dr. Draper, of Massachusetts, the chair- Braumuller Co., will start to-day or Mon-
The Prescott Piano Co.
man of the committee, who listened very day for another ten days' Western trip.
HE Prescott Piano Co., Concord, N. H., attentively to the arguments of Mr. Put- Dealers on the look-out for a thoroughly re-
are fast getting their new plant into nam and his associates, said after the hear- liable piano will do well to look into the
working order. A large force of men are ing that the bill was evidently a radical one, merits of the Braumuller.
employed putting in machinery, and the and would require such elaborate consider-
A MIGHTY good speech was that delivered
building commences to present the appear- ation, if it was to be considered at all, as
by George B. Armstrong at the recent
he
doubted
whether
the
committee
would
ance of a comfortable and well-equipped
meeting of the Music Trade Association,
manufactory. In these quarters they will be able to give during the present session.
Chicago. He told some plain unvarnished
There
is
no
probability
that
the
measure
have ample space for the manufacture of a
truths, full of wisdom and common sense,
will
be
seriously
considered
by
the
com-
large number of instruments. The plant
which some manufacturers might "paste in
consists of two large brick buildings with mittee, or that it will be ordered favorably
their hats" with advantage.
reported
if
it
is
considered.
steam power, one 115 feet by 40, the other
92 by 30, complete with elevator, automatic
WE "are in receipt of a very handsome
sprinklers and other appliances. A large
photo-gravure plate of a number of the rep-
WM. EBELING, general representative of
number of cases have been ordered, which Win. Knabe& Co., Baltimore, who has just resentative dealers of the music trade of
will soon be ready to put into the varnish returned from a successful Western trip, the United States from the Business Bureau
room, and the prospects are that by June spent a portion of Wednesday and Thurs- of the Musical Age. The work is cleverly
1st they will have their new styles read)' for day this week in New York, on his way executed, and reflects credit upon the
publisher.
the trade.
home.
T