Music Trade Review

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THH MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
politicians " b o s s " the business men instead
of the business men "bossing" the politi-
cians.
Should the bills above referred to become
law, they may, although State measures,
influence legislation in other common-
wealths.
W I T H this week the spring season may be
said to be well under way. Manufacturers
have been busy preparing stock and repre-
sentatives are now busy traversing this great
continent making known the merits of var-
ious instruments to a big army of dealers.
It is appropriate that The Review should
don a new cover in honor of the inauguration
of what, let us hope, will prove a prosperous
season for the music trade industry of this
country.
The steady support vouchsafed
this paper, and well exemplified in this as in
every issue, is a reflection of present con-
ditions, and an augury of a year that bids
fair to be satisfactory in results for the wide-
awake manufacturer and dealer.
Q N Tuesday last, Edwin A. Potter, of Lyon,
Potter & Co., was elected president of the
American Trust & Savings Bank, Chicago.
He will assume his new duties after a short
vacation, which he will spend at Asheville,
N. C.
Mr. Potter's election has of course given
rise to the usual crop of rumors regarding
Steinway changes in Chicago, etc. It is
well to say that no new developments will
immediately ensue. In the near future lots
of things may happen—we may have war
with Spain, for instance, or—
A BILL that cannot fail to invite strong op-
position from inventors and all who avail
themselves of the protection of the Patent
Office has been introduced in the House of
Representatives by Representative Reeves.
It provides, among other things, that any one
can use any patent issued, by the payment of
a royalty to be fixed by the Commissioner of
Patents.
We question whether this measure, which
is certainly radical if not revolutionary in its
purpose, will receive serious consideration at
the hands of legislators. The Constitution of
the United States gives Congress the power
to protect patented inventions, and moreover
provides that this power shall be exclusive to
the inventor. No such protection can be se-
cured under the proposition advanced in this
bill.
The patent laws of the United States have
ever stimulated and encouraged inventors,
and the protection accorded them whereby
they are given exclusive control of their
patents which they can assign, and the use of
which they can regulate, have encouraged
others to labor with success. If this control-
ling feature were taken away from patents
their value would be destroyed, and neither
inventors nor manufacturers would want
them.
Again, it would certainly be a mistake to
place such absolute power in the hands of the
Commissioner of Patents as this bill would
allow. Should it become a law, the in-
ventor would be entirely at his mercy in the
fixing of royalties.
Another important point is that the grant-
ing of patents by the commissioner on a pay-
ment of royalty would be followed by whole-
sale infringement, and it would rob the ori-
ginal inventor and patentee of any right of
action.
We can see no good use for this measure,
and it is to be hoped that it will be imme-
diately killed.
There are several bills at present before
the House pertaining to the better govern-
ment of the patent office, as well as the pro-
tection of patentees, which deserve consider-
ation and support, and there should be little
time wasted on "freak" legislation of this
kind.
kindly sentiments and good wishes for the
present standard bearers of the Knabe firm.
It is safe to prognosticate that under their
administration the fame and prestige of the
Knabe name will be further accentuated.
Colby Piano Co. Assign.
GEO. F. DIEHL THE ASSIGNEE THE ASSETS
ARE LARGE — BUSINESS WILL BE RESUMED
CREDITORS WELL DISPOSED.
[Special to The Review.]
Erie, Pa., March 9, 1898.
The Colby Piano Co., of this city, made
an assignment last evening to Geo. F.
Diehl, for the benefit of creditors. The lat-
ter is the bookkeeper and treasurer of the com-
pany. The deed was filed in the office of
the register at the Court House to-day, and
Mr. Diehl is now in charge of the affairs of
the company. The liabilities are roughly es-
timated at between $15,000 and $50,000;
meanwhile the assets are ample to meet all in-
debtedness.
The Colby Piano Co. were originally estab-
lished in this city in 1859, and commenced
business in Erie ten years ago. They are
represented in New York and Chicago, and
their instruments have always stood well
throughout the United States. The capital
stock of the Colby Piano Co. is $135,000, the
present officers being, president, F.V. Kepler;
vice-president, C. C. Colby; secretary and
treasurer, Geo. F. Diehl.
p i A N O literature has been enriched this sea-
son by many clever catalogues which show
a big stride forward in this particular branch
LATER.
of the business. Few of them, however, have
A telegram as we go to press informs us
won such a large measure of approval from that the Colby Piano Co. will continue busi-
competent judges as the "Everett," recently ness. The company will be reorganized, and
issued by the John Church Co. Its literary the factory will be shut down for a short
make-up is decidedly above the average. It time. They have a large number of orders
on hand, and the prospects for a busy year's
is free from verbiage and flamboyancy.
business are exceedingly bright. The step
There is an earnest, convincing ring about it taken by the company on Tuesday will clear
that holds and impresses the reader, and this the atmosphere somewhat, and enable them
is certainly the highest tribute to the work to see their way ahead. The creditors,
and its author. In another part of this issue without exception, are well disposed toward
will be found an opening extract from this the concern.
book, which we shall quote further in later
H. J. Ray more Resigns.
issues. It will be found interesting reading.
y H E reports from the commercial agencies
these days are quite cheering. Bradstreet's
in its last issue says: "Nearly all signs
point to an unprecedented volume of business
being done or arranging for at the present
time. The aggressive strength of prices, re-
cord breaking bank clearings, and continued
large exports, particularly of the lower-priced
cereals, a very heavy volume of business in
iron and steel and kindred lines, and gener-
ally satisfactory reports as to the volume of
spring trade at leading distributive centers
are among the visible features of this trade
development.
Nearly all of the country's
products are higher in prices this week."
C. F. REEPS, SUPERINTENDENT OF THE SHAW
PIANO CO., FOLLOWS SUIT THEIR FUTURES
PROVIDED FOR PARTICULARS LATER.
We are informed that Mr. H. J. Raymore,
secretary of the Shaw Piano Co. of Erie, Pa.,
on Monday last severed his connection with
that institution. Although Mr. Raymore is
non-committal as to his future, we understand
that it is all arranged for, and particulars in
this connection will be announced later. Mr.
Raymore is one of the aggressive and pro-
gressive men of the day and he is destined to
be heard from.
We understand that C. F. Reeps, superin-
tendent of the Shaw Piano Co., also tendered
his resignation this week, the same to take
effect April 1st. His future, we learn, is also
provided for.
y H E changes in the Knabe firm reported in
L. P. Bach, of Kranich & Bach, left town
the last issue of The Review whereby on Friday last for a two-weeks' business trip.
Ernest J. and William Knabe assume active
Geo. Geary, of Geary Bros., New Haven,
control of that institution, have called forth Conn., is a recent acquisition to the retail
from competitors and a host of friends many forces of the Emerson Piano Co., this city.