Music Trade Review
Issue: 1901 Vol. 32 N. 17 - Page 14
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
Queer Legislation in Illinois.
Serious efforts are being made to pass a
bill through the Illinois Legislature prohibit-
ing "the insurance or indemnification of per-
sons or corporations against loss or damage
resulting from accident to or injury suffered
by an employee or other person." The in-
tention of the bill, in plain language, is to
prevent all employers of labor engaged in
hazardous business from insuring their em-
ployees in employers' liability casualty insur-
ance companies. The member who intro-
duced the bill, in a speech supporting it,
claimed that the insurance system conduced
to carelessness, both on the part of the work-
ers because they are insured and on the part
of the corporations because they are pro-
tected, and further argued that it forced upon
injured employees settlements which work
much hardship. This line of reasoning, if exclu-
sively maintained, as the Iron Age well says,
would have made the bill appear to be con-
ceived for disinterested purposes, with the
public welfare as the main consideration.
Even then, the proposition would have con-
templated a step backward, as the insurance
feature is regarded by those who have adopt-
ed it as a most satisfactory arrangement,
working equitably between employer and em-
ployed, saving much annoyance to the former
and likewise greatly reducing the amount
expended for damages.
In recent years
prosecutions for damages have multiplied
amazingly. Suits for damages are brought
on the slightest pretext, and if the employing
party should be a corporation with a fair-
capital, a jury will usually award ample com-
pensation to help along "the poor man fight-
ing the rich company."
Those who are using casualty insurance
state that they have found that the attorneys
regularly employed by the insurance com-
panies have acquired such a degree of expe-
rience in handling the cases coming before
them for disposal that they are enabled quite
speedily to determine the real merits of each
one and thus secure much better settlements
than could be effected by a lawyer inexpe-
rienced in business of this character. The
retention of such lawyers appears to be the
real reason for the attempted passage of this
bill. The business of numerous local law-
yers who bring personal damage suits is se-
riously interfered with. They find that con-
testing a suit with a man familiar with all
the points likely to arise and trained in the
business of developing overdrawn injuries,
is a very different matter from trying one
with an opponent not versed in the arts em-
ployed in personal damage litigation. This
point has been exposed, and probably may
lead to the defeat of the bill, as it is thus
clearly shown to be inspired for the benefit
of a certain class and not for the public wel-
fare.
One of T Mehlin Winners of the Season
In the latest monthly issue of The Re-
view there appeared an illustrated descrip-
tion of the Mehlin new style C upright—
one of this season's favorites. Another good
example of Mehlin design and workmanship
is style D, "Empire" inverted grand, as
shown above. Printed description is un-
necessary. It speaks for itself. Style D is
being made in rosewood finish, fancy fig-
ured walnut and selected mahogany. Mehlin
agents are getting excellent results with
styles C and D.
Plunged Into Lester Factory.
was at work. At their own expense the
company employed Detective Hale to catch
the alleged swindler. Goldsmith went to
Babylon, L. I., where he was joined by his
wife and two children. He was finally ar-
rested there and taken to River Head and
lodged in jail to await requisition papers.
Goldsmith was identified yesterday in Cap-
tain Miller's office by a number of patrons of
Stetson & Co., who swore that he was the
man who had entered their homes. He was
sent to Moyamensing prison to await trial.
Freight Train Goes Off Track and Demolishes
Side of Building.
Three men were injured in a wreck on the
Philadelphia & Reading Railway at Lester,
Pa., on Tuesday. An open switch caused
the accident. A loaded freight -train was
passing the station, when it left the tracks
and plunged down the embankment into
one of the buildings of the Lester Piano Co.
The whole side of the building was demol-
ished, many employees escaping death.
The engineer and fireman of the train were
not able to jump and sustained serious in-
juries from falling bits of wall. A brake-
man was caught between the cars and
crushed. The rest of the crew saved them-
selves by jumping. The wrecked train was
piled high upon the tracks and blocked traf-
fic for several hours.
Swindled and Ruined Pianos.
[Special to The Review.]
Philadelphia, Pa., April 24, 1901.
Paul Goldsmith was brought to this city
yesterday by Detectives Wood and Tate, Sr.,
from New York,charged withrobbing several
houses, gaining admittance, it is said, by
representing himself as a piano tuner from
the firm of N. Stetson & Co., 1111 Chestnut
street.
Many of the Stetson Co.'s customers,most-
ly those residing in the suburbs, were visited
Mason & Hamlin "On the Sea." by Goldsmith, it is alleged, who, under pre-
Mason & Hamlin have just supplied the tense of repairing pianos, is charged with
magnificent new Red Star line steamers stealing any article he could lay his hands
"Zeeland" and "Vaderland" with pianos. on. Not only this, but Goldsmith, it is al-
The American S. S. line also use, as noted leged, usually succeeded in breaking the
some time ago, the Mason & Hamlin in- strings or injuring the tone. It was through
struments on the "St. Louis," "St. Paul," complaints received from those visited that
Stetson & Co. learned that the bogus tuner
"New York" and "Paris."
Officers Elected.
At the meeting of the Bush & Gerts Piano
Co., held in Chicago last week for the pur-
pose of electing a new board of officers, con-
sequent on the death of Wm. H. Bush, the
following were elected: President, W. L.
Bush; vice-president, B. F. Bush; treasurer,
W. J. Bush; secretary, W. S. Miller. On
the same occasion officers for the following
companies were also elected: The Bush
Music Temple Co.—B. F. Bush, president;
W. J. Bush, treasurer; W. L. Bush, secre-
tary. The Bush Piano & Organ Co., of Aus-
tin and Dallas, Tex.—President, W. L. Bush;
vice-president, B. F. Bush; secretary and
treasurer, W. H. Wray, who is manager of
the Texas business.
Busy Times in Canada.
At the meeting of the Piano Makers' In-
ternational Union, Branch No. 34, held this
week in Toronto, Can., it was reported that
the piano business is just now in a flourish-
ing condition in the Dominion, all the shops
working full-handed.
Geo. G. Foster, the piano magnate of
Rochester, K Y., is now homeward bound
from his far Western honeymoon trip.
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
Queer Legislation in Illinois.
Serious efforts are being made to pass a
bill through the Illinois Legislature prohibit-
ing "the insurance or indemnification of per-
sons or corporations against loss or damage
resulting from accident to or injury suffered
by an employee or other person." The in-
tention of the bill, in plain language, is to
prevent all employers of labor engaged in
hazardous business from insuring their em-
ployees in employers' liability casualty insur-
ance companies. The member who intro-
duced the bill, in a speech supporting it,
claimed that the insurance system conduced
to carelessness, both on the part of the work-
ers because they are insured and on the part
of the corporations because they are pro-
tected, and further argued that it forced upon
injured employees settlements which work
much hardship. This line of reasoning, if exclu-
sively maintained, as the Iron Age well says,
would have made the bill appear to be con-
ceived for disinterested purposes, with the
public welfare as the main consideration.
Even then, the proposition would have con-
templated a step backward, as the insurance
feature is regarded by those who have adopt-
ed it as a most satisfactory arrangement,
working equitably between employer and em-
ployed, saving much annoyance to the former
and likewise greatly reducing the amount
expended for damages.
In recent years
prosecutions for damages have multiplied
amazingly. Suits for damages are brought
on the slightest pretext, and if the employing
party should be a corporation with a fair-
capital, a jury will usually award ample com-
pensation to help along "the poor man fight-
ing the rich company."
Those who are using casualty insurance
state that they have found that the attorneys
regularly employed by the insurance com-
panies have acquired such a degree of expe-
rience in handling the cases coming before
them for disposal that they are enabled quite
speedily to determine the real merits of each
one and thus secure much better settlements
than could be effected by a lawyer inexpe-
rienced in business of this character. The
retention of such lawyers appears to be the
real reason for the attempted passage of this
bill. The business of numerous local law-
yers who bring personal damage suits is se-
riously interfered with. They find that con-
testing a suit with a man familiar with all
the points likely to arise and trained in the
business of developing overdrawn injuries,
is a very different matter from trying one
with an opponent not versed in the arts em-
ployed in personal damage litigation. This
point has been exposed, and probably may
lead to the defeat of the bill, as it is thus
clearly shown to be inspired for the benefit
of a certain class and not for the public wel-
fare.
One of T Mehlin Winners of the Season
In the latest monthly issue of The Re-
view there appeared an illustrated descrip-
tion of the Mehlin new style C upright—
one of this season's favorites. Another good
example of Mehlin design and workmanship
is style D, "Empire" inverted grand, as
shown above. Printed description is un-
necessary. It speaks for itself. Style D is
being made in rosewood finish, fancy fig-
ured walnut and selected mahogany. Mehlin
agents are getting excellent results with
styles C and D.
Plunged Into Lester Factory.
was at work. At their own expense the
company employed Detective Hale to catch
the alleged swindler. Goldsmith went to
Babylon, L. I., where he was joined by his
wife and two children. He was finally ar-
rested there and taken to River Head and
lodged in jail to await requisition papers.
Goldsmith was identified yesterday in Cap-
tain Miller's office by a number of patrons of
Stetson & Co., who swore that he was the
man who had entered their homes. He was
sent to Moyamensing prison to await trial.
Freight Train Goes Off Track and Demolishes
Side of Building.
Three men were injured in a wreck on the
Philadelphia & Reading Railway at Lester,
Pa., on Tuesday. An open switch caused
the accident. A loaded freight -train was
passing the station, when it left the tracks
and plunged down the embankment into
one of the buildings of the Lester Piano Co.
The whole side of the building was demol-
ished, many employees escaping death.
The engineer and fireman of the train were
not able to jump and sustained serious in-
juries from falling bits of wall. A brake-
man was caught between the cars and
crushed. The rest of the crew saved them-
selves by jumping. The wrecked train was
piled high upon the tracks and blocked traf-
fic for several hours.
Swindled and Ruined Pianos.
[Special to The Review.]
Philadelphia, Pa., April 24, 1901.
Paul Goldsmith was brought to this city
yesterday by Detectives Wood and Tate, Sr.,
from New York,charged withrobbing several
houses, gaining admittance, it is said, by
representing himself as a piano tuner from
the firm of N. Stetson & Co., 1111 Chestnut
street.
Many of the Stetson Co.'s customers,most-
ly those residing in the suburbs, were visited
Mason & Hamlin "On the Sea." by Goldsmith, it is alleged, who, under pre-
Mason & Hamlin have just supplied the tense of repairing pianos, is charged with
magnificent new Red Star line steamers stealing any article he could lay his hands
"Zeeland" and "Vaderland" with pianos. on. Not only this, but Goldsmith, it is al-
The American S. S. line also use, as noted leged, usually succeeded in breaking the
some time ago, the Mason & Hamlin in- strings or injuring the tone. It was through
struments on the "St. Louis," "St. Paul," complaints received from those visited that
Stetson & Co. learned that the bogus tuner
"New York" and "Paris."
Officers Elected.
At the meeting of the Bush & Gerts Piano
Co., held in Chicago last week for the pur-
pose of electing a new board of officers, con-
sequent on the death of Wm. H. Bush, the
following were elected: President, W. L.
Bush; vice-president, B. F. Bush; treasurer,
W. J. Bush; secretary, W. S. Miller. On
the same occasion officers for the following
companies were also elected: The Bush
Music Temple Co.—B. F. Bush, president;
W. J. Bush, treasurer; W. L. Bush, secre-
tary. The Bush Piano & Organ Co., of Aus-
tin and Dallas, Tex.—President, W. L. Bush;
vice-president, B. F. Bush; secretary and
treasurer, W. H. Wray, who is manager of
the Texas business.
Busy Times in Canada.
At the meeting of the Piano Makers' In-
ternational Union, Branch No. 34, held this
week in Toronto, Can., it was reported that
the piano business is just now in a flourish-
ing condition in the Dominion, all the shops
working full-handed.
Geo. G. Foster, the piano magnate of
Rochester, K Y., is now homeward bound
from his far Western honeymoon trip.
Future scanning projects are planned by the International Arcade Museum Library (IAML).