Music Trade Review
Issue: 1907 Vol. 44 N. 3 - Page 4
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE
MUSIC TRADE
RIYBW
EDWARD LYMAN BILL, - Editor and Proprietor
J. B. SPILLANE, Managing Editor
Executive and Reportorlal Staff:
GBO. B. KmiitJit.
W. N. TYLER.
F. H. THOMPSON.
EMILJB FHANCBS BADBB.
L. B. BOWERS. B. BHITTAIN WILSON, WM. B. WHITH. L. J. CHAMBERLIN. A. J. NICKLIN.
BOSTON OFFICE:
CHICAGO OFFICE:
B. P. VAN HAHLINOBN, 195-107 Wabasb Aye.
TELEPHONES : Central 414 ; Automatic 8643
MINNEAPOLIS and ST. PAUL:
ST. LOUIS:
L. WAITT, 278A Tremont St.
PHILADELPHIA :
R. W. KATJFPMAN.
A. W. SHAW.
CHAS. N. VAN BDRBN.
SAN FRANCISCO: S. II. GUAY, 2407 Sacramento St.
CINCINNATI. O.: NINA PUQH-SMITH.
BALTIMORE, MD.: PAUL T. LOCKWOOD.
LONDON, ENGLAND:
69 Basinghall St., K. C.
W. Lionel Sturdy, Manager.
Published Every Saturday at 1 Madison Avenue, New York.
Entered at the New York Post Office as Second Class Matter.
SUBSCRIPTION. (Including postage), United States, Mexico, and Canada, $2.00 per
year; all otber countries, $4.00.
ADVERTISEMENTS. 12.00 per Inch, single column, per Insertion. On quarterly or
yearly contracts a special discount is allowed. Advertising Pages, $60.00; opposite
reading matter, $75.00.
REMITTANCES, in otber tban currency form, should be made payable to Bdward
Lymnn Bill.
Directory ol Plaao
Manufacturers
The directory of piano manufacturing firms and corporations
found on another page will be of great value, as a reference
for dealers and others.
Exposition Honors Won by The Review
ty'and Prix
Paris Exposition, 1900 Silver Medal. Charleston Exposition, 1902
Diploma.Pan-American Exposition, 1901
Gold Medal..St. Louis Exposition, 1904
Oold A/eriflt.Lewls-Clark Exposition, 1905
LONG DISTANCE TELEPHONE—NUMBER 1745 GRAMERCY
Cable a d d r e s s : " E l b l l l N e w York."
NEW YORK, JANUARY 19, 1907
~ ~
REVIEW
before the House Committee that the chief result from the adop-
tion of Postmaster Madden's suggestions would be to reduce the
postage bills of the catalogue houses at the expense of the Treasury,
and therefore of the taxpayers at large.
It should be understood that the publishers will not be the only
ones whose interests will be seriously jeopardized if Mr. Madden's
suggestions ever become a law. The legitimate business interests
of the country will suffer because it will at once create an oppor-
tunity for the catalogue house people to put forth tons of advertis-
ing matter which under the present postal rules they cannot do—
all of the house organs having been thrown out of second-class
privileges.
I
T is said that the mail order people are behind the parcels post
bill. This is being advocated by some of the representatives
of the catalogue house in the guise of reformers. They are do-
ing quiet work along lines which favor the parcels post scheme,
because they see an opportunity to cut down the cost of delivering
their catalogues. These catalogues are said to cost about 40 cents,
while the postage on each is 26 cents. They will be sent to any one
on receipt of 15 cents, so that the mailing of each copy involves a
loss of 50 cents. One house is credited with sending out 2,000,000
copies, thus making an annual net loss of $1,000,000. The P>ristow
plan would permit these catalogues to be sent by freight to dis-
tributing offices in rural free delivery districts and 9 cents postage
would carry them to their ultimate destination. Allowing 1 cent
per copy for freight and cost of transfer to the mails, this would
mean a saving of 16 cents per copy, or $320,000 on the annual edi-
tion of a single catalogue house. The figures quoted are not esti-
mates, but are taken from a statistical article, the material for which
was painstakingly gathered in Chicago, and largely furnished by
the catalogue houses.
O
NE of the most dangerous, because apparently harmless, pro-
jects of the postal reformers that will be strongly urged upon
the committee during the next fortnight is the post check, or postal
currency plan, which even the Post Office Department has been
EDITORIAL
induced to favor. The tendency of all catalogue house legislation
is along two lines: First, to get the farmer's money most easily
and conveniently, and second, to deliver- goods through the mails
T is plain that the piano business is conducted on cleaner lines
at the lowest possible cost for postage. The very reasonable safe-
than ever before. This is evidenced in the fact that the griev-
guards thrown around the postal money order system operate to
ance committee of the Dealers' Association has reported that there
are no matters of dispute which have been referred to it, and the some extent to protect the local retailer by aiding him in holding
gentlemen composing- this committee feel that the trade is to be his trade. The postal currency would simply facilitate the sending
of money away from home and, while theoretically unobjectionable,
congratulated upon this freedom from evil practices which have
in practice it could not fail to work great injury to local merchants
been conspicuously noticeable in days agone. At this rate the
everywhere. The manner in which sentiment in favor of the so-
grievance committee will not have active employment, but the very
called
post check currency system has been worked up for several
existence of this committee has, perhaps, a deterring influence upon
years
past
by a paid lobby of ex-post office officials stationed in
some of those who are not at all times inclined to respect the feel-
Washington
was fully exposed last April. All the cost of advo-
ings of their brother merchants in their stool pigeon games, or
cating
this
particular
project has been paid by a millionaire manu-
slaughter price schemes.
facturer
of
breakfast
foods,
who has "worked" the press of the en-
Whether or not, claims are brought before this committee, its
tire
country
in
a
very
ingenious,
if not altogether legitimate, manner.
existence is helpful to general trade interests.
It is all very well for the piano men to pass resolutions con-
demning the catalogue house practices, but such resolutions will be
MATTER of importance which was discussed at the recent
trade meeting in Cincinnati was the constant menace to the useless unless followed by work.
entire piano and organ trade from what seems to be unwarranted
OULD it not be wise to go a step further and use a little
exaggerations on the part of a number of so-called mail order and
pressure to sidetrack one of these catalogue house schemes
catalogue houses. A committee was appointed to investigate all
for depleting the National Treasury ? The piano trade should seize
such complaints and secure evidence showing where and how this
the present opportunity to bring its views to the attention of the
misrepresentation is made.
In connection with the mail order business, the members of House Post Office Committee at what might prove the psycholog-
ical moment.
the music trade presumably are not familiar with a plan which has
Congress should hear from this trade, and every other trade
been brought up before the postal committee at Washington, and
which may be acted upon by Congress. If this scheme becomes a in no uncertain tones, within the next fortnight. A little energetic
work now may save millions of local trade which may be speedily
law it wall assist the mail order houses greatly.
lost if any of these schemes should go through. The piano men
Third Assistant Postmaster-General Madden evidently does not
in Cincinnati felt that a dishonest scheme was being worked by the
view the newspapers of the country as great educational factors, for
catalogue houses. Why not, now, try and render it impossible to
he believes in increasing the mailing price four times on second-class
matter and making it possible for the catalogue houses then to put have these companies conduct their enterprises at the expense of
out their own periodicals on the same basis as legitimate publica- the United States Government?
tions.
HE membership of the Dealers' Association is larger than ever
HE business men of the country should know how far-reaching
before, and President Byrne proposes to put forth strenuous
this revision of postal laws would go. Chairman Overstreet,
efforts to increase the list materially before the Convention in Chi-
of Indiana, stated recently, when this subject was under discussion
cago next June.
I
A
W
T
T
THE
MUSIC TRADE
RIYBW
EDWARD LYMAN BILL, - Editor and Proprietor
J. B. SPILLANE, Managing Editor
Executive and Reportorlal Staff:
GBO. B. KmiitJit.
W. N. TYLER.
F. H. THOMPSON.
EMILJB FHANCBS BADBB.
L. B. BOWERS. B. BHITTAIN WILSON, WM. B. WHITH. L. J. CHAMBERLIN. A. J. NICKLIN.
BOSTON OFFICE:
CHICAGO OFFICE:
B. P. VAN HAHLINOBN, 195-107 Wabasb Aye.
TELEPHONES : Central 414 ; Automatic 8643
MINNEAPOLIS and ST. PAUL:
ST. LOUIS:
L. WAITT, 278A Tremont St.
PHILADELPHIA :
R. W. KATJFPMAN.
A. W. SHAW.
CHAS. N. VAN BDRBN.
SAN FRANCISCO: S. II. GUAY, 2407 Sacramento St.
CINCINNATI. O.: NINA PUQH-SMITH.
BALTIMORE, MD.: PAUL T. LOCKWOOD.
LONDON, ENGLAND:
69 Basinghall St., K. C.
W. Lionel Sturdy, Manager.
Published Every Saturday at 1 Madison Avenue, New York.
Entered at the New York Post Office as Second Class Matter.
SUBSCRIPTION. (Including postage), United States, Mexico, and Canada, $2.00 per
year; all otber countries, $4.00.
ADVERTISEMENTS. 12.00 per Inch, single column, per Insertion. On quarterly or
yearly contracts a special discount is allowed. Advertising Pages, $60.00; opposite
reading matter, $75.00.
REMITTANCES, in otber tban currency form, should be made payable to Bdward
Lymnn Bill.
Directory ol Plaao
Manufacturers
The directory of piano manufacturing firms and corporations
found on another page will be of great value, as a reference
for dealers and others.
Exposition Honors Won by The Review
ty'and Prix
Paris Exposition, 1900 Silver Medal. Charleston Exposition, 1902
Diploma.Pan-American Exposition, 1901
Gold Medal..St. Louis Exposition, 1904
Oold A/eriflt.Lewls-Clark Exposition, 1905
LONG DISTANCE TELEPHONE—NUMBER 1745 GRAMERCY
Cable a d d r e s s : " E l b l l l N e w York."
NEW YORK, JANUARY 19, 1907
~ ~
REVIEW
before the House Committee that the chief result from the adop-
tion of Postmaster Madden's suggestions would be to reduce the
postage bills of the catalogue houses at the expense of the Treasury,
and therefore of the taxpayers at large.
It should be understood that the publishers will not be the only
ones whose interests will be seriously jeopardized if Mr. Madden's
suggestions ever become a law. The legitimate business interests
of the country will suffer because it will at once create an oppor-
tunity for the catalogue house people to put forth tons of advertis-
ing matter which under the present postal rules they cannot do—
all of the house organs having been thrown out of second-class
privileges.
I
T is said that the mail order people are behind the parcels post
bill. This is being advocated by some of the representatives
of the catalogue house in the guise of reformers. They are do-
ing quiet work along lines which favor the parcels post scheme,
because they see an opportunity to cut down the cost of delivering
their catalogues. These catalogues are said to cost about 40 cents,
while the postage on each is 26 cents. They will be sent to any one
on receipt of 15 cents, so that the mailing of each copy involves a
loss of 50 cents. One house is credited with sending out 2,000,000
copies, thus making an annual net loss of $1,000,000. The P>ristow
plan would permit these catalogues to be sent by freight to dis-
tributing offices in rural free delivery districts and 9 cents postage
would carry them to their ultimate destination. Allowing 1 cent
per copy for freight and cost of transfer to the mails, this would
mean a saving of 16 cents per copy, or $320,000 on the annual edi-
tion of a single catalogue house. The figures quoted are not esti-
mates, but are taken from a statistical article, the material for which
was painstakingly gathered in Chicago, and largely furnished by
the catalogue houses.
O
NE of the most dangerous, because apparently harmless, pro-
jects of the postal reformers that will be strongly urged upon
the committee during the next fortnight is the post check, or postal
currency plan, which even the Post Office Department has been
EDITORIAL
induced to favor. The tendency of all catalogue house legislation
is along two lines: First, to get the farmer's money most easily
and conveniently, and second, to deliver- goods through the mails
T is plain that the piano business is conducted on cleaner lines
at the lowest possible cost for postage. The very reasonable safe-
than ever before. This is evidenced in the fact that the griev-
guards thrown around the postal money order system operate to
ance committee of the Dealers' Association has reported that there
are no matters of dispute which have been referred to it, and the some extent to protect the local retailer by aiding him in holding
gentlemen composing- this committee feel that the trade is to be his trade. The postal currency would simply facilitate the sending
of money away from home and, while theoretically unobjectionable,
congratulated upon this freedom from evil practices which have
in practice it could not fail to work great injury to local merchants
been conspicuously noticeable in days agone. At this rate the
everywhere. The manner in which sentiment in favor of the so-
grievance committee will not have active employment, but the very
called
post check currency system has been worked up for several
existence of this committee has, perhaps, a deterring influence upon
years
past
by a paid lobby of ex-post office officials stationed in
some of those who are not at all times inclined to respect the feel-
Washington
was fully exposed last April. All the cost of advo-
ings of their brother merchants in their stool pigeon games, or
cating
this
particular
project has been paid by a millionaire manu-
slaughter price schemes.
facturer
of
breakfast
foods,
who has "worked" the press of the en-
Whether or not, claims are brought before this committee, its
tire
country
in
a
very
ingenious,
if not altogether legitimate, manner.
existence is helpful to general trade interests.
It is all very well for the piano men to pass resolutions con-
demning the catalogue house practices, but such resolutions will be
MATTER of importance which was discussed at the recent
trade meeting in Cincinnati was the constant menace to the useless unless followed by work.
entire piano and organ trade from what seems to be unwarranted
OULD it not be wise to go a step further and use a little
exaggerations on the part of a number of so-called mail order and
pressure to sidetrack one of these catalogue house schemes
catalogue houses. A committee was appointed to investigate all
for depleting the National Treasury ? The piano trade should seize
such complaints and secure evidence showing where and how this
the present opportunity to bring its views to the attention of the
misrepresentation is made.
In connection with the mail order business, the members of House Post Office Committee at what might prove the psycholog-
ical moment.
the music trade presumably are not familiar with a plan which has
Congress should hear from this trade, and every other trade
been brought up before the postal committee at Washington, and
which may be acted upon by Congress. If this scheme becomes a in no uncertain tones, within the next fortnight. A little energetic
work now may save millions of local trade which may be speedily
law it wall assist the mail order houses greatly.
lost if any of these schemes should go through. The piano men
Third Assistant Postmaster-General Madden evidently does not
in Cincinnati felt that a dishonest scheme was being worked by the
view the newspapers of the country as great educational factors, for
catalogue houses. Why not, now, try and render it impossible to
he believes in increasing the mailing price four times on second-class
matter and making it possible for the catalogue houses then to put have these companies conduct their enterprises at the expense of
out their own periodicals on the same basis as legitimate publica- the United States Government?
tions.
HE membership of the Dealers' Association is larger than ever
HE business men of the country should know how far-reaching
before, and President Byrne proposes to put forth strenuous
this revision of postal laws would go. Chairman Overstreet,
efforts to increase the list materially before the Convention in Chi-
of Indiana, stated recently, when this subject was under discussion
cago next June.
I
A
W
T
T
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