Music Trade Review
Issue: 1916 Vol. 63 N. 23 - Page 10
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
10
Music Trade Interests at Coming Session of Congress
An Interesting Resume, Prepared By the Washington Correspondent of The Review, of the
Work Outlined for the Next Congressional Session, and Its Influence on the Music Trade
WASHINGTON, D. C , November 29.—Many and
diverse will be the points of contact between
the music trade and the Congress of the United
States during the forthcoming session. There
is no bill before the national Legislature that
singles out the music trade for special legisla-
tion, so to speak, but there are a number of
measures pending or in prospect that will af-
fect the whole musical industry, directly and
indirectly. Design protection for musical in-
struments, misbranding of goods handled by
the trade, the privilege of fixing fair prices,
misleading advertising, and 1-cent postage are
only a few of the issues that are looming up
on the horizon.
A surprise may be in store for the man of
affairs in the music industry who figures that
there will be "nothing doing" or very little, as
respects business interests, because the impend-
ing Congressional performance is a "short ses-
sion." There is prevalent a feeling of this kind,
and it is justified in part by the record of pre-
vious legislatures. And even when we argue
that the present session may prove an excep-
tion as to this "do nothing" policy it is futile
to ignore the fact that there are nineteen big
supply bills or appropriation bills that must be
put through within the next three months if
the government machinery is to be kept in
motion—enough of a task, it might seem to oc-
cupy the whole time of Congress.
However, there are several good and suf-
ficient reasons why the powers that be should
desire to speed up things in real earnest during
this wind-up session of the present Congress.
For one thing, it has been practically settled
that, barring some emergency, there will be
no special session of Congress in the spring,
and that means that any desired legislation that
is not put through this winter will have to wait
over until December, 1917, at best, and more
likely until the spring of 1918. Furthermore,
the indications are that the Democrats will
have no such working majority in the next Con-
gress as they have in the present, and that
means that President Wilson will bring to bear
all possible pressure to secure the enactment
of the remaining numbers on the administra-
tion's "legislative program."
The Webb Bill to Encourage Export Trade
A conspicuous case in point, illustrative of
the business-building measures that are likely
to go through at this busy session, is the Webb
bill, which passed the House of Representa-
tives in the closing days of the last session, and
is now up to the Senate for action. The object
of the Webb bill, as most of our readers doubt-
less know, is to encourage our export trade by
permitting combinations of manufacturers or
producers for the conduct abroad of joint sell-
ing agencies. In the music trade the effect of
such permission for "team work" in selling over-
seas would be felt directly by the manufacturers
of musical instruments, but it would indirectly
extend in influence to the retail trade just as
does any other element that makes for in-
creased production and sale of musical instru-
ments. Especially would the sanction of this
new sales plan be of significance to the smaller
manufacturers in the trade. It would open the
opportunity for foreign sales to many instru-
ment makers who, as matters stand to-day, can-
not afford to go after such business and must,
perforce, leave it wholly in the hands of the big
corporations that can afford to maintain export
departments and branch houses abroad.
The Federal Trade Commission, which is do-
ing so much in behalf of better business, big
and little, is squarely behind this new weapon
for meeting the keener foreign competition that
will come after the war, and President Wilson
will use all his influence to induce both
branches of Congress to agree on a measure—
several somewhat objectionable amendments
were tacked on the bill ere it left the House—
that can command the votes necessary for pas-
sage. Indeed, the President believes that this
license to American manufacturers to combine
for foreign selling will, along with the "anti-
dumping" legislation that has already been en-
acted, provide all the bulwarks that American
business interests will need against the
avalanche of foreign goods that some people
expect after the war. Accordingly, the Presi-
dent will call no special session, as it was prom-
ised Mr. Hughes would do, to revise the tariff.
Indeed, his contention is that the present tariff
should not be tampered with until the aftermath
of the war shows just what is needed or until
recommendations can be made by the new per-
manent Tariff Commission.
Outlook for the Stephens Bill
Most conspicuous of the measures before
Congress to which attention is being given by
the members of the legislative committees of
the national organizations of piano manufac-
turers and merchants is the Stephens bill to
permit the fixing and enforcement of standard
prices on trade-marked goods. Music trade in-
terests have kept up the agitation for this bill
during the recess of Congress, and the talking
machine jobbers and dealers have been espe-
cially energetic in their missionary labors, car-
rying the case direct to members of Congress
in their home districts. However, to look a
disappointing situation squarely in the face, it
may as well be admitted that only the hardest
kind of hard work will force the bill through
at this session. The bill has not been reported
to the House, and Senator Ashurst (joint au-
T^\ECEMBER with its trade broadening possibilities makes a strong
*^* appeal to the wide-awake piano merchant in all sections of the
country, and there is one vital essential which no one can overlook,
and that is the possession of pianos which have sales-getting qualities.
POOLE PIANOS
Possess a trade-winning force which is well known to those who have
had the agency for these truly remarkable instruments. They possess
those essentials which make them an especially desirable line for
dealers who appreciate high grade instruments at prices thoroughly
consistent with the values offered.
Our styles of Grands, Uprights and Player-Pianos
for this season were never more attractive
Sydney St. Cambridge A. Branch
BOSTON, MASS.
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
10
Music Trade Interests at Coming Session of Congress
An Interesting Resume, Prepared By the Washington Correspondent of The Review, of the
Work Outlined for the Next Congressional Session, and Its Influence on the Music Trade
WASHINGTON, D. C , November 29.—Many and
diverse will be the points of contact between
the music trade and the Congress of the United
States during the forthcoming session. There
is no bill before the national Legislature that
singles out the music trade for special legisla-
tion, so to speak, but there are a number of
measures pending or in prospect that will af-
fect the whole musical industry, directly and
indirectly. Design protection for musical in-
struments, misbranding of goods handled by
the trade, the privilege of fixing fair prices,
misleading advertising, and 1-cent postage are
only a few of the issues that are looming up
on the horizon.
A surprise may be in store for the man of
affairs in the music industry who figures that
there will be "nothing doing" or very little, as
respects business interests, because the impend-
ing Congressional performance is a "short ses-
sion." There is prevalent a feeling of this kind,
and it is justified in part by the record of pre-
vious legislatures. And even when we argue
that the present session may prove an excep-
tion as to this "do nothing" policy it is futile
to ignore the fact that there are nineteen big
supply bills or appropriation bills that must be
put through within the next three months if
the government machinery is to be kept in
motion—enough of a task, it might seem to oc-
cupy the whole time of Congress.
However, there are several good and suf-
ficient reasons why the powers that be should
desire to speed up things in real earnest during
this wind-up session of the present Congress.
For one thing, it has been practically settled
that, barring some emergency, there will be
no special session of Congress in the spring,
and that means that any desired legislation that
is not put through this winter will have to wait
over until December, 1917, at best, and more
likely until the spring of 1918. Furthermore,
the indications are that the Democrats will
have no such working majority in the next Con-
gress as they have in the present, and that
means that President Wilson will bring to bear
all possible pressure to secure the enactment
of the remaining numbers on the administra-
tion's "legislative program."
The Webb Bill to Encourage Export Trade
A conspicuous case in point, illustrative of
the business-building measures that are likely
to go through at this busy session, is the Webb
bill, which passed the House of Representa-
tives in the closing days of the last session, and
is now up to the Senate for action. The object
of the Webb bill, as most of our readers doubt-
less know, is to encourage our export trade by
permitting combinations of manufacturers or
producers for the conduct abroad of joint sell-
ing agencies. In the music trade the effect of
such permission for "team work" in selling over-
seas would be felt directly by the manufacturers
of musical instruments, but it would indirectly
extend in influence to the retail trade just as
does any other element that makes for in-
creased production and sale of musical instru-
ments. Especially would the sanction of this
new sales plan be of significance to the smaller
manufacturers in the trade. It would open the
opportunity for foreign sales to many instru-
ment makers who, as matters stand to-day, can-
not afford to go after such business and must,
perforce, leave it wholly in the hands of the big
corporations that can afford to maintain export
departments and branch houses abroad.
The Federal Trade Commission, which is do-
ing so much in behalf of better business, big
and little, is squarely behind this new weapon
for meeting the keener foreign competition that
will come after the war, and President Wilson
will use all his influence to induce both
branches of Congress to agree on a measure—
several somewhat objectionable amendments
were tacked on the bill ere it left the House—
that can command the votes necessary for pas-
sage. Indeed, the President believes that this
license to American manufacturers to combine
for foreign selling will, along with the "anti-
dumping" legislation that has already been en-
acted, provide all the bulwarks that American
business interests will need against the
avalanche of foreign goods that some people
expect after the war. Accordingly, the Presi-
dent will call no special session, as it was prom-
ised Mr. Hughes would do, to revise the tariff.
Indeed, his contention is that the present tariff
should not be tampered with until the aftermath
of the war shows just what is needed or until
recommendations can be made by the new per-
manent Tariff Commission.
Outlook for the Stephens Bill
Most conspicuous of the measures before
Congress to which attention is being given by
the members of the legislative committees of
the national organizations of piano manufac-
turers and merchants is the Stephens bill to
permit the fixing and enforcement of standard
prices on trade-marked goods. Music trade in-
terests have kept up the agitation for this bill
during the recess of Congress, and the talking
machine jobbers and dealers have been espe-
cially energetic in their missionary labors, car-
rying the case direct to members of Congress
in their home districts. However, to look a
disappointing situation squarely in the face, it
may as well be admitted that only the hardest
kind of hard work will force the bill through
at this session. The bill has not been reported
to the House, and Senator Ashurst (joint au-
T^\ECEMBER with its trade broadening possibilities makes a strong
*^* appeal to the wide-awake piano merchant in all sections of the
country, and there is one vital essential which no one can overlook,
and that is the possession of pianos which have sales-getting qualities.
POOLE PIANOS
Possess a trade-winning force which is well known to those who have
had the agency for these truly remarkable instruments. They possess
those essentials which make them an especially desirable line for
dealers who appreciate high grade instruments at prices thoroughly
consistent with the values offered.
Our styles of Grands, Uprights and Player-Pianos
for this season were never more attractive
Sydney St. Cambridge A. Branch
BOSTON, MASS.
Future scanning projects are planned by the International Arcade Museum Library (IAML).