Music Trade Review

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THE
MUSIC
TRADE
REVIEW
PUBLISHED BY EDWARD LYMAN BILL, Inc.
President, C. L. Bill, 373 Fourth Ave., New York; Vice-President, J. B. Spillane,
373 Fourth Aye., New York: Second Vice-President. J. Raymond Bill, 373 Fourth Ave.,
New York; Secretary and Treasurer, August J. Timpe, 373 Fourth Ave., New York.
J. B. SPILLANE, Editor
J. RAYMOND BILL, Associate Editor
AUGUST J. TIMPE
Business Manager
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Departments conducted by an expert wherein all ques-
tions of m technical nature relating to the tuning,
regulating and repairing of pianos and player-pianos
p
a r e dealt with, will be found in another section of
this paper. We also publish a number of reliable technical works, information concern-
ing which will be cheerfully given upon request.
PiamA
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Exposition Honors Won by The Review
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Paris Exposition, 1900 Silver Mtdal. .Charleston Exposition, 1902
Diploma.. .Pan-American Exposition, 1901 Gold Medal... .St. Louis Exposition, 1904
Gold Medal..Lewis-Clark
Exposition, 1905
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NEW YORK, JUNE 22, 1918
EDITORIAL
HERE has been considerable indulgence in post mortems
T
over the National Music Show, and wiseacres have come
forward with a great number of "mights" and "ifs" regarding
the exposition,, as well as hints as to what they would have
done if they had been running the show. It is more than prob-
able that, had the public mobbed the building to gain entrance
each evening, these same critics would have claimed credit for
the support that was given the show and its various features.
It reminds one of the conditions on the Western Front facing
Verdun, where, if the German army wins a slight success, it is
reported that the Crown Prince has achieved a great victory,
but if, upon the other hand, they are repulsed, the Crown Prince
wasn't there, and some other subordinate general made the mis-
take. There is nothing easier than criticizing after a thing is
done. One wonders why, if the music show was so apparently
doomed to failure months ago, as the writers of the post mortems
would have us believe, the benefit of their superior advice was
not given to the committee and the several trade bodies before
the opening of the exhibition.
REVIEW
JUNE 22, 1918
of mineral resources that are spectacular, but the impetus given
to agriculture is even more important.
As has been pointed out nearly all the Southern States are
actually or potentially self-supporting as to their food supply,
differing radically from the Northern tier, and even surpassing
the Middle West in this respect. They can supply all their food
needs, thus saving the expense of transportation, and helping
to reduce the necessary cost of living.
The National Government has also been generous in the
placing of war contracts in the South, with the result that this
section of the country is doing its share in supplying Uncle Sam's
forces with the wherewithal to do their share in the great fight
for National honor.
T
HE action taken by the Federal Trade Commission against
the Clayton F. Summy Co., music publishers of Chicago, in
which the latter concern is ordered to "cease and desist" from
the use of methods heretofore employed to fix and maintain the
price at which its sheet music is sold to the public, gives a new
angle to the apparent Government desire to prevent the fixing
of retail prices under all conditions. The courts have already
ruled against the fixing of resale prices, based upon patent prices,
but the Copyright Law under which music is published has never
been and cannot be interpreted to provide for any price govern-
ment.
Music publishers have felt, however, that, inasmuch as the
Copyright Law vests in them absolute rights in musical com-
position, and permits them to collect specified royalties for
mechanical reproduction, and for public performance, that they
at least had some right to exercise their copyright privileges in
the ultimate distribution of the printed work. Now the Federal
Trade Commission declares that no such right exists and that
retail price fixing methods must cease. The ruling in this in-
stance is somewhat paradoxical inasmuch as the Government
itself in the Copyright Law fixes the royalty for mechanical re-
production of music at 2 cents per copy. In other words, the
Government fixes the royalty, but objects to the publisher fixing
the price.
The action of the Government, through the courts, and
through the Federal Trade Commission recently, has in-
dicated clearly that all attempts at the fixing of retail prices
are now looked upon officially as against public policy, if not
against existing law. The only opening left for those who de-
sire to enjoy the proper returns from the products which they
control under the law is to support strongly an amended
Stephens Bill, or some new measure designed to legalize the
fixing and maintenance of retail prices on products protected by
the Trade-mark, Patent or Copyright Laws, and to make every
effort to see that some such measure is passed by Congress with;
out undue delay.
T
HE efforts of the Merchants' Association of New York,
through its Industrial Bureau, to obtain from the Provost
Marshal General definite information regarding the application
of the Selective Service Regulations, to take effect on July 1,
should receive the support of all business men. This new order
states that any registrant who is found by a local board to be
"not engaged in some useful occupation" shall be inducted into
military service in the absence of satisfactory explanation.
The Merchants' Association feels that there should be some
official interpretation as to what is meant by "useful occupa-
IANO travelers who have made a close study of conditions
tion," and whether any recognized occupation, irrespective of
throughout the country are unanimous in declaring that no the standpoint of essentiality, is a useful one, excepting those
s.ection of the United States has experienced greater develop- occupations enumerated, such as elevator operators, bartenders,
etc. There is no question but that if the definition of useful oc-
ment under the pressure of war demands than the South. It is
experiencing a new life industrially and agriculturally, and its cupation is left to the local draft board there will be endless con-
fusion and possibly some unfairness, even though unintention-
vastly increased economic efficiency has resulted in a larger sur-
ally. In its letter the Merchants' Association says:
plus of wealth than it has possessed at any time in its history.
This is resulting in a greater demand for pianos, players, and
"It is stated that the new regulation will affect 'sales clerks
all kinds of musical instruments, and manufacturers must expect
and other clerks employed in stores and other mercantile estab-
an increasing call for their products in the Southern States dur-
lishments.' Will you kindly inform us what is meant by 'other
ing the next twelve months.
clerks,' that is, would the clerical force of the office fall in this
group? Also what is meant by 'other mercantile establishments'?
; No one will grudge the South its share of its vastly increased
For example, would an export and import house be considered
prosperity which is covering almost every line of effort. Recent
as a mercantile establishment?"
reports tell of the growth of manufacturing, and the opening up
P