Music Trade Review

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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
MARCH 5, 1921
PAPERS FEATURE TRADE TAX POLICY
DEATH OF MELVILLE H. ANDREWS
Newspapers Devote Much Editorial Space to
Federal Tax Proposals Offered by the Music
Industries Chamber of Commerce Recently
Head of Andrews Music House, Bangor, Me.,
Passes Away After Long Illness
Never before have the newspapers of the
United States devoted so much space to the
music industry as they have given thus far
to the constructive tax report of the Legal
Committee of the Music Industries Chamber of
Commerce, recently adopted by the Board of
Directors of the Chamber, advocating the im-
position of a uniform tax on all sales of com-
modities, wares and merchandise.
In New York, where the press heretofore has
paid little attention to the activities of the
music industry, the publicity secured for the
Chamber's tax policy has been particularly grati-
fying. That the newspapers elsewhere are
awakening to the essentiality of music in the
life of the American people is indicated by the
great numbers of clippings of news items and
editorials which already have been received at
the general offices of the Chamber in New York.
The tax report, neatly printed and bound in
pamphlet form, was liberally distributed by the
Chamber among the newspapers of the country.
To the more important papers copies were sent
both to the news department and to the chief
editorial writer for possible comment.
Under the head, "Music Industries Offer Tax
Measure," the New York Herald gave a column
and a quarter of space to the report, quoting
liberally from the most striking paragraphs.
The World ran more than a column, headed
'" Equality in Taxes Plan of Music Men."
Nearly half a column appeared in the Times
and three-fourths of a column in the New York
Commercial. Both of these papers "played" in
their heads the fact that the music industry
favors a sales tax.
Endorsement is given the committee's rec-
ommendations by the Boston Post in the fol-
lowing editorials:
"The several recommendations of the impor-
tant and influential Music Industries Chamber
of Commerce of New York bearing on our
Federal tax problem are specific and compre-
hensive, and also bring out one or two new
points that are well worthy the consideration
of Congress.
"First, it is urged that a uniform sales tax on
all sales be levied, to be paid monthly by the
seller. This, as has been admitted by the best
authorities, is in the end the simplest, cheapest,
most fruitful and easiest of collection. Empha-
sis, however, is placed by the music industries
on uniformity so that unfair discrimination
would be avoided. A tax of varying rate on dif-
ferent commodities would only tend towards
complication and would probably result in end-
less squabbling and 'log-rolling.'
"Second, the abolition of the excess profits
taxes and a reduction of the individual income
surtax rates are recommended. Almost every
one agrees that the excess profits taxes should
go; while as to reducing surtaxes it has been
proved that these are so excessive as to defeat
their own object, big incomes simply finding
refuge in non-taxable investments.
"The third recommendation is that a tax of
$5 at least be levied upon every resident of the
United States above the age of twenty-one
years who receives an independent income. To
this proposition there may be more objection,
although the purpose behind the move is to be
commended. The music men point out that
millions of people who really have incomes lia-
ble to present taxes evade them by failing to
file a return.
"It perhaps would be a good plan to make
every one liable for a tax and then by filing a
statement show why he or she should be ex-
empt. This would uncover the tax dodgers who
are now forcing honest men to carry their load." ~
manifested to-day on learning of the death yes-
terday at Bangor, Me., of Melville H. Andrews,
founder and for many years head of the Andrews
Music House in Bangor, and which is known
all over New England. Mr. Andrews was a
musician of considerable worth, and up to his
last illness he was engaged in composing mu-
sic, one of his last pieces being "The American
Legion March." He had been ill a long time
and was seventy-six years of age.
Air. Andrews was born at Milton Plantation,
Me., in 1845 and, although only sixteen years
old when the Civil War broke out, enlisted with
the Twelfth Maine Regiment as fifer. He later
organized a band for the regiment and upon re-
turning to Bangor became a well-known band
leader in that city. He was also an expert maker
of violins.
BOSTON, AIASS., February 26.—Much regret was
THE BEST KNOWN
MUSICAL NAME
IN THE WORLD.
REFERENDUM FAVORS EXCISE TAXES
Proposal of Chamber of Commerce of U. S.
Carried by Small Majority—Other Questions
Upon Which Members Expressed Opinions
WASHINGTON, D. C, February 28.—The Chamber
of Commerce of the United States has nist re-
ported that the proposal of its Committee on
Taxation that excise taxes be put on some
articles of wide use, but not of personal neces-
sity, received slightly more than the necessary
two-thirds vote to carry when the question was
put to the referendum vote of the membership.
It was this proposal that was so strongly op-
posed by the Music Industries Chamber of
Commerce, not only because it appeared to favor
increases in excise taxes, but because there were
specified no articles upon which the proposed
excise taxes should be placed, which left the
way open for considerable discrimination in the
selection of such articles.
There was a majority voting against any form
of sales tax, and of the minority who favored
such a tax, therefore, the greater number were
favorable to a retail sales tax. The principal ob-
BJUR BROS. DEMAND INCREASING
jection to a turnover tax was that it would be
Output This Month Shows Betterment—Orders pyramided and would prove unfair to many of
Received From Various Sections
the smaller industries while favoring larger in-
dustrial establishments.
A better showing was made this month at the
The committee's proposal that the Govern-
Bjur Bros. Co. factory, Southern boulevard near ment should ascertain the exact amount of in-
156th street, New York, than in January, which come taxes before payment is made was based
has given encouragement toward a steadily in
on the fact that, no matter how conscientious a
creasing demand. The orders which have been taxpayer may be, he at present never knows
received come from various sections of the when he is through. If a treasury ruling is
country, which has also given rise to a feeling revised new assessments may be made. Under
that better conditions are general. Traveling the present law the taxpayer makes payment of
salesmen are getting orders and reporting bet- a tax which he assesses on himself. He then
ter conditions in the sections they travel. The waits for years to see if he paid the correct
improved manufacturing facilities at the com- amount of taxes.
mand of the company, combined with standard-
The final recommendation of the committee,
ization of the line, has permitted them to offer
that administration of income taxation should
the trade an exceptionally attractive proposition,
be decentralized, was held to be necessary be-
which has not only created favorable comment
cause of the great inconvenience occasioned by
bift has brought orders into the factory.
the fact that so many taxpayers have to journey
all the way to Washington to take up taxation
THE MASON & HAMLIN IN CONCERT matters when they should be able to take them
up in their own districts.
Notable List of Artists Using That Instrument
During the Current Season
NEW FIRM IN WAUKEGAN, ILL.
The list of noted pianists and musical organi-
zations using the Mason & Hamlin concert
grand exclusively in public appearances during
the current season is a most imposing one, and
there has not been a week when the Mason &
Hamlin grand has not been presented to the
public several times on the concert stage.
During the current week the Mason & Ham-
lin piano has been used, and will be used, as
follows in and about New York: February 28
by Edward Morris in piano recital at Carnegie
Hall and at the Globe Music Club Concert in
the Wadleigh High School; on March 1 by
James Friske at the Princess Theatre; on March
3 by Martha Baird in a recital at Aeolian Hall;
on March 4 by Benno Moiseiwitsch in joint re-
cital with Daisy Kennedy, violinist, at Aeolian
Hall, and on March 6 by Tilla Germunder at
the Princess Theatre.
During the week, too, Harold Bauer, who
uses the Mason & Hamlin piano exclusively at
all his concerts, appeared in recital at Oberlin,
0., on March 1, and in a joint recital with
Thibaud in Norfolk, Va., on March 3.
KOCHMANN BACK FROM TRIP
Reinhardt Kochmann, Eastern sales manager
of the Sterling Co., Derby, Conn., was in
New York last week, having returned from an
extended Southern trip. Hje was exceedingly
optimistic and predicted that it would not be
long before the South will again be in a posi-
tion to send in good orders.
ESTEY-PIANO CO ^
Alden & Kastner Title of New Firm of Piano
and Music Dealers in That City
WAUKEGAN, I I I . , February 28.—Earl G. Alden
and W. A. Kastner have organized the firm of
Alden & Kastner in this city for the purpose of
engaging in the retail piano and music business,
with quarters at 318 South Genesee street. Both
men are experienced tuners and have worked
in Waukegan for the past fifteen years. Both
also were formerly connected with the Fulton-
Alden Music Co. before that concern entered
the talking machine manufacturing field.
HOWARD=STOWERS PROGRESS
Good Business Already Secured and Future
Looks Promising, Says Secretary Bromberg
The Howard-Stowers Co., 132nd street and
Brown place, New York, has started on a prom-
ising career, according to Louis Bromberg, sec-
retary of the company, who stated t o . The
Review this week that it has already re-
ceived some good-sized orders, most of which
were on a cash basis.
R. S. Howard is already planning some ex-
tensive trips and will devote his entire time to
attending to details connected with the mer-
chandising branch of the business.
S. Ernest Philpitt, well-known music dealer
of Miami, Fla., was recently adopted by the
Miami Rotary Club as a "Baby Rotarian."
THE BEST PROFIT
PRODUCER FOR THE
DEALER IN THE TRADE