New-York tribune., 1899-04-16

THE WEEKLY CALENDAR-MEETING OF THE
PIANOFORTE MANUFACTURERS Ma
TIoNAL AssoCIATION-soME CUES
TIONs OF TRADE ETHICS-A
LETTER FROM NINE LEH-

MMeTl' MMeeTl' KKrehh,el on "shakespeare's Songs and
Dances for the benefit OF the Music School of
the College Settlement.
Tuesday-Carnegie Hall. SIS p: m, concert OF the
Banks Glee Club: ChIckering Hall p m;
anoi%ladh Eai' Madison % Square Garden SID ? M CONCERT
OF the National Conservatory Orchestra; Men
Gn a cs SO Club % rEats " X Ga
One-hundred fifty -hfth,st SIS p m; ;rG, con,
Observation-Disclosures Hall. Brooklyn sI5 p: m.
Han s:S p. m. concert for the benefit of the
pension and relief fund for retired or disabled
nremen.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Hall, p. m. pianoffocrtee
recital BY Madeline Schiller Chamber b lsIansT Music
Hall. Sis p m. cello recital by kari "re"aue, aea
%siI perfo4@ancs of the dTau Opera Company:
,on. S u GSRffF Sa
p m, free organ recital by William c, Car; ara
MsnsssShn socey H% s Of Columbia
satprdsycaTnegs Hall M farewell GeDcer, cSRcsr ST he
SyoNn b. M%s G6n1s I 1Ion m
Carnegie Lycenm poS;rao1 % handSnn' Marphy ""e'
There was a meeting Of the National Pianoforte
Manufacturers Association in Washington last
week at which some Of the abuses In the piano
forte trade, which were discussed In thls Jour
nal a year ago after the Boston meeting OF
The association were taken up. Chief OF these
and possibly the most difficult one TO handle
IS the so-caled stencil fraud" 1t is difncut
for n variety Of reasons. OF which Is that
=. Is practised widely by the mahuiac'-
Gers themselves than the public Is ever per-
rntted to find out and another that there are some
nhases of II in which II is difficult to convince
the world OF moral obllquity. Something Ike THESE
phases may be found in many other orahches Vi
trade: nothing indeed. is commoner than 10 iiiu
large dealers giving themselves out manufact-
urers and having the real makers stamp fhe
dealers name instead Of their own upon the wares
~ II might be urged that 1t is not prima facie evi-
dence Of fraud II panoforte- maker chooses a
name for pianoforte other than MS nrm name
and puts il before the world as trademark
But license Of this nature throws open the door
10 ALI kinds of humbug from which the general
public which must largely be governed by names
and regulations, suffers. For instance. manu-
facturer caring nothing for his own name may
stamp three or four. or. for that matter. any
number, of names upon his output and enaole uh-
considerable dealers TO offer the instruments at
great variety of prices trusting TO the lhaolity
Of the retail customer TO discover that al are OF
the same low grade. This is perhaps the most
pernicious feature of the business and TO judge oy
the general tone Of the conversation at the wash
3nRton meeting IT has no defenders among the
members of the National association
Though no decisive action was taken on the SUD-
3ect the proceedings of the convention disclosed
the fact that many of the manufacturers are
earnestly desrous OF finding effective way OF
handling the evil. The subject was brought up IN
a report OF the Executive Committee, recommend
ing a course OF action based on the report OF
committee Of the New-York Piano Manufacturers
Association appointed by Myron A. Decker presi-
dent of that association, last February. This COM
rnittee consisted Of William Dalliba Dutton.
Charles II. Parsons A. II. Fischer. Robert a.
Widenman, Robert Proddow and II. Paul Mehln.
This action seems 10 have been called out by the
circumstance that hill had been introduced in
The Legislature of the State of NewYork by Assem-
biyman Redington, at the instance Of two local
firms which compelled manufacturers of piano.
fortes and organs to print their names conspicu-
ously on the front their instruments and cast
them in the iron frame: also made II unlawful so
10 print and cast any other name or title real or
fictitious. or 10 change the names; also made 1t
obligatory upon dealers of any kind TO warrant
the name Of the manufacturer and provided pun
ishments for violations. The New-York commit
tee thought the bill badly drawn, impracticable
and in some particulars unjust (since 1t would
work 10 the advantage Of manufacturers outside -
the state). and succeeded in giving it its quietus
IN legislative committee. The subject was then
sent 10 the National association.
obviously the matter Of honest pianoforte is
one of vital concern 10 the public. and the follow
ang portion Of the local committees report which
was adopted the utterance OF the National AS
sociation. may be read with interest and profit:
1t may be stated. preliminary to the sugges-
part of the committee is one of satisfaction that
The vital subject OF stencng pianos mas been
tions and the trade. Every piano manufacture. as
well almost every dealer reaizes tne ce
that few have cared TO discuss it,. SO many manu-
ling in some form. legitimate otherwise, the
subject has so many ramiicauons and involves 50 50
morals OF the trade that one has cared TO treat
a Of PSenS pSe Ssonai e there would
zion whether the manufacturers would ieei that
negentons subject Had the subject been consd-
cred earlier the warning Of individual interests
lack Of confidence in each other that existed before
the formation OF our association among an al r Ine
manufacturers. without exception wouid nave pre-
cluded any action for the general good Inc es'ao %
members OF the association your uihks, KS
has been complete that, notwlthsta tanolhg the
lists for practical Improvement OF the situation,
II not solution of the problem, ..,o,. -, ,,,ors
of the association and trade with regard TO the e.
gitmacy of certain forms OF s.enens rne t aG3
names other than those Of the actual manufacturers
been sbe arg % 10 into dsreput
piano IS primarily. an art product. ana, IKE an a..
ssen and us Standing of the
who produces it, This Is simple iact an, ciear y 70
on the one side and the commercial principle on
the other however are not SO cca ~
the art principle in the manufacture Of pianos de-
upon ny nTacoa as iaa aS he rad
tions OF the trade.
tect this committee desires to record itself without
reservation. in favor Of the inyariable associa.
zion OF the name OF the actual manufacturer or the
piano with the instrument itself. Your committee
believes that the name and location Of the manu-
facturer of the instrument should be placed upon
It's fa-board. and should also be cast In con-
spicuous position In the plate This does not mean
that another name shall not also be placed upon
the instrument II so desired by the manufactures
or dealer but that the name and location OF the
actual maker shall invariably be marked on the
fall-board and cast conspcuously IN the plate. even
81 such other name accompanies that Of the maker
Though in the manufacture OF certain Kinds OF
goods such hats. gloves and other articles toe
numerous 10 mention tho names OF well,known
dealers may be legitmately placed upon them as
makers the adoption Of such a practice on the
part OF piano manufacturers not only tends to de;
fnoraize the whole trade and place the beautiful
art Of pano-making upon the level or the manu-
facture ordinary commodities. but IT sets at de-