APPENDIX Hon. JOSEPH R. BRYSON, THE SENATE, STATE OF NEW YORK, House Office Building, Washington, D. C.' DEAR CONGRESSMAN BRYSON: As a composer and author of American musical works, may I commend you for the bill H. R. 5473 which you introduced, which amends the copyright act by providing that operators of coin-operated machines pay for public performance for profit of the copyrighted works of composers and authors. As a matter of fact, the whole copyright law needs revision because of the serious discrimination against American composers and authors practiced in European countries. The strange paradox is that this discrimination is not the fault of the Europeans, but our own people in this country, which by our obsolete, archaic and stupid laws force other nations to discriminate against us. I would be pleased to appear personally before you or the committee to give expression to my views and the reason for my strong statement about our obsolete copyright laws. Sincerely yours, FRED G. MORITT. Hon. JOSEPH BRYSON, MUSIC SERVICE CO., Detroit 1, Mich., October 19, 1951. House Office Building, Washington, D. C. DEAR CONGRESSMAN BRYSON: Please read this letter carefully, and it is my opinion you will know more about our jukebox business in the past and present. You will soon be called upon to make a decision or cast a vote to possibly eliminate or destroy my business. To me this is extremely serious, as my entire life's saving and a business and work which has taken me years to establish would be ruined. Congressional bill H. R. 5473 is set for a hearing October 25. The following is in my humble way, a true explanation of what has happened to my business in the past 16 years of past and present conditions in comparison: 1935: Store rent, $25 per month. 1951: Store rent, $725 per month. 1935: Jukebox repair man, $35 per week on 300 jukeboxes. 1951: Jukebox repair man, $107 per week on 75 jukeboxes. 1935: Jukebox collector, $35 per week. 1951: Jukebox collector, $90 to $100 per week. 1935: Jukebox truck drivers, $20 per 48-hour week. 1951: Jukebox union truck drivers, $99.40 per 48-hour week. 1935: Jukebox store man, $20 per week. 1951: Jukebox storeman, $92 per week. 1935: Jukebox store girl, $15 per week. 1951: Jukebox store girl, $60 per week. 1935: Jukebox store auditors, $6 per week 1951: Jukebox store auditors, $75 per week. 1935: Good jukebox records, wholesale, 21 cents each. 1951: Junk jukebox records, wholesale, 55 cents each. 1935: Required 12 jukebox record selections for each jukebox. 1951: Requires up to 100 jukebox record selections for each jukebox. 1935: Jukebox repair parts reasonable. 96 1951: Jukebox repair parts up three times or more in price. 1935: Jukebox purchased for $202 cash. 1951: Jukebox purchase price from $800 to $1,100 cash. 1935: No city of Detroit distributor's license required to operate jukeboxes. 1951: City of Detroit distributor's license each year required to operate jukeboxes. 1935: No Detroit city license required for jukeboxes. 1951: $7.50 Detroit city license for each jukebox required on location. 1935: No $10 Federal stamp required for each jukebox. 1951: All jukeboxes require each year a $10 Federal stamp on each location. 1935: No personal property tax assessed in city of Detroit. 1951: City of Detroit personal property tax $34 per $1,000 on cost of jukebox less depreciation. 1935: No county personal property tax. 1951: County personal property tax assessed less depreciation. 1935: No union dues or union contract. 1951: Union dues and union wages with union contract. 1935: No association or membership dues. 1951: Association membership dues and 50 cents per month each jukebox dues. 1935: No paid employee vacations. 1951: Employees' vacation with pay. 1935: No employees paid on sick leave. 1951: All employees paid on sick leave (paid out in 1950, over $2,000 for employees on sick leave). 1935: No payment on employees-Social security. 1951: Payment required on employees-Social security. 1935: No payment on employees-Unemployment compensation commission. 1951: All payment on employees-Unemployment compensation commission. 1935: No night ball games. 1951: Night ball games. 1935: No television. 1951: Most all bars have television on. 1935: Earning on jukeboxes good ($18 to $19 net per jukebox each week). 1951: Earning on jukeboxes off one-half ($7 to $8 net per jukebox each week). 1935: Received 5 cents to play one record. 1951: Still receive 5 cents to play one record. on 10-cent play per record.) (We do not have any jukeboxes 1935: Commission paid to merchants, 25 percent on all money over first $3 each week. 1951: Commission paid to merchants, 50 percent on all money over first $3 each week and most locations are paid one-half of all money. This is due to manufacturers forcing competition upon us. I am sure that congressional bill H. R. 5473 is unreasonable for my business, as it would cost me up to $100 each year on some jukeboxes now operating. We are now paying, in my opinion, some royalties on records which are included in the purchase price of new records from wholesale distributors. At the present time I have over $100,000 net invested in the jukebox business, and for the past 3 years I have lost money in the business. As proof I will furnish a copy of my income-tax returns on request to prove my statement for the past 3 years. Last year, or in the year of 1950, the State of Michigan had a tax bill for a State license on each jukebox in the amount of $100 per year. The State bill did not come up for a hearing. If the State bill had passed, I would not be writing this letter to you about my business, as I could not be in the jukebox business with a $100 State tax on each jukebox. Possibly 10 or 15 years in the past no conditions in the business were too difficult for me to overcome and master. Today I am physically and financially unable to carry business burdens that are attempted to be forced upon me by people that do not know anything about conditions in the jukebox business. Hoping that I can count on you to vote down this vicious and unfair bill, H. R. 5473, that I may continue in my business for myself and employees. During last World War II, I operated jukeboxes in most Army camps, airfields, clubs, etc., near Detroit, donating all proceeds to their treasury, which amounted to over $1,000 cash each month. At that time I was helping other people, which was a pleasure for me to do so, and now I am appealing to you to save my business for me, and on the 25th day of this month of October you will have the fate or future of my business in your control. When you vote on bill H. R. 5473, which will it be? Patiently waiting, Yours respectfully, P. S.-In comparison: 1935: We had over 300 jukeboxes operating on location. 1951: We have 165 jukeboxes operating on location. MUSIC SERVICE CO., |