Music: Up to Congress

The New York Philharmonic-Symphony Society handed Congress its case for relief from the 20% federal admissions tax. Before a House Ways & Means Committee intent on raising billions of new tax money, Philharmonic President Floyd G. Blair cited the predicament of his own orchestra this year: an estimated deficit of $149,000 after paying $100,000 in admission taxes. Twenty-eight other major U.S. symphonies, some 20 minor musical organizations and 600 school orchestras are being hurt by the same tax squeeze, said Blair. So is the Metropolitan Opera, which last year paid $410,000 in amusement taxes, wound up with a deficit of $430,000. Handing a sheaf of letters to committeemen, Blair told them: “Here [is] the answer to the question of what music means to the American people. What are you going to do about it?”

In Salem, Ore., the Portland Symphony lobbied with music instead of words. The whole orchestra packed up, drove 52 miles to play in the capitol rotunda. Object: permission to have a symphony subsidy plan on the Portland ballot.