Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-01-24
THE MUSIC WORLD.
Senator Quay's Bill Constituting the
Word Artists in the Alien
Contract Labor Act.
THE BANDS AND ORCHESTRAS
From Abroad Do Great Deal Of Good and
Protection Doesn't Result From
Excluding Them.
PLAGIARISM CHARGED TO cELL1ER.
Odds and Ends Of Gossip That Will Interest Lovers Of
the Art Divine

In the United States Senate, January IL
Senator Quay introduced a bill to construe
the word "artists," in the alien contract
labor act, to apply to sculptors, portrait
painters, eminent musical conductors, solo.
lists. performers on musical instruments AND
vocallsts, but not to apply to bands OF
music or orchestras.
This bill of our worthy junior Senator is
proper matter for press criticism, whether
the now famous certificate of deposit was
such or not. Certainly the alien contract
labor act stands in need OF amendment; no
one thinks it ought to keep on excluding
ministers of the gospel, for instance. But
why the "artists" who are excepted from its
prohibition should now be defined by Con-
gress toinclude the persons named by Mr..
Quay's bill and no others, is not by any
means so clear.
As a matter of fact music makers of all
kinds have been steadily coming over under
contract since the passage of the act with
out interference by the authorities Though
this practical construction of the word
'artist" as including ali such persons might
seem sufficient, there is no harm in having
it expressly sanctioned by Congress, so as
o head off the loud-mouthed demagogues
that seek to curry favor with the populace
by denouncing all manner of transient
foreigners, however desirable for the higher
life of the country.
But why exclude Glands of music or or
chestras?" Why, especially, since 'per-
formers on musical instruments" are to be
admitted as individuals? This would be a
saving at the spigot while losing at the
bunghole-that is, supposing that the
coming hither of any musical performers,
with or without contracts can, under any
circumstances, be accounted a losing matter
for US
The bands or orchestras that come over as
such must always be exceedingly few in
number, and, furthermore, do not really
compete with our own players in their GUS
tomary line of business. The Strauss
Orchestra, for instance, created its own
demand BY the force of a great name; it
did not take away a penny that in its ab-
sence would naturally have gone into the
pocket of our own players. And, more
over, the bands and orchestras come only
for temporary stay and then return home.
Such tours ought to be encouraged; if they
succeed it is chiefly because of merit. and
they thus form good element to be intro
duced into our musical life from time to
time; if they fail no one has been hurt
but themselves.
Those who think the doWntrodden Ameri
can musician" needs protection should
turn their efforts toward keeping out the
individual performers on musical instru-
ments," whom Quay's bill would admit, and
not trouble themselves about the Glands or
orchestras," which it would exclude. But
genuine friends of our country's musical
progress will continue to welcome warmly
all the music-makers that will come over to
help us.