The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-10-01
UNPAID HARMONY.
Salaries in the Park Band
Overdue.
DANGER OF A DISRUPTION,
Several Leading Bandsmen Have
Withdrawn From the Organiza-
tion-Redding's Statement.

lUeT6 was SOlu6 QuCotiou viz
members of the Park Band last night as
to whether or not the usual Sunday con-
cert hould be held to-day. A marked de-
gree of dissatisfaction exists among the
musicians. A NUM- Der have left the organi-
zati and others say that under present
conditions they will play no more in the
big shell.
One ground Of dissatisfaction Is the nom
payment of the musicians wages. The
members of the band have not received
apy remuneration for their services during
August and September, and their July pay
was handed to them only few days ago.
The bandsmen's contract calls for So 30
for each of the concerts. which are
held every Thursday, Saturday and SUM-
day. They complain that their overdue
wages amount to from $50 to $50. accord
ing to the number of their performances.
Those tho play in the theaters as we'll are
not present at the Saturday concerts.
f. Z. Tobin. one of the best trombone
players in the organization. and whose
solos have been a feature of the pro-
Musicians Union Yesterday that S65 was
due him. He said that he would not play
again, until the debt was paid. John
Stress, caronet soloist. has also left the
organization, and so have Z. Schubert and
p. Conway, all first-cass musicians. Emil
Bertram, who has also severed his cnrnec-
ton with the band, has claim Of S42 for
services rendered and he says that amount
remains unpaid.
Many of the bandsmen have no other
income than their pay from the open. air
concerts. and they maintain that the de-
linQuency causes them serious iDconven-
fence. They ask how it can be expected
&hrs ,Iari nd nj tot A
wages, should foot their horns for nothing.
In this they are supported by the Musi-
clans Union. A statement Of the case
was made indirectly to the directors of the
union at their last meeting. Action was
deferred until regularly drawn COM
plant could be filed, and the matter will
he considered this week. President Caesar
Brand says If it be proved that the PARK
Commissioners or Trustee Rcdding do not
pay the wages due, a section OF the con-
stiIution empowers the union to blacklist
the delinQuents. Such action would eff
fectually silence the concerts which have
been so popular.
Another grievance is expressed by the
bondsmen against A. Spadina, the drec-
tor. They complain that, although good
musician. he is not good conductor.
They assert that QuarIels between the di-
reef or and the other members OF the band
are of frequent occurrences, and that Spa
dina's autocratic conduct has lowered the
efficiency of the band. They call him 'the
Car" and they wish Mr.. Redding TO SUBJ
stitute some musician now outside OF the
Park Band for the present director.
Joseph D. ReddiBg, the trustee ap-
pointed by the Park Commissioners to
manage the band. admitted that the wages
of the musicians were in arrears. He stated
that the revenue for the maintenance of
the Park Band is SITS month, made up
o the following contributions:
Market-street cable roads ...-................$65
,,;;;F ios 9S0
Calitorniastreet- 20
Park Commissioners....-...... 500
Mr.. Rrddlng denied the suggestion that
the stree-railrUad conn anies were deiin-
Quent in their contributions. He stated
that the monthly meetings Of their direc-
tors, at which the profits were computed
and bills audiied, occurred at various
periods He admitted that this should en-
able him to bay all wages at the close of
the month, and added that the cable roads
had sent in their August contributions,
but that the Park Commissioners were be-
almost depleted, and it lie being husbanded
to meet current expenses for the next
three months.
All checks for the band fund are made
payable to Redding, who says that he in
dorses them to !. G. Coggin, business man
ager. Joseph Matheson. treasurer of the
band, distributes the wages among the
musicians. The trustee produced his books
to show that during the last two years pa
concerts had been given. at an average
cost of Sl64 80. In addition hs has pur-
chased music costing S1240 81.
'Tbe musicians are not suffering any
hardship" continued Mr. Redding. They
know that their money is good ano forth
coming. / have frequently told them that
il, at any time. they were abort and needed
the amount of their earned wages. would
advance it TO them out Of my own pocket.
The only expenses incurred besides the
payments of the musicians, Is q charge for
a bookkeeper and office. rent and that Is
less than $50 month. | don't receive a
cent of remuneration for my services as
trustee. l realize that the Park band is
semi-puhllc ia stitution and ali its accounts
are open for inspection.
''As to the threatened strike by the
band smeD. such thing Is absurd. They
know when they are we'll off and they
ought to understand the financial arrange
ments. There have been some rows about
discipline, which have given rise to all this
talk. For instance, suspended a member
for riding on a cable-car on concert
ticket not on concert day. These tickets
are passes to the park good only tor Thurs
days, Saturdays and Sundays, but this man
tried to use them in his general perigrina-
tions.
''Then some musicians raised another
howl because when they went to the
treasurer's office for their pay they found |
he had gone to Napa to fill a brief engage
ment, with ten or twelve others. They
were really jealous because they did not
60 out on the same engagement. and tried
to make trouble because they did not get
their wages on particular day. As said |
before, will always be ready to advance |
them their earned salary"
Whom this remark was repeated In the |
rooms of the Musicians Union there was
great rejoicing. A procession will prob |
ably be formed Tomorrow morning, and a |
small army of bandsmen with claims will
invade Mr.. Redding's Office for the fulfill
ment Of his kind offer.
The local musical world Is mucn wrought
up over the situation. which was the main
topic among the professionals yesterday.
Any complication which might effect
discontinuance of the open-air concerts