Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-11-17
assigned to act as paymasters giving
| bonds for S20,0OO.
Expense of Entertaining.

IAPChSC Va
At present there are not enough enlisted
men to man the ships of the navy that are
in commission. The war vessels are all
working with reduced crews. The total
number of bluejackets allowed by law is
about 1850. There ought to be at least
IL, 900 when all of the new ships are finish
ed. Young sailors now go through a pre-
liminary course of training at the Newport
school After a few months of Instruction
there they are sent to sea on training
ship. 1t is hoped that before long all of the
with this course Of training.
1t Is proposed to allow to rear animals
commanding fleets and squadrons 5000 per
annum for entertaining. Captains of sea-
going ships are to receive ten per cent ex-
ira pay for the same purpose. Our naval
commanders hitherto have always been
obliged to pay for such things out of their
own pockets. When Admiral Walker went
to Europe with the white squadron, he and
his officers were feted everywhere. Dozens
Of dinners and balls were given in his
honor. His offic ial position obliged him TO
reciprocate. This cost him a great deal OF
money, and he sent in the bills to the Navy
Department. In refusing to pay them, the
controller of the treasury wrote to him
saying that such expenses constituted one
of the penalties which an officer OF the
mand.
Dinners on shipboard are somewhat less
costly,i is true, than at an hotel on land. The
commanding officer 10 provided with COOK
and steward. But champagne and cigars,
as we'll as food. are just as expensive.
The naval officer is not at liberty to decline
invitations. because to do so would be I'M
civil He is entertained and must enter
tain in return in his official capacity. 1t is
the same way at every port visited. If
Admiral Meade should go to Lisbon with a
squadron, the king and queen of portugal
might come aboard, and 1t would be neces-
n harn hnnn inc txy n V
would suppose that their majeSties were
being entertained at the expense of the
admiral Other governments make allow
ances for entertaining to their naval COM
nlanders. English flag offic ers get from
5000 to 5000 year for what are called
table expenses"
The Marine Band.
A feature of the reconstruction plan is
the reorganization of the Marine Band. 1t
Is proposed to increase the number Of musi-
clans from thirty to sixty. The highest
pay for musicians is now s3S a month and
rations. This will be increased to 500 The
bandmaster now receives SOL only; this
stipend will be raised. 1t Is very hard to
get capable musicians at the rate OF pay
how allowed. There has never been such
a demand as now for good performers.
Several large manufacturing concerns have
bands Of from thirty to seventy-five musi-
clans, who are assigned to light employ
ment In the factories. Theatrical musicians
receive from SO to $40 a week.
The Marine Band Is a national institution.
1t Is ordered for duty on all public occa-
sions in Washington or wherever the govr
eminent may require it's services. 1t ought,
1t is claimed, to be equal to the national
military bands Of other countries, such as
that of the Grenadier Guards of England,
the Garde Re- ublicaine of France, the
Prussian Qua. DIS and the Russian Mounted
Guards. These bands have from fifty to
ninety men each. Some South American
governments have bands of sixty to eighty
pieces. Even Japan and Turkey have we'll
equipped bands.