Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-05-04
ARMY AND NAVY BANDS
THEIR COMPETITION WITH CIVIL
IANS OPPOSED.
Object of the Bill FavOrabIy Reported
by the House Committee
Labor.

The House committee on labor has for
maily reported a bill prohibiting the en-
pioyment of enlisted musicians of the army
or navy in competition with local civilians.
The report on the bill says:
The legislation herein proposed has for
its object the protection of civilian mu-
sicfans against the competition Of enlisted
men. Its enactment is demanded by every
consideration of justice and fairness in be-
half of those citizens and taxpayers who
are depending upon their profession as mu-
sicians for the support of themselves and
families. Under existing conditions the
members of army and navy bands are al
lowed to freely compete with civilian rlu-
| sicians and with private bands in the mat
ter of securing engagements and contracts
10 1ufhsh music for all occasions They are
under the pay of the government; their
subsistence is provided for by the govern
ment; their uniforms and Instruments and
all the necessary sheet music and other
paraphernalia are paid for ont Of the ma
tlrnal treasury, ali of which affords them a
considerable advantage, and easily enables
tEem to ounderbid the citizen musicians on all
occasions where music is 90 he furnished
under contract. The chances of the latter
for employment and to earn means for their
support are thereby corresnondingIv ra
duced.
Localities in which no military bands
are located are, of course, not affected
either by this competition or the proposed
remedy, but the extent of that comneti-
tlon, Wherever 1t exists, may be measured
by the fact that engagements to furnish
music are invariably made under contract
and just as invariably awarded to the low
est bidder, which, under the unequal con-
ditions above described, is usually the mill
tary band. But even If the figures of the
civilian band were not higher. experience
teaches that preference is usually being
given to the military band because it is
looked upon as special attraction. This
Is due to strong prejudice on the part of
many people in favor of military organiza-
tons, and the present system nurtures this
prejudice, thus indirectly promoting what
both parties abhOr, the spirit of militarsm
Simple justice demands that a citizen
musician. as a. citizen. is entitled to the
same consideration as men of any other
trade or vocation. The government does
not allow soldiers 10 compete with citizens
as bakers, bricklayers, masons, black
smiths. doctors or lawyers, and it does not
dream of ordering out the artisans of any
particular craft in case of labor troubles
to take the place of ordinary workmen, and
the same measure of protection against
government competition should be extended
to civilian musicians.
This resolution. If passed, will in no
wise interfere with regimental bands fur
nishing music at official occasions or social
functions at the Executive Mansion or
other places where their services may be
required by the President CT other officials
of the government, will the inhibition
extend to any free concerts given by army
and navy bands. The committee Is on the
contrary, of opinion that these govern
mental bands should be more frequently
utilized for such purposes in order to give
the people an equivalent for the pay they
are receiving, which pay should be suffi-
ciently increased to render unnecessary the
competition with civilians which this reso-
luton is intended to prohibit and which
remuneration would attract the best musi-
cal talent of the country"