The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-05

The Committee on Labor Of the House
favorably reported yesterday a bill which
prohibits the competition of Army and
Navy bands with civilian bands. The re-
port follows:
The legislation herein proposed has for
its object the projection Of civilian mu-
sicians against the competition of enlisted
men. It's enactment is demanded by every
consideration of justice and fairness in
behalf Of those citizens and taxpayers who
are dependent upon their profession as
musicians for the support of themselves
and families. Under existing conditions
the members OF Army and Navy bands are
allowed to freely compete with civilian
musicians and with private bands in the
matter Of securing engagements and con-
tracts to furnish music for all occasions.
They are under the pay of the Govern
ment; their subsistence is provided for by
the Government; their uniforms and in
stTuments and all the necessary sheet
music and other paraphernalia are paid
for out Of the national Treasury, all Of
which affords them a considerable advan-
tage and easily enables them to underbid
the citizen musicians on all occasions
where music is to be furnished under con-
tract The chances of the latter for en-
ployment and to earn means for their sup
port are thereby correspondingly reduced.
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 cOmpeti-
ton, wherever il exists, may be measured
by the fact that engagements to furnish
music are made under contract and
just as invariably awarded to the low
est bidder, which, under the unequal con-
ditions above described, is usually the
military band. But even if the figures OF
the civilian band were not higher, eX-
perience teaches that preference is usually
being given to the military band because
it is looked upon as a special attraction
This is due to a strong prejudice on the
part Of many people in favor Of military
organizations, and the present system
nurtures this prejudice. thus indirectly
promoting what both parties abhOr, the
spirit Of militarism.
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 to 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 trou-
bles to take the place of ordinary work
men, and the same measure of protection
against Government competition should be
extended to civilian musicians.
This resolution, II passed, will in no
wise interfere with reglmental bands fur
nishing music al official occasions or social
functions at the Executive Mansion or
other places where their services may be
required by the President or other officials
Of the Government. nor will the inhibition
extend to any free concerts given by Army
and Navy bands. The committee is. on
the contrary. Of opinion that these gov
ernmental bands should be more frequent
ly utilized for such purposes in order to
give the people an equivalent for the pay
they are receiving. which pay should be
sufficiently increased to render unneces-
sary the competition with civilians which
this resolution is intended to prohibit and
which remuneration would attract the
best musical talent Of the country"