The Washington times., 1902-03-16
Urge Action by Congress
On Bill to Stop Com
petition.
PLEA FOR CIVILIAN ARTISTS
Want Military Players Barred
From Theatres.
WORKS MUCH HARDSHIP.
PLEA FOR CIVILIAN ARTISTS
WORKS MUCH HARDSHIP,
Contention Made That Measure If Passed
Will Not Interfere With Appearance
at All Social Functions-Believe in
Public Concerts.

At the meeting of the American FEEDER
alton of Musicians, Local 161, held last
Sunday. the committee on army and navy
affairs, consisting of Mr.. w. A. Haley and
Mr.. Kerngood, was instructed to consider
the advisability of replying to the article
appearing in The Times of that date, and
the following was drafted by them:
1T has been our aim for years to have
the United States Government restrict
their various bands throughout the coun
try from competing with civilian musi-
clans.
THE passage of the bill now in Con-
gress is demanded by every consideration
of justice and fairness, in behalf of those
citizens and taxpayers who are depend
ing upon their profession musicians
for the support OF themselves and fami-
lies.
Free Competition.
Under existing conditions army and
navy bands are allowed to freely compete
with civilian musicians, and with private
bands, in the matter of securing engage
ments and contracts to furnish music for
all occasions. They are under the pay
of the Government; their subsistence is
provided for by the Government; their
uniforms and instruments, and all the
necessary sheet music and other para
phernalia are paid for out of the National
Treasury, all of which affords them con-
siderable advantage and easily enables
them to underbid the citizen musicians
on all occasions where music is to be fur
nished under contract. The chances of
the latter for employment and to earn
the means for their support are thereby
correspondingly reduced.
Localities in which no military bands
are located are, OF course, not affected
either by this competition or the pro-
posed remedy, but the extent of that
competition, wherever it exists, may be
measured by the fact that engagements
TO furnish music are invariably made un-
der contract, and just as invariably
awarded TO the lowest bidder, which, un-
der the unequal conditions above describ-
ed. is usually the military band
But even If the figures of the civilian
band were not higher, experience teaches
that preference is usually given to the
military band because it is looked upon
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 militar-
ism.
Plea for Consideration.
Simple justice demands that 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 citi-
zens as bakers, bricklayers, masons,
blacksmiths, doctors, or lawyers, and it
does not dream of ordering out the arti-
sans Of any particular craft in case of
labor troubles to take the place of Or
binary workmen, and the same measure
of protection against Government COM
petition should be extended to civilian
musicians.
THE bill, If passed, will in no wise in
terfere with regimental bands furnishing
music at official occasions or social func-
tions at the Executive Mansion OF
other places where their services may be
required by the President or other Off
cials of the Government. nor will the in
by army and navy bands.
THE committee is, on the contrary OF
the opinion that these Governmental
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 sufficiently
increased to render unnecessary the COM
petition with civilians, which this resolu-
tion is intended to prohibit and which re-
muneration would attract the best mu-
steal talent of the country.
Play in Local Theatres.
'Mr. de Koven, in his statement last
Sunday, asserts that "a large number OF
the Marine Band now play in local thea
tres. Mr.. de Koven has evidently been
misinformed, as there are at present ex-
actly four enlisted men regularly en-
ployed in the theatres whose musicians
are not at present affiliated with the
American Federation of Musicians.
''It is known to this committee that
these four men are at times excused from
Government duty and preference given to
the rehearsals demanded by the managers
OF said theatres.
I'VE know that at times there are mer
who are unusually bright and intelligent
enlisted in the service of the United
States Army and Navy; men fully com
petent to fill positions as clerks, book.
keepers. etc. IN our large stores. How
would the public regard the matter 81
the Government held out as an induce
mept to secure these men the probability
OF their being excused from their Gov
ernment duties in order TO fill the posi-
tions as clerks, bookkeepers, etc?
That is the exact situation in regard
TO the enli4-ed bands throughout tn,
country.
THE Government has heretofore grant.
ed them this permission and Furthermore
has furnished the material. such as uni
forms, instruments and music. thereby
making itself party to securing com
tracts in competition with civilians. This
is particularly noticeable in regard tt
army bands, where, we are informed, q
certain percentage Of the earnings of the
musicians from private engagement.
must be turned in TO the post fund.
Instances of Hardship.
1.-THE allegation that the Capital of tn,
nation has not so plentiful a supply O
frst-class musicians as many other cities
is true in part only. The music heard a
the various social functions, etc, durin,
the past winter has in no way suffered
by comparison with that furnished by tn,
Marine Band and we cite the following
as an instance of the hardship of retain
ing good men here:
I'VE had for years a bassoon playel