The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1902-04-08

in at night, since they must rap out the
.Go-to-bed" of taps.
with these high military services de-
pendent entirely on them the fifers and
the drummers don't see why they haven t
received what they consider full pay So
their complaints are echoing through the
national guard of this state
So great is this discomfort that there is
strong belief it will go further than mere
grumbling-that the musicians will refuse
to go to camp-in fact, that there actually
Will be strike in the guard! In which
case the regiments will have to go to
camp without fife and drum CORPS
The trouble had its beginning in the
camp of 1900. The state pays 81. 25 a day
to each field musician; and it always
had been the custom for $1.75 more to be
paid from the regimental funds, the mu-
sicians thereby getting So a day apiece
for their spirit-stirring ta-ra-ras and
courage compelling boom boom booms.
But in 1900 that extra $1.75 was not forth
coming. One Fegimental commander re-
fused sharply to sign any such bills; it is
said that others fell into line, treading
with military eXactness in his footsteps.
The result, according to certain musi-
cianS IS that they have received no
money from the regiments for their serv-
ices for the men of Mars in 1900 and 1901
Thence the rebellion.
Field music for the guard in the
Greater New York practically is in con-
troll of field music association. The
possibility of strike rests with this as
sociation, and the feeling among it's mem
bers was voiced by one who said:
There is a great deal the field musi-
clans have TO complain Of. They earn
their money and should be paid just the
same as brass band. The bandsmen
have to play only al guard mount, even
ing parade and concerts in the evening.
The field musician is on the go all day
long He is the first man up in the MORN
ing ard the last man to bed at night
The sooner the field musicians are put on
the same foundation as the brass band
and are paid for their services the better
1t VIII be for the national guard
What Kind of drummers and filters can
be obtained for 81. % a day?"
First bankrupt Policeman
Although nearly all sorts and conditions
OF men have awaited themselves Of the
bankruptcy laws, no New York policeman
ever had placed himself on the list until
last week Then Patrick E. White filed a
petition in the clerks office of the UnAad
States district court. He described him
self as "a patrolman of the police force
of Greater New York" with a home at
East One Hundred and Sixty-ninth street
He owes $l,02S, most of it borrowed
money, and his assets are $3.50
a peculiar feature of the list of cred
1tors is that many of these persons are
described as doing business in corner
stores. 1t took Patrolman White only
three years to run up the bills
While White is the first policeman to
avail himself of the bankruptcy laws. a
hremae filed a petition several months
ego, with liabilities of about 81 800 He
was discharged in bankruptcy. The ma
Jor portion Of the freman's obligations
We're to money lenders.
Can Cut the Mayors Salary
At the meeting of the board Of estimate
and appOrtiOnment last week COMPTROLLER
Circuit astonished his associates by de-
claflng that the board has the power to
reduce even the salary of the MAYOR.
The departments of justice were under
consideration. clerk of the supreme
court IN explaining the estimates, said:
There can be no reduction in our SAL
airy list, for it is fixed by law"
The amended charter supersedes all
salaries fixed by the statutes" replied
Mr.. Grout.
What do you mean?" asked Borough
President Cassidy.
Il mean that under the amended char
ter the board of estimate, with the con-
sent Of the board Of aldermen or with
out that consent until May l, can fix the
salary of any official who is paid from
the city treasury, even that of the mayor
We cannot reduce the salary of an cleo
tive officer during the term for which he
is elected, but We can fix that Of his sue
cessor."
Even the mayor looked incredulous, but
Mr.. Circuit insisted that he had given the
matter careful study and was positive of
the correctness Of his assertion