Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-11-04
IN LABOR CIRCLES
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91liI1

The failure of Congress at the last ses-
sion to pass the bill to prohibit members
of the Marine Band from accepting private
engagements has not had a dismaying
effect upon the officials and members of the
American Federation of Musicians. The
leaders are sanguine that their efforts dur
ing the coming session of Congress will be
crowned with success. which means the
elimination of competition of civilian mu-
sicians with the members of the Marine
Band. Although the controversy Is more
local than national in character, civilian
musicians over the entire country are In
terested in the ultimate outcome of the
dispute.
The war on Uncle Sans own musical
aggregation has been waged increasingly
for several years past; the attention Oh
the Secretary of the Navy has been In
voked from time to time and Congress mas
been asked to take a hand in the matter,
but up to this time but little has really
been accomplished by the civilian organlza-
ton. They have, however. appealed for
the support of members of the HOUSE OF
Representative of the principle involved
and 1t is the general understanding that
large number of the members OF the Sen
ate have pledged themselves to vote 1or
the measure curtailing the privileges en-
loved by the members of the Marine Band.
A number of the labor leaders attribute
a portion of the bad feeling that mas
been engendered by the controversy TO
the Secretary of the Navy, who mas
direct Jurisdiction over the band. Ihey
charge that, figuratively speaking, he mas
turned a deaf ear to their protests. IL is
charged that certain of the rallroao CON-
panies transport the members or the panu
from Washington to other cities free or
charge, which, it is alleged, enables them
to furnish music at a rate lower than the
union schedule provides.
The fedora ton is not opposed to the MEM
bers of the band as individuals. This has
been shown by the fact that large num-
Der of eX-memberS of the band are now
affiliated with the federation. The fedora
ton officials advocate an increase in the
ray of the government musicians to the
extent of enabling them to support their
families without entering into competition
with the civilian players.
In an interview with a reporter of The
Ter, secretary of the American Federation
of Musicians, who is now in Washington
said:
Statements have been sent broadcast as
to the attitude of the federation In relation
to the Marine Band of the most mlSlead-
ing nature. 1t is not true that the fedora
ton ever opposed or now contemplates OPP
posing an increase in the pay of the MEM
bers of the Marine Band, or the enlisted
musicians in the services of the United
States. On the contrary, the federation has
always advocated such an increase In pay,
and at the Indianapolis convention, held
last May, a resolution was passed by
unanimous vote pledging the federation
to support bill favoring such an increase,
with a proviso that a clause be inserted
prohibiting enlisted musicians from com
peting with civilians. The musician Is the
only member of the community VINO Is
subject to such competition
"The government would not organize its
carpenters men of any other crafts,
equip them with tools, and furnish them
to contractors in the construction of build
ings Then what can be said in justifi-
cation of the government organizing us
enlisted musicians into bands, equlpplns
them with instruments at public expense
and furnishing them to contractors LOT
musical labor?
THE American Federation of Musicians
most heartily favors the recommendation
of General Haywood that the pay of the
members of the Marine Band be increased
to an amount that would equal the earn
ings of a first-class musician in civil life.
and LUIS induce the best musical talent In
the country to enlist in the band, and make
it the representative military musical ag-
gregation of the United States. The mem
bers of the Marine Band ought not be al
lowed to perform for pay at any func-
ton in competition with the civilian.
at should not be forgotten that enlisting
in the service of the United States Is a vol
untary act Men are not cOnScripted, as on
the continent of Europe Therefore. every
man that enliStS knows exactly what the
conditions are. 1t is not the fault of the
civilian that the pay and allowances of the
members Of the band are small, and 1t Is
impossible to excuse a system which al
lows them to recompense themselves at the
expense of the civilian player
United States Consul Baker at Sydney.
Australia, in a special report on labor in
New South Wales, says that the length Of
the days work has been fixed at eight
hours and a minimum wage at $40 per
day for common laborers, with half holi-
days at the employers expense. and the
state and banks and factories give prefer
ence to union men.
Labor leaders of New York boast that
they have succeeded in securing the passage
o. new law on the employment of chill
dren that excels all other legislation of a
similar character. The new statue contains
the following provisions:
mo employer shall require boy or girl
who is fourteen or fifteen years of age to
work more than nine hours day in fac
tory, shop, store, Office, restaurant, hotel
or apartment house, or to deliver goods or
carry messages more than nine hours day.
THE lunch recess is not counted in the
hours of work. For example, from o'clock
or ,ioI,f = I,