The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1919-07-11
GOSSIP FROM WASHINGTON

Washington, July Especial cor
| respondence.)-The members of the
band at the United States Naval Acad-
envy at Annapolis have a friend in
Congressman Sydney E. Mudd of
| Maryland. For years the bandmen
have been so poorly paid that they
were forced to exc out their govern
ment salaries by engaging in business
in the city during the hours when they
were off duty at the academy. Their
pay has been considerably below that
of the musicians at the military acad-
envy at West Point. They have re-
peatedly tried to have the compensa-
tons at the two institutions equal
ibed by the Democratic Congress, but
without success. When the naval ap-
preparation bill was under considera-
ton in the house Representative Mudd
explained the manifest injustice and
introduced an amendment to correct
the scale of salaries to correspond
with those at West Point The amend
ment was incorporated into the bill,
where it will probably remain to be-
come part of the law.
To Strengthen Efficient Service.
Congressman Frederick c. Hicks,
representing the Long Island district
of New York, continues to be looked
to for authoritative information re-
garding the coast guard. On various
occasions in the past Mr.. Hicks has
indicated in his speeches to the house
the extent and reliability of his
knowledge of coast guard activities,
and in consideration of the naval APP
preparation bill he was enabled to
make valuable use of his data in Sc
curing the adoption of a provision
for the completion of five new coast
guard cutters at cost of $2,850,000.
Mr.. Hicks called attention to the en-
viable record that class of vessels
had made in the war and the great
desire of naval authorities to con-
struct more cutters as soon as pos
sible. The congressman declared that
!, one of the heaviest losses sustained
by the navy was in the sinking of the
cutter Tampa in foreign waters with
all on board, through an attack by a
submarine.
i Would Aid Boy Scouts.
Republican Congressman ]. C..
Strong of Kansas, one of the new
members of the house, has introduced
a bill providing for the issuance Of
army equipment to Boy Scout Off
Gals for use on the hikes and at the
camps of the scouts. The introduc-
ton OF the measure came at a very
opportune time, during the nation
wide campaign for 100000 associate
members of the Boy Scout organiza-
ton, and much attention was given
to the measure for that reason. The
bill has been referred to the mill
tar~ affairs committee and Mr.. Strong
will keep in touch with its members
and endeavor to secure an early and
favorable report.
| Letting the Farmer Wait.
Congressman Caleb R. Layton of
Delaware is concerned over the fail
ure of the government to pay for food
supplies, particularly canned tomatoes,
bought for the army last year. He
states that the packers 60 to the
banks and borrow money to carry
them through the packing season, to
be repaid when their product is sold.
For some reason there has been a
delay of months in compromising the
farmers for the goods commandeered
by the government and the result is
that they stand on the threshold of
another season with their debts of last
year uncancelled Inquiry by the
congressman indicates that there was
no official objection to the quality of
the tomatoes, but that they came up
to- specifications in every way. 1t
seems to be just another case of ex-
ecutive procrastination with utter dis
| regard of the needle If the neoota