The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1920-10-08
CASH FORM|L|TARY BAND
CITY COUNCIL IS TO LEVY
/ THE TAX OF $500
Fifth Regiment Organization
Will Be Given Proper Sup
port In Mankato

Members of the city council in
special session yesterday afternoon
decided to levy a tax of $1,000 in sup
port of the Fifth Regiment band. The
This decision was reached following
q visit from a committee rrcm the
Civic and Commerce association. This
committee, consisting of President w.
A. Streater ., John H. Holman, ]. E.
Brett and G. w. Fisher. urged upon the
members Of the council the necessity
of taking prompt action on the ques-
ton Of the support of the Fifth Regi-
ment band, for other towns were aft
er the organization and had offered
tempting offers to thet boys to leave
Mankato Members of the committee
called attention to the fact that the
band most generally goes with the
headquarters company, and by losing
it the headquarters of the regiment
might be lost to Mankato. The fact
that the payroll of the Fifth regiment
at this city amounts to $4,000 a year
is not to be overlooked either. John
H. Hohmann read a communication
which the Civic and Commerce asso-
citation had received from Captain
Bates Of the headquarters company
making a proposal for furnishing
music for the city for the season OF
1921. One of the propositions mace
was that the band would play twenty
six engagements, eighteen of which
would be regular weekly Sunday aft
ernoon or evening concerts and the
remainder to be given as occasion
called for them for $4,000. Another
play twenty engagements extending
from May first to October first. and
during the three days of the Mankato
Fair would furnish the music for $3.50.
Any day that the band would be en-
ployed the entire day, the boys want
a wage of IS per day.
After. considering the proposition
for q short time, the members of the
council came to the conclusion that
turn about Is fair play, and that owing
to the fact that the Sandon band fur
1t was no more than right to give the
Fifth regiment its support the coming
year. On motion Of Councilman Olson
1t was voted to levy a tax Of $1,000 in
support of the Fifth Regiment band,
the concerts tobe given under the
direction Of the members OF the coun-
Gil.
Salary Of City Engineer.
Following the disposal Of the propo-
sition of the Fifth Regiment band, the
council proceeded to take up the mat
ter Of the salary of the city engineer
8. Won Mehrn, who swas employed
some time ago on the understanding
that he would furnish his own sur
veying instruments. Mr.. Won Mehrn
offered to furnish his own instruments
provided the city council would vote
to pay him $3.50 per month commenc.
ing January first. None of the mem
bers of the council could see his way
clear to pay more than the original
price of $4,000 per year and have
Mr.. Won Mehrn furnish his own
means of transportation about the
city, and his, own instruments. Not
agreeing to accept that salary, and
stating that he could not work for
less than $3.50 per month, on motion
of Councilman Steiner, the services
of Mr.. Won Mehrn were dispensed
with, and he was paid off for his serv-
ices in the city which amounted to
S102. 20. ~
No further business coming before
the council the meeting adjourned.