Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1880-12-02
Wanted-More Cash.

presented 10 congress Tor the appro-
prlatlons to pay the expenses of the
government during the fiscal year, be.
ginning on the first day of July next
and ending on the thirtieth day of the
succeeding month Of June. 1t is n
noticeable feature OF these estimates
that they show large increase over
those of last year, when the aggregate
amount asked for was S27S, ,097 ,364.39.
The aggregate amount now wanted is
S29S, POP, 122.2S or an increase of S2O,-
lOj, ,357. .SS, over those for the fiscal
year which will end on the thirtieth
of next June. But what is most re-
markable about these estimates is the
disclosure of the surprising fact that
nearly all the prominent officials are
living upon inadequate salaries. They
appear to have only recently made
the discovery, and consequently from
every department there comes II wall
of anguish and pitiful appeal for an
increase of pay.
Beginning with the Treasury depart.
ment, the chief of the bureau of sta
tistics is daily suffering for want of the
common comforts of life upon the in
significant pay Of $4,000 per annum,
and can only be relieved from his
privations by n yearly addition of
5000 to the $4,000. Next, there is n
public gardener who receives 81 800 a
year, but thinks his valuable SER
vices are worth to the government at
least $4,000. From the Interior de-
partment there is a general cry Of
distress. The assistant secretary asks
an increase of salary from SO, 800 to
81, 800; the chief clerk from $4,000
to $4,000; the commissioner of the
general land office, from $4,000 to
$4,000; the commissioner of Indian
affairs, from $500 to $4,000, and the
chiefs of the various divisions of the
Indian bureau join the chorus of their
superiors for more money. Nearly all
the Indian agents ask for more.
and the estimates for their pay
are swelled from an appropriation
last year of S79, 200 to 100000. The
commissioner of pensions asks 1000
additional to the $4,000 he now draws
from the Treasury the deputy commits
sioner wants $4,000 instead of $4,000,
and the medical referee 81, 300. instead
ofs2,000. The commissioner of patents
submits an increase of $500 to his
salary of 81 800, and the auditor of
railroad accounts thinks that $4,000
is not enough for him, but wants
81 400 more. Six out of the eleven
surveyors general ask for an increase
of from $3.50 to $500 each. In the
same department, under the sum of
$4,000, the following items are in
cluded; Furniture, advertising, tele.
graphing, ice, wagons and harness and
repairs of same, subsistence and shoe
ing of horses, car tickets and other
absolutely necessary expenses" 1t is
unfortunate that the outside world is
not permitted to know what may be
embraced in the "other absolutely
necessary expenses" Next in order
comes the Post Office department, in
which the chief clerk thinks his ser.
vices entitle him to a better remuner-
alton, and that SO 90 year should be
added to the pay of each of his assist
ants. In the Navy department the
restoration of the salaries of messen-
gers to 1920 and sS40 is recommended.
In the Agricultural department the
chief of division of accounts wants
5000 additional, the chemist 81, 900,
and the botanist 5000, making totals
of $4,000, $4,000 and $4,000 respect.
lively. The foreign officers of the
Government are by no means back.
ward in their desire for more. Con-
suls, consulsgeneral and interpreters
press their claims. One item alone is
As follows: "To the consuls general
at Paris and Shanghai, $1,000 each
additional; to the consul at Basle,
81 900; to the consuls at Halifax,