Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1883-11-01
A COngressman's Economy.

ran across u Congressman the other
day who was looking for quarters for
himself and family for the coming ses-
sion. He is poor man, who is Obliged
to live on his salary, and who is, there
fore, compelled TO count the cost of ev-
erything and cut his cloth close A
Congressman 5 salary is 50, 600 year
and mileage, and an allowance of 500,
| believe. on postage. | cannot men
ton the name of the one allude to,
but he has wife and two children.
His mileage amounts to about $500 or
$500 year. Out of this sum he must
pay three or four or half dozen coun-
try newspapers for printing tic.ets
| ca mere nominal service for a
good deal of money!; he must
pay for banners, transparencies
flags, brass bands, hand-bills
and | don't know how many other
things, to say nothing of his own ex-
penses in the campaign. Added to all
this, ten chances to one he has to pay
pretty dearly for his nomination-not,
perhaps, in buying delegates. though
that is often done, | am told, but in pay
ing car fares, hotels bills, etc. So you
see that when Congressman comes to
Washington he does not have s., 900 a
year to his credit.
| My friend, as | have said. is poor
man, although he is one of the ablest
men in the House. He never made a
dollar improperly. and does not know
how to be dishonest He stands as high
as any member of the House Said he,
Il don't know what to do. have lived
in every way. When first came to
| Washington | went to q hotel with my
wife, leaving my children at home and
ut school. kept up my house at home,
and my expenses there We're little less
| than if | had been there. Ny hotel ex-
penSes. including washing and the out
rageouS extras one ALWAYS finds on his
| bills, were never less than $500 a month
| My expenses ut home were about half
rs much; so, you see, | could not stand
1 that. The next winter | went to Il
boarding house and left my family at
home. OF course | had to have a par
| Tor and bedroom. | paid 500 a month
ut the clearinghouse. But | did not
! live; it was simply mere existence
| A clearinghouse table may give good,
well-eooked food, but you are obliged
to meet aud be polite TO people whom
| you do not care tor. Then, | was de-
! prived of my wife's company, which,
strange rs it may seem, still appreci-
ate. Well, that year, by close econ
omy and many deprivationS, ! came out
about even. The next year hired
rooms and had my meals sent in from a
neighboring restaurant But this life
was very unsatisfactory. bad to take
my breakfast at certain hour, whether
wanted to or nor. and my dinners
were served at the same time every dav.
and they were nearly all cold when
brought. But member of Congress
cannot always be at his dinner at the
exact minute. The House may sit late.
or there may be n caucus or a commit
tee meeting, or you may be detained BY
constituents, or a dozen things may
happen to detain you. Well, last win
ter, as YOU know, | took furnished
house and brought my family here. |
shut up my home at once. but. Great
Cesar my expenses drove me wild.
though | tried TO live very quietly and
eheaply. What | shall do this winter
heaven only knows. suppose must
go back TO the clearinghouse. A Con-
CHEESEMAN'S life is but dog life, after
all. Judge RGmSdeH in Philadelphia
Press.