Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-10-15
POOR CONGRESSMAN.
The Difficulty They Find In Liv-
ing ON Their Salaries.

Washington Letter to the Philadelphia Press
ran across a Congressman the
other day who was looking for quar-
ters for himself and family for the
session, He is poor man, who is
obliged to live on his salary, and who
is therefore compelled to count the
cost Of everything and cut his cloth
close. A Congressman's salary is
5000 year and mileage, and an al
lowance Of 500, believe, for postage
| cannot mention the name OF the one
| allude to, but he has wife and three
children, His mileage amounts to
about $3.50 or $500 year, so that his
whole income is less than $1,000 year.
Out of this sum he must pay three,
four, or half dozen country newspa.
pers for printing tickets IA mere nom
inal sum for a good deal of money!; be
must play for banners, transparencies.
flags, brass bands, hand bills, and |
don't know how many other things, to
say nothing Of his own expenses in the
campaign Added to this, ten chances
20 one, he has to pay pretty dearly for
his nomination-not perhaps in buying
delegates, though that is often done, |
am told, but in paying car fares, hotel
bills, etc. SO you see when Congress.
man comes to Washington be does
not have 5000 q year to bis credit.
My friend, as have said, is a poor
man, although he is one ct 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 man in the House. Said
be: = don't know what to do. have
lived in every way. When / first
came to Washington | went to a hotel
with my wife, leaving my children at
home and at school. | kept up my
house at home, and my expenses there
we're little less than if | had been
there. My hotel expenses, including
washing and the outrageous extras one
always finds on his bills, were never
less than $500 a month. My expenses
at home we're about halt as much; so
you see, could not stand that. The
next winter went to clearinghouse
and left my family at home OF course
| had to have parlor and bedroom.
| paid 500 a month at the boarding
house. But did not live; it was
simply a miserable existence. A
clearinghouse table may give good,
well cooked food, but you are Obliged
to meet and be polite to people you do
not care for, whom you detest, in fact.
Then | was deprived of my wife's com
pany, which, strange as it may seem,
| still appreciate. Well, that year, BY
close economy and many deprivations,
| came out about even. The next
year | hired rooms and had my meals
sent in from q restaurant. But this
life was very unsatisfactory. had to
take my breakfast at certain hour,
whether wanted it or not, and my
dinners were served at the same time
every day, and they we're nearly always
cold when brought, But member
OF Congress cannot always be at his
dinner at the exact time. The House
may sit late, or there may be caucus
or a committee meeting, or you may
be detained by cOnstituentsor dozen
things may happen to detain you.
Well, last winter, as you know, | took
a furnished house aud brought my en-
tire family here. shut up my house
at home. but, greatC@sar, my expenses
drove me wild, though | tried to live
very quietly and cheaply What |
shall do this winter heaven only
knows. | suppose | must 10 back to
the boardinghouse. A Congressman 5
life is but a dogs life after ali.
And my friend said nothing but the
truth. Congress is certainly no place
for poor man. II he has a family
he can hardly make both ends meet,
even though he does not entertain.