The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1884-06-14
UNCLE SANS PAY ROLL.
What 1t Costs to Run tho Governmen and
Where the Money Coos.

People who think it does not cost
anything to run great government
like this, even on basis of ECONOMY
and REFORM" should read an appropri-
alton bill or two to be undeceived. The
house appropriations committee is
struggling to make record in the way
of economy, yet its appropriation bills,
considered in detail or aggregate, are
astonishing. Take the legislative, ex-
ecutive and Judicial bill, as reported,
for instance. 1t shows that the sala-
ries of congressman, taking both
branches into account, are over two
millions of dollars per year. AT least
the bill appropriates this sum for sala-
ries of members, $S80,000 being for
salaries of senators, and 81, 695, 900 for
members of the house. For mileage
the appropriation is $143,000 and for
salaries of officers and employees of the
house and senate almost three-quarters
of a million. For the botanic garden,
which furnishes the members with free
bouquets, $21, 700 is appropriated. The
sum allowed for the civil service COM
mission and its travelling expenses is
$4,000. The department of state is
quite moderate in its demands, the es-
Inmates being but S131, 900. The treas
ury department makes up for this lack
of enterprise on the part OF the state
department by calling for SO, 242, 900 to
run its business, and gets $9,130,064
The war department, which is largely
run by army officers, whose pay is pro-
vided for by the army bill, only costs
in this bill $2,069,000, while Mr..
Chandler's navy department, with
characteristic modesty, only wants
1862, 900, and is cut down to 1892, 900.
The interior departments estimate is
$4,128.785; the sum allowed in this
bill is $3,817,779.
There are. some curious features in
the bill. For instance, it allows the
chaplain of the senate but 5000 per
year, and pays the messengers to the
committee rooms lao per year, or
one-half more for legs than for praying
ability. To the telegraph operator in
the senate it pays but 5000 per year, thus
giving to skilled labor but little to run
with legs only. For reporting the de-
bates in the senate it allows 1926, 900, all
of which is paid to one man. OF course
he must pay something out of it for
help, but he is said to make about one
half of it "clean net cash." For report |
ing the house debates it allows $26, 1000,
but it divides it among five men, the |
"chief" getting $4,000, the others
$4,000 each. Out of this they pay their
assistants who write the reports at
"dictation" from these stenographers,
taking it first in short hand, and then
writing it out on foolscap paper in
broad lines, so that the member, if he
desires to revise it may have plenty of
room between the lines for correction.
For SPACE" boys, whose duty it is to
be at the house and senate and run at
the call of members, on the most
tri fling duties, too, as rule, the bill
allows $I5, 900, paying them $3.50 per
day. Under the head OF "executive"
it gives to the presidents assistants the
Private secretary, $3,250
per year, two executive clerks, 50, 900
each stenographer, $1,000; six clerks
at salaries averaging about $1,400
each; three ushers, who get in all
s3, 800; five messengers at 81 200 each,
'ne steward at 81, 300 per year-think
If this, ye who pay your cook 300 per
rear and the reluctant; two door-keep-
RS, at $1,000 each; one Waterman
1900; one fireman. 1864. There is
Ilso contingent fund" of $4,000 for
expenses, while the ''sun-
Try civil" bill makes allowances for
he expense of furnishing and keeping
Up the white house from kitchen to
Hoo nd had