The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1884-07-23
The Cost Of Gorernmeut.

A Washington correspondent says: People
who think Ii does not cost anything TO run
Government like this, even on a basis Of
economy and REFORM should read an apprO-
priation bill or two and be undeceived. The
House Appropriations Committee is struggl-
ing TO make a record in the way of economy,
yet its appropriation bills, considered in de-
tail or aggregate, are astonishing Takeathe
Legislative, Executive and Judicial bill, as
reported, for instance. 1t shows that the
salaries Of Congressman, taking both branches
into account, are over two millions Of dollars
per year. At least the bill appropriates this
sum for salaries of members, S3s0,000 being
for salaries of Senators, and Sl,695,OOO for
members Of the House. For mileage the ap-
preparation is $4,000, and for salaries of
officers and employees Of tho House and Senate
almost three-quarters of million. For the
botanic garden, which furnishes the members
free bouqWts, SCI, 200 is appropriated. The
sum allowed for the Civil Service Commits
sion and its travelling expenses is $4,000.
The Department Of State is qnite moderate IN
its demands, the estimates being but Sl3l,
0OO The Treasury Department makes up for
this lack of enterprise on the part Of the State
Department by calling for 50, 2i2 900 to run its
business and gets S9,l3O,06f The War De-
partmeut which is largely Iun by army off,
GERS, whose pay is provided for by the army
bill, only costs in this bill 81 069, 900, while
Mr.. Chambers Navy Department, with char
acteristic modesty, only wants S362,OOO and
is cut down TO S2s0.000, The Interior De-
partment's estimate is S4,l2s,7s5; the sum
allowed in this bill is S3,el7,770. -lsf
There are some curious features in the bill.
For instance, it allows the Chaplain of the
Senate but $500 per year, aud pays the mes
Al.
or one-balf more for legs than for praying
ability. To the telegraph operator in the
Senate it pays but 5000 per year For re-
porting the debates in The Senate it allows
SIS, 900, all of which is paid to one man. OF
course, be must pay Something of 1t ont for
help, but lie is said 10 make about one-hah Of
it "clean net cash." For reporting the House
debates it allows $40, 900, but ii divides 1t
among five men, the "chief' getting So, 900,
the others $4,000 each. Out Of this they pay
their assistants, who write the reports at
'dictation" from these stenographers, taking
il first in shorthand, and then writing it out
on foolscsp paper in broad lines 50 that the
member, if he desires 10 revise it, may have
plenty Of room between the lines for correc-
tons. For page" boys, whose duty it is to
be at the House and Senate aud run at the
call of members, on the most trihing duties,
too, as a rule, the bill allows SIS, 900, paying
them 50 80 day. Under the head of ''execu-
tive" it gives to the Presidents assistants
the following: Private Secretary, S3,250 per
year; two executive clerks, $4,000 each;
stenographer 81, 500; six clerks at salaries
averaging about $1,000 each; three ushers,
who get in all $500; five messengers at ST.
200 each; one steward at 81, 500 per year
think of this, We who pay your cook 500 per
year, aud that reluctantly; two door-keepers,
at 81 200 each; one watohman, $500; one fire.
man, Se64 There is alsoa contingent fund
Of $4,000 for miscellaneous expenses, while
the ''suudry civil" bill makes allowances
for the expense of furnishing and keeping up
the White House from kitchen to Office and
bedroom.