Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1884-06-19
A Governments Expenses.


more American gives some idea of the
expenses of our government. People
who think it does not cost anything to
run great government like this, even
on basis of economy and REFORM
should read an appropriation bill or two
and be undeceivcd. The House Appro-
priations Committee is struggling to
make a record in the way Of ofeconomy,yet
its appropriation bills, considered in de-
tail or the aggregate, are astonishing.
Take the Legislative, Executive and Ju-
dicial bill as just reported, for instance.
1t shows that the salaries of Congress-
men, taking both branches into account,
are over two millions Of dollars per year.
AT least the bill appropriates this sum
for salaries Of members, $3.50, 900 being
for the salaries of Senators and 81, ,695,-
600 for members of the House. For
mileage, the appropriation is $l43, 900,
and for salaries of officers and employees
of the House and Senate almost three
quarters of million. For the botanic
garden, which furnishes the members
free bouquets, $2l,7oo is appropriated.
The sum allowed for the Civil Service
Commission and its travelling expenses
is $4,000. The Department of State
is quite moderate in its demands, the
estimates being but $l3l,00o. The
Treasury Department makes up for this
lack Of enterprise on the part of the
State Department by calling for $9,932,
600 to run its business, and gets 3d.
10000. The War Department, which
is largely run by army officers whose
pay is appropriated for by the Army
bill, only costs in this bill $1,000, 900,
while Mr.. Chandler's Navy Department,
with characteristic modesty, only wants
$4,000, and is cut down to $3.50. 900.
The interior Departments estimate is
$4,l2S, 1856. The sum allowed in this
bill is $3,Sl7,770.
There are some curious features In
this 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 at
the Senate pays but 5000 year, thus
giving to skilled labor but little as COM
pared to men with legs only. For re-
porting the debates in the Senate it al
lows $25 900, all of which is paid to
one man. OF course he must pay some
thing out Of it for help, but he is said
to make about one. half of it "c!ean net
cash." For reporting the House de-
bates it alows $4,000 but divides it
among five men, the chief getting &c.
COO, the others $1,000 each. Out of
this they pay their assistants, who
write the reports Of the debates from
dictation by the stenographers, taking
it first in short hand and then writing
it out on foolscap paper in broad lines.
80 that the member, if he desireG to re,
wise it, may have plenty Of room bet
ween the lines for correction. For page
boys, whose duty it is to be at the
House and the Senate and run at the
call of members - on the most trihing
duties, too, as rule the bill allows
$4,000, paying them $3.50 day, usu-
ally for about six or seven hours work
per day. Under the head of the exec
utive it gives to the Presidents assis-
tants, the executive clerks, $4,000 each;
stenographer $500; six clerks, aver
aging 81 400 each; three "ushers" who
get in all $4,000; five messengers at
81 200 each; one steward at 81 300 a
year; two door-keepers at $4,000 each;
one watchman, 5000 one fireman, 1864.
There is also contingent fund.- of
$4,000 for miscellaneous expenses,
while the "Sundry Civil bill makes
allowances for the expense Of furnish
ing and keeping up the White House
from kitchen to Office and bedroom.