Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-04-27
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
Some of the Reasons why So, 900 a Year
Does Not Keep Them Wen Filled

some OF the Reasons why So, 900 Year
Does Not Keep Them Wen Filled
If some Adam Smith of household
finance, says a New York Sun Washing
ton special, would arise to teach Sena-
tor or Representative how to live on
$4,000 a year, he would confer an everlast-
ing boon on many of the members Of the
Congress of the United States. Although
Washington may be called a cheap place
TO live in, and for $4,000 a year family
can be supplied with everything that rea-
sonable persons desire, yet 1t must be
remembered that "A Congressman does not
often get his $1,000 intact; and, tesides
tnaI there are IN W Washington two scales of
prlces-One for permanent residents and
one Tor members OF Congress and foreign
diplomats. First come the election ex-
pen es. Any Congre ssman who comes out
/, SIS than 81 900 out of pucket is cunsid-
efed lucky. Then comes the journey of
the family to ashington-fOr Cun.ress
has not yet allowed mileage to members
families, though after the late private
secretary indulgence nothing in lie way
Oh perquisltes need surprise anybody.
Next Is the intermediary STAGE Of hotel
living until a house or lodgings are found.
Thus, before his lodgings are secur, d aud
he begins to have an idea Of his monthly
expenses, large chunk of the Congress-
mans $1,000 a ear is gone.
1t does not take him long TO find out
that ne can't do with his IN, ONE as vel
as other people d.. Ii he is in LODGING.
his wife must have a reception dav. and
no matter how simple the scale On which
1t is conducted, waiter must be hired to
hand in the cards, and there Is usually
some slight retire sumeut. II the vile OF a
r. preventative visits at ali sue has TO
visit great deal, and visiting means "A
carriage. Then there are occasional
dinners, receptions at the White House
and elsewhere, which it is customary for
Representatives. wives to attend, and that
means cos umes, gloves, and carriages.
There seems to be a kind OF clairN on ance
among everybody in Washington VINO has
anything to sell or to hire 10 a member of
Congress or his family. The wives OF
members generally become well known to
the tradespeOple before very long, and the
butcher, the baker, the candIestick maker,
the dressmaker, the bonnet maker, and
the maker OF everything they eat and
wear combine against The Representative
$1,000.
In the case of Senators every circum-
stance is aggravated. There being but
seVenty-eight Senators, and not all of them
paired, the Senator's wives are known as
we'll as the Washington Monument: and
as most OF them take infinite delight In
having parcels addressed to Mrs. Sena-
tor Blank" the innocent creatures give
themselves away To the shop people. The
women OF sense who are Senator'S wives,
and who feel the necessity OF making their
money go as far as it ought, studi0usly
conceal the tact that they are Senator'S
wives when they are dealing" as the
negroes call shopping.
''It is as much as my life is worth"
said one quite sOlemniy, ''tO 90 into
shop. l can hardly come out alive. They
would take all my money: they would
garrOte me almost rather than / should
come out with sixpence, and all because
married q Senator"