Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1886-08-26
UNCLE SANS SONS.
How Those In Congress Draw ON tho Oio
Man for Their Salaries.

Man for Their Salaries.
1t is interesting to watch the way in
which Uncle Sans sons draw on the
old man at the Capitol. Take the
lower House. The bank for the men,
bers is conveniently situated alongside
the Speakers room at the west side OF
the wing, and is conducted as any
other banking house. Checks on it
are good commercial paper anywhere
in the country. There are seven men
connected with the management of the
bank, including the sergeant-at-arms.
The deputy sergeant-at-arms gets
81, 900 per annum. the cashier, $4,000.
the book-keeper 81 800. the paying tel
Ter $4,000, the messenger $1,000, the
page 1920 and laborer S. day dur
inc the session There is an average
Of $3.50, 600 in the safe while the House
is in session. When money is needed
the messenger goes to the treasury
with the proper papers, accompanied
by Capitol policeman. and returns in
a street-car, usually with about S4O,-
600. If there is call for larger sum
the sergeant-at-arms jumps into car
rage and goes after it himself. The
pay of the members begins the 4th of
March after their election, and a check
is sent them every month, unless they
otherwise direct Their accounts are
certified by the Clerk OF the House, as
there is then no Speaker. The pay of
a member is S416.66 per month, but to
avoid fractions they are paid $416 for
four months and $4lz for eight months.
The Treasurer only recognizes and
makes payments. Many an old
member is under the impress
sion that his per diem is always
placed to his credit, and could be drawn
out before every sunset, but he is mis-
taken. The IS, 900 per annum is di-
vided into twelve installmen:s at MIR.
Manning's end of the lime. When a
member dies his pay ceases on the day
of his death. The salary Of the success
sor commences the day after the de-
cease of the former member, though
the election may not occur for several
months. The new member, in other
words, draws pay for time he never
serves.
The members draw their money in
different ways. There are probably
twenty of the present House who let
their salaries rum into nest-eggs.
Among these are Scott and Everhardt,
of Pennsylvania; Powell, of Illinois;
Boutelle, of Maine; Hesly. of Cali
fornia; Jones, Stewart and Reagan, of
Texas; Ellsbury, of Ohio; Stone, of
Massachusetts,. and Wakefield, of
Minnesota. Scott has over years
salary owing him-abeat $1,000. The
other members mentioned have from
81, 900 to 50. 600 to their credit. There
are couple of dozen Of members who
always Overdraw,. or rather borrow
from the head of the bank. They Dor
row. or get in advance. sums ranging
the month they have nothing. The
great majority Of the members draw
all that is coming to them at the end OF
each month, particularly those who
have their families with them. Some.
of them never see an outside bank, but
let their monthly salary remain. and
draw it out i'm small sums. Others
take out THEM. salaries and place them
in other banks But this not done. -
much as formerly A number of them
got caught in the Middleton Bank that
broke some. time ago.
Most If the members do all sReiY
financial business over the counter OF
the Congressional Bank. and some OF
them pile checks mp as high as $4,000
in single session. The employees Of
the Hoase, $50 strong. are pain of al
this bank as q matter of accosnmOda.
ton. During the lone sessions $780,
OOU, 0a pass through the wire wicket
of the House Washington
Ydtrhet.