The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-07-04
PAYING OFF.
How the Members of Congress Get Their
Money Each Week.
Washington Hatchet

Washington Hatchet.
1t is interesting TO watch the way in which
Uncle Sans sons draw the old man at the
Capitol Take the lower House. The bank for
the members is convently 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 any
where 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 $1,000 per an
hum, the cashier So. 900. the book-keeper 81, 800,
the paying teller $1,000 the messenger 81, 800,
the page $72O, and a laborer So day during the
session. There is an average of $l50000 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 Capt.
tol policeman, and returns in a street-car,
usually with about $40 000 If there is a call
for larger sum the Sergeant-at-arms jumps into
a carriage and goes after it himself The pay
of the members begins the 4th of March after their
election, and 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
$4l6 &c per month, but to avoid fractions they
are paid $416 for four months and $4l7 for eight
months The Treasurer only recognizes and
makes payments. Many old member is
der the impression that his per diem is always
placed to his credit, and could be drawn out 0e-
fore every sunset, but he is mistaken The
S., 600 per annum is divided into twelve install
ments at MIR. Mannings end of the line. When
a member dies his pay ceases on the day of his
DEATH The salary of the successor commences
the day after the decease of the former member,
though the election may not occur for several
months. The 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 pres
ent House who let their salaries run into nest
eggs Among these are Scott and Everhardt,
of Pennsylvania; Powell, of Illinois: Boutelle,
of Maine; Healy of California; Jones, Stewart.
and Reagan, of Texas; Elsbury of Ohio Stone,
of Massachusetts, and Wakefield, of Minnesota
Scott has over years salary owing him--aoout
Sc, 900. The other members mentioned have from
81 900 to So 900 to their credit There are couple
of dozen of members who always overdraw,
or rather borrow from the head of the
bank They borrow or get in advance,
sums ranging from $40 TO $500, and at the
end of 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 outside bank but let their
monthly salary remain, and draw it out in small
sums. Others take out their salaries and place
them in other banks. But this not done as much
as formerly. A number of them got caught in
the Middleton Bank that broke some time ago.
Most of the members do all their financial
business over the counter of the Congressional
Bank. and some of them pile checks up as high
as $50, 900 in single session. The employees of
the House, $50 strong, are paid off at this bank
as a matter of accommodation. During the
long sessions 500, 900, 900 pass through the wire
wicket Of the House bank