The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1886-08-18
UNCLE SANS SONS.
How Those In Congress Draw ON the OLD
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 tho
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
$4,000 per annum, the cashier, 5000,
the book-keeper 81, 800. the paying tel
Ter $4,000, the messenger $1,000, the
page 1920 and laborer $5 day dur
ing the session. There is an average
of $3.50. 900 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
street-car, usually with about $4O,-
600. If there is a call for larger sum
the sergeant-at-arms jumps into car
riage 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, rs
there is then no Speaker. The pay of
a member is S4l6. 66 per month, but to
avoid fractions they are paid $4l6 for
four months and $4l7 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 mia-
taken. The $4,000 per annum is di-
vidcd into twelve installments at Mr..
Manning's end of the line. 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 run into nest-eggs.
Among these are Scott and Everhardt,
of Pennsylvania; Powell, of Illinois,
Boutele. of Maine; Healy, 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-about $500 The
other members mentioned have from
81, 900 to $4,000 to their credit. There
are a 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
from $40 to $500, and at the end O
the month they have nothing. The
great majority of the members draw
all that is coming to them at the end O
each month, particularly those who
have their families with them. Some
of them never see an outside bank, bu
let their monthly salary remain, ant
draw it out in small sums. Other,
take out their salaries and place then
in other banks. But this not done a
much as formerly. A number of then
got caught in the Middleton Bank tina
broke some time ago.
Most of the members do all thei
financial business over the counter o
the Congressional Bank, and some o
them pile checks up as high as $50, 0Ot
in single session. The employees O
the House, $50 strong, are pain off a
this bank as matter of accOmmoda
ton. During the long sessions 800,
600, 900 pass through the wire wicke
of the House bank. Washington
Hatchet.