Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-08-23
MONEY AT THE CAPITAL.
CONGRESSMEN WHO NEVER
SAVE A CENT.

e'Nos-Iho hatesC hrlnkle In BLACK
mailing.
WASHINGTON, Aug. GA false notion
OF pride, which Is yearly becoming more
and more accepted as good doctrine, de-
crees that members of Congress shall ex-
pend their entire compensation as public
servants for good living and maintaining
their families after a fashion more or less
spectacular. While 10 is all well enough
for Congressman and their families to five
we'll, they would be setting good exam
pie to the world at large IL they saved at
least half OF the income which is one of
the fruits of their office. No man making
$1,000 year has any excuse for remain
Ing poor, and even If he should serve but
one term. he ought to save enough in that
time to go into business for himself after
he has been retired to private life.
The same homily Is equally applica-
Bile to men in private life. Any man
with an average family ought TO be able
to pay his household expenses and live
well on the limit already mentioned.
When member OF Congress 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. This
new member, In other words, draws pay
for the time he never served. A member
is allowed 200. mileage each way, or 40c.
mile one way, and he can check for the
full amount Of both trips when he takes
his seat, He is allowed 1925 year for
stationery. The most of this sum Is poc,l-
eted. There are probably twenty men,
bers OF the last House who let their sal
aries run into nest eggs. Among these
are Scott and Everhart, OF Pennsylvania;
Powell, of Illinois; Boutelle. of Maine
Henley, OF California; Jones, Stewart and
Reagan, OF Texas; Ellsbury, of OHIO;
Stone, OF Massachusetts, and Wakefield,
Of Minnesota. Scott has over a years
salary owing him-about $4,000 The
other members mentioned have from
$1,000 to $4,000 to their credit. There
are about twenty-five members who
always Overdraw, They borrow
or get advance sums, ranging from $40 to
$300,and at the end OF the mouth they have
nothing. The great majority of the men,
bers draw all that is coming to them at
the end OF each month, partic ularly those
who have their families with them. Some
of them never go TO an outside bank, but
let their monthly salary remain and draw
1t out in small sums. BY far the greatest
majority OF the members go out of Office
as poor as when they entered, while a few
have been known to pile checks up as
nigh as 100000 in single session. Most
OF the members do all their financial busi-
ness over the counter OF the Congression-
al Bank.
CONGREssMEN WHO RUN BILLS.
Though not generally known, it is nev-
ertheless fact that there are as many
dead-beats among Congressman as among
anU 0t her nIa 0f oitizaua Tho moaf of
them earn the title by living beyond their
means and of course becoming unable to
meet their obligations. Strangers about
the capital on the last day OF session in
Variably notice the large number of col
lectors with their bills In their hands
rushing hIther and thIther buttonholing
and dunning the members-Senators as
well as Representatives, These cOllec-
tors represent every class of tradespeople
that GO to make up city. There are
members who systematically rob hotels
and all sorts OF tradesmen right and left.
Nothing can be legally done to member
OF Congress for obtaining money under
false pretenses, though 1t is a jailable Of
tense when committed by common peo-
pie. The only remedy is TO make the
transaction known. Ii the records OF the
Congressional dead beats could be print
ed q good many people would be aston
luxuries, such as carriages, flowers, wine,
cigars, etc., is the usual life of Congress
sional dead-beat. There are poor men and
women here who have catered to these
members with the idea that men holding
such honorable positions must OF necessi-
ty be honest, who have tried in vain TO
collect what is due them. The sergeant
at-arms' office could tell a disgraceful
story of bogus checks, duplicate drafts
and violated obligations without number.
The hotels and restaurants, and even the
barber shops could tell The same story.
Some morning these Congressman will
wake up and find law covering their
cases. The sooner such is the case the
better of a very considerable portion OF
WashingtOn's tradespeople will be.
THE PRESIDENTS WEALTH.
All sorts of rumors are floating about
the country concerning the wealth OF
President Cleveland. 1t goes without
saying that he has enough OF this worlds
goods to keep the wolf from the door, but
IL is equally true that he will have 10 ma
terially increase the size OF his fortune
II he wants to live with much pretension
after his Presidential career Is ended.
Between his own possessions and those
ol his wife they ought TO be able to hold
an enviable position In the social
world If they choose Washington
for their permanent home. The
Presidents Buffalo friends estimate
that he was worth from $4,000 10 $75, 900
when he was elected and mas already in
creased that amount considerably by
profitable investments and the surplus Of
his salary. Although he has not stinted
himself in any way at the White House,
but has lived generously, he would have
found it difficult TO spend $50 900 a year
without what would be 10 him great ex.
travaRance. Now that be 10 married, bis
household expenses will be largely In-
cre ased, as he viii naturally entertain
more and extend his hospitality. A state
dinner seldom costa less than $500, al
though there is no expenditure for music
or flowers. The published reports OF the
will OF Mrs. Cleveland's grandfather gives
her "A legacy Of 100000. which 10 invested
in Western lands and city property In
Omaha.
A NEW BLACKMAILING SCHEME.
One hundred dollars is what 10 cost
prominent Congressman few days be-
fore the adjournment TO learn that he
ought TO destroy all letters that he would |
not care to have his wife see. The dls- |
covery also brought TO light q new dodge |
In biackmailIng, which none but most |
contemplate specimen OF humanity /
would ever have thought OF. For some
months rather ehabbily dressed man
has occasionally visited those houses In
which Senator'S and Representatives have
been lodging and paid lOc. pound for
a. -. n 81