Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1886-07-08
WASHINGTON.
PAYING OFF.
How the Members of Congress Get Their
Members.

How the Members of Congress Get Their
Members.
Washington Hatchet: It 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 members is conveniently situated
alongside the Speakers room at the west
side Of the wing, aud 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, in
cluding the Sergeant.at-arms The Dep
uty Sergeant-at arm gets $4,000 per an
mum, the cashier $4,000, the ok-keeper
$500, the paying teller $4,000, the mes
senger $1,000. the page $72O, and la
borer So day during the session. There
is an average of $500 in the safe while
the House is in session. When money is
needed the messenger goes to the Treas
ury with the proper papers, accompanied
by a Capitol policeman, and returns in a
street-car, usually with about $40, ,0OO If
there is call for larger sum the Ser
geant-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 d.
rect. Their accounts are certified by the
Clerk of the House, as there is then no
Speaker. The pay of member is $416.8
per month, but to avoid fractions they
are paid $416 for four months and $411
for eight months. The Treasurer only
recognizes and makes payments. Many
an old member is under the impression
that his per diem is always placed to his
credit, and could be drawn out before ev-
cry sunset, but he is mistaken The
$4,000 per annum is divided into twelve
installments at Mr.. Manning's end of the
line. When 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 new member, in
other words, draws pay for time he never
served.
The members draw their money in diff
ferent ways. There are probably twenty
of the present House who let their sala.
ries run into nest eggs Among these are
Scott and Everhardt, of Pennsylvania;
Powell, of Illinois; Boutell,' of Maine
Henly, of California; Jones, Stewart and
Reagan, of Texas; Ellsbury, of Ohio
Stone, of Massachusetts. and Wakefield
of Minnesota. Scott has over years
salary owing him-about $4,000. The
other members mentioned have from
$1,000 to 5000 to their credit. There
are couple of dozen Of members who
always overdraw or rather borrow from
the head of the bank. They borrow Oh
get in advance sums ranging from $40 tt
$500, and at the end of the month they
have nothing. The great majority Of ihi
members draw all that is coming to then
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 ant
draw 1t out in small sums. Others TAKE
out their salaries and place them in othel
banks. But this is not done as much as
formerly. A number of them got caugh
in the Middleton Bank that broke somt
time ago.
Most of the members do all their finan
cial business over the counter of the Con
gressional bank, and some of them pill,
checks up as high as 5000 in q single
session. The employees of the House. 15(
strong, are payed off at this bank as ;
matter Of accommodation. During tn,
long sessions $50 1000, 900 pass through
the wire wicket of the House bank.