The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1888-09-08
THE COST OF GOING TO CONGRESS-.
How .'roor Caulidates'' Get Expenses
Paid.

How s'l'oor Caudidates'' Get Expenses
Paid.
The Washington correspondent Of
the st. Louis Gtobs- Democrat wrote
recently: "What doea It cost 10 come
to Congress ?" said veteran represen-
tstive. "Well, there would be 800 and
more different replies from as many
Congressmen. On an average should
say that It costs years salary, or halt
of the salary for the ierm-that Is TO
say, $50O0."
"Does this cover the cost of Senator.
ships ?''
"No, indeed. If we count in Ssna-
| tors, the average would run u coed
deal higher. BY 'member' we mean .
member ofthe House Of REPRESENTS
iives. Some member get on With III
tie or no expenditure of money Others
are bled from the word 'go.' Those
from the large cities, as rule, fiud the
Congressional toy and their pretty title
Of Honorable most ex xpsnsive, but It is
not always 80. A mans ability and
general fitness are minor considera-
tions. Long public service counts
something in mitigating the damages,
but long purse is the most effective
campaign document the country over.
| Even where man has no opposition
he has to come down with the cash to
buy oil for campaign machinery. Take
the case Of Amos J. Cummings, the
bright newspaper man, who represents
the Sixth New York District. The
nomination OF his party came u him
unsought and on . silver salver. 1t
was what We cali Q dead sure thtng-A
nomination equivalent to election-but,
att the same, Amos had to spend pro-
baby $1,000 before he drew . months
salary as a member of Congress.''
"F0r what?"
ooh, for many things. For assess-
ments by campaign committees tor
the maintenance aud equipment of
clubs and other political organizations !;
for benefits, batts, picnics, aud excur-
sions for banners and banner raising !;
for charities to the poor and needy of
the district, and to beats and bummers
whom 1t Is impossible to escape. OF
course some Of these expenses might
be avoided, bat not by good-hearted
fellow, who likes to bo liked, who &C,
cepts no favors that he can not rectpro-
cate, and who would mix freely with
his constituents. Yet the cost Of Con-
gressional honors to man like Cum,
mtngs, In a district like his, Is small
compared to the outlay required Ol
men like Belmont aud Bliss, Of New
York Bayne, of Pittsburg Bingham,
of Philadelphia Morse, Of Boston; and
FELTON,, of San FranciscU. In addition
to being good fellows and high iivers,
they are reputed to be men Of wealth,
aud must pay to sustain their rsputa-
tion, whether they value 1t or not.
doubt whether any one Of these gen-
tlemen, or of a dozen others that l
might name, gets to Washington with
out spending two years. salary for his
footing, and the bleeding goes on from
session through session ~ long as they
are here. Yet every one of these men,
bers has an experience and an acquain-
tance with methods In legislation
which should yield him biennial div
ideud In . certificate of election clear
of cost. II ia to be said, however, that
after few years here fellow learns to
avoid many OF the money traps that
beset the Congressional Aspirsut aud
the novice in Congressional life. Poll
tics is like any other gams--most ex-
pensive 10 beginner, although q be-
ginner may now and then win big
pot on q smA1t stake"
ono, do not call William l.. Scott
q beginner. He probably paid big
ger price than any Of Us for his whistle,
but he knew what he was about and
footed the damages like little man.
When one millionaire sits down to cap.
ture q district conceded to the opposi-
ton and has another millionaire as his
opponent, the calculation OF national
bank notes is very active. Twenty-Five
thousand dollars Is reasonable guess
of the amount that Bill Scott may havt
expended legitimately, as campaign
expenses 60, in such au undertaking.
know men who have spent As muci
aud then failed. Just let known mil
lionaire take Republican nomination
in one Of the New York districts with
q top-heavy Democratic majority, ant
J he will find 1t easy enough to get rit
Of q years interest OH his fortune
Thorndike Rice aud Larry Jerome ar,
not millionaires, but they could throw
some light on this subject"
l .sWhat about the men who read thei
title clear, term after torn, wfthou
+ much expenses ?"
"There are such Congressman, but
, must say that they are growing fswe
every year. AT the head OF the lis
stand Halman aud Cox, and acknowl
edged party leaders like Reed aud Car
Isle, who have become more vaIuabl
10 their districts than their dist ricts q r