Omaha daily bee., 1888-08-26
hlGH-PRlCED hONORS.
What 1t Costs to Enjov the Seat OF a
Congressman.

congressman.
Globe -Democrat: "What does it cost
to come to congress?" said veteran
representative, repeating my query.
"Well there would be 300 and more
different replies from as many congress-
men. On an average | should say that
it costs Il years salary, or half of the
salary for the term, that is to say,
5000.
Does your estimate cover the cost of
senatorships?'
mo, indeed. II we count in senator's
the average would run great deal
higher. BY member we mean a men,
ber of the house of representatives
Some members get off with little or no
expenditure of money; others are bled
from thu word go Those from the
large cities, as a rule, find the congress
sional toy and their pretty title of hon
orable' most expensive, but it is not
always so. A mans ability and general
fitness are minor considerations. Long
public service counts something in miti-
eating the damages, but a long purse is
the most effective campaign document
the country over. Even where Il man
has no opposition he has 10 come down
with the cash to buy oil for campaign
machinery. Take the case of Amos
Cummings, the bright newspaper man
who represents the Sixth New York
district. The nomination of his party
came to him unsoughJ and on a silver
salver. 1t was what we call IA dead
sure thing-a nomination equivalent to
election-but, all the same. Amos had
to spend probably $4,000 before he drew
a month salary us member of con-
gress."
"For what?"
sob, for many things. For assess
ment by campaign committees; for the
maintenance and equipment of clubs
and other political organizations; for
benefits, balls, picnics and excursions;
for banners and banner-ralsiug; for
charities to the poor and needy of the
district, and to beats and bummers
whom it is impossible to escape. OF
course some of these expenses might be
avoided, but not by a good hearted fell
low who likes to be liked, who accepts
no favors that he cannot recipro cate.
and who would mix freely with his con-
stituents. Yet the costOf congressional
hOnors to II man like Cgmmings, in a
district like his, is small compared to
the outlay required of men like Bel
mont and Blsss, of New York; Bayne,
of Pittsburg; Bingham, of Philadel-
phia; Morse, of Boston, and FELTON,, of
San Francisco. in addition to being
good fellows and high livers they are
reputed to be men of wealth, and must
pay to sustain their reputation whether
they value it or not. l doubt whether
any one of these gentlemen, or of
dozen others that / might name, gets to
Washington without spending two
years salary for his footing, and the
bleeding goes on from session through
session, so long as they are here. Yet
every one of these members has an eX-
perience and an acquaintance with
methods in legislation which should
yield him biennial dividend in GER
tificate of election clear of cost. 1t is
to be said, however, that after few
years here fellow learns to avoid
many of the money traps that beset the
congressional aspirant and the novice
in congressional life. Politics are like
any other game-most expensive to a
beginner, although beginner may now
and then win a big pot on small stake.
"No, do not call William l.. Scott
beginner. He probably paid bigger
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 capture a
district conceded to the opposition, and
has another millionaire as his opponent,
the circulation OF national bank notes is
very active. Twenty-Five thousand dol
lars is a reasonable guess of the amount
that Bill Scott may have expended legit-
imately, as campaign expenses 60, in
such an undertaking. know men who
have spent as much and then failed.
Just let a known millionaire take re-
publican nomination in one of the New
York districts with top-heavy demo-
cratic majority, and he will find it easy
enough to get rid of a years interest on
his fortune. Thorndike Rice and Larry
Jerome are not millionaires, but they
could throw some light on the subject.h
What about the men who read their
title clear, term after term, without
much expenseW
There are such congressman, but I
must say that they are growing fewer