Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-11-21
.ssC,AN A CONGRESSMAN LIVE ON 5000

THRIFT IN THE sENArE-MEN WHO FEEL EASY.
lss(SAN A CONGRESSMAN LIVE ON s5,oO(
| ~ ayear?''
There will be in the Hoase Of Rrepresenta-
| lives. which will organize in two weeks, 16l
| new members, nearly one-half the entire roll
They will have to learn. by practical expert
ence, whether or not the gratitude Of this
country townrd iss public men is such a. to
provide them with salary corresponding to
the position to which they have been elected
1t is no rash prediction to say thsa the majority
OF them will be disappointed. The national
capital is not place where extravagance pre-
walls, but demands upon men in public life
have increased especially in the social aspect to
| point where the present salary is regarded by
them ss inadequate. 1t may be said that relic,
| is in their own hands; that they can vote them.
| selves such remuneration as they see fit, Blu,
the fact is that the fate of the old salary grab
beers is still haunting specter. and it will be a
bold Congressman VINO shall first make the
break for more pay for himself and his asso-
| ciates.
WHERE THE BURDEN Is HEAVIEST.
1t is upon the men most prominent in the
legislative affairs Of the nation that the burden
falls the heaviest. Occupying positions where
there are many drafts upon their pockets, with
social duties to fulfill that are expensive, none
OF them come out anywhere near even. During
| the last Congress the three men in the House
OF Representatives who were the most conspic-
| uous in the direction of it's affairs were
| Obliged TO draw upon outside resources to
! maintain the pace. The three referred to are
Speaker Reed. Maj. Mckinley and Mr.. Mills.
The magazine readers were interested in the
| articles from the pens of Messrs. Reed and
Mills, but they doubtless did not know that
they were not written SO much for the public
enlightenmenta as to replenish the empty pocket
books of the writer's. The Speaker received a
salary OF 81 GOO per annum, but even this was
inadequate. He received offers for the work
OF his pen that promised to make up the
deficiency and he accepted them. His first
country would bestow upon him in three
months for seeing" quOrums that have been
invisible to previous Speakers. In this enter
prise he saw a dignified way of making both
ends meet. and at the end of the session he was
enough ahead to make European trip, more
than one.third Of his expenses having been
paid for by his pen.
How MILLS AND MKINLEY MADE EXPENSES.
Mr.. Mills took the same method to piece out
his salary. The tariff discussion and his con-
nection with the then pending legislation on
that subject gave his written views an especial
value. He became q magazine contributor
and received in the neighberhood of 81 600 for
his work In this line. His public speeches also
brought him some returns, but there is 10
profit column in his ledger as the result of his
congressional services.
Mai. Mckinley was no better off, in fact he
was at the losing side OF tie table. Tied up
with the tariff bill and the leadership of the re-
publican sido Of the House, he had practically
no time to recoup the difference between his
salary and his expenses. A colleague on the
ways and means committee, man OF wealth
who was in Congress pastime and who later
rejected q denomination after it had been made
discovered that Maj. Mckinley was pressed
He proffered him any sum that he might need
The major took the offer under consideration
and finally replied:
We'll. Tom. will take an advance and give
You my note due ninety days after Congress
adJourns. guess l can square myself with
the world if once get out of the House.
1t will not be hard to see that men of the
caliber cited have to take much in glory instead
OF cash for their public services.
IN THE SENATE.
The Senate, frequently designated as the
millionaire club and popularity believed to
be composed OF members who alternate their
legislative duties with the pleasing occupation
OF cutting coupons from bonds, eau furnish
examples equally conspicuous. When senator
Ingalls, was the presiding officer Of that body
and receiving the $1,000 which goes with the
position his house and library we're burned In
Kansas. 10 recover the loss he undertook
literary work for the magazines, and has since
been more or less of a contributor. Senator
Edmunds has constantly practieed before the
Supreme Court of the United States, and dur
ing his senatorial career made money far in ex-
cess Of that received from the government.
Since leaving the House Senator Carlisle has
found TINS q convenient way to overcome def
ciencies and Senator Stewart. having lost his
millions, reinforces his salary by his law prac-
tice.
Maj. Ben. Butterworth, one Of the most brill
liant and bert liked men that ever sat in the
House, though enjoying good law practice. it
is said, was almost bsnkrupted by his congress
siOnal services
Members of Congress are frequently criti-
cised for lsek Of deIicscy il appointing their
own sons to committee clerkships, but if the
truth were known in many instances it would
be found that delicacy had been sacrificed i'll
order that the family purse might be kept SUI
iciently full to meet the requirements OF Off
cial position.
THE s1LcorT SENSATION.
Almost two years ago the members of the
House experienced an unusual sensation in the
announcement that Cashier Silcott had de-
camped with their salaries. In the investira-
ton that followed the methods that prevailed
in the transaction of business in the sergeant
alarms Office were pretty well disclosed at
least to the members Of tie committee. The
the defaulting cashier we're partially exaniired
by the committee. who SOON found out that
about half the members of the House bad Mt
some time or another been indebted to- the
cashier for either salary advance months ahoati
or for notes that he had discounted for Them
1t was great object lesson OH the necessities
OF Congressional life which compel the MEM
bers to borrow here and thore. These notes
and evidences OF debt we're net confined to any
particular class. 1t was not evidence Of this
nature that the committee WIS after and 10 was
promptly decided not TO so into these personal
accounts, which would mean an uupleasapt ex-
posure OF the financial condition Of many pub.
lie men. The attention of the committee was
then turned in tho direction of reimbu rscrnent
for the losers.
How srLcorT FELL.
A gentleman familiar with Silcot. and his
financial operations recently disclosed the cir
cumstances under which the latter first came
to cook his accounts.
If it had not been for a certain election con-
test, said this gentleman, Il do not think Sill
colt would have gone wrong. Silcott was
friend Of the democratic contestant who con-
WINGED silcott that he would surely be succers-
full, the ioase at that time being democratic
The contest was protraeted and costly The
democrat. if seated. would have drawn salary
from the beginning of the Congress. and upon
the assurance that he would certainly win Sc
cured from Siicott the money that he would
be entitled to when sworn in. In this
way almost a full years salary was advanced by
Silcott to the contestant Unfortanasely for
the cashier h;s man failed 10 establish his case.
1t was impossible for the defeated contestant
TO at once make good the sums obtained from