Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-07-21
PERSONAL INTERESTS
Induce Venezuelan congressman to
Reject Reciprocity.
RELATIVES HOLD THE OFFICES,
And While They Draw Salary, Duties Will
Not Be Decreased.
MULTITUDES OF GOVERNMENT CLERKS


ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DIsPATCH.1
CHICAGO, July 20.-A gentleman just re-
turned from Caracas, the capital of VeneZ-
uela, states that it has long been known
there that the Venezuelan Congress would
reject the reciprocity proposals. The entire
revenue for the support of the country. is
derived from the import and export duties,
and any diminution of these means de-
crease in the number of Government en-
ployes. No consideration of benefit to the
people at large is likely to induce a Con-
gresham to take action where it means the
dismissal of one or more of his relatives
from a well-paying position. A scheme
that would increase the receipts of the
Treasury would meet with an entirely diff
ferent reception.
This gentleman, before he left Caracas,
talked with number of people upon the
very subject at issue. Among others an
American named Brandon, who has resided
in Venezuela for II years, and has been and
is in the employ of the Venezuelan Govern
ment, expressed himself at that time as of
the opinion that reciprocity would be refused
1t was not then under consideration but
it was known that the matter would come
up during the session of Congress that was
then in progress, and in consequence the
merchants and others were discussing the
situation.
An American Residents Opinion.
"The Venezuelan Congress-" said Mr..
Brandon, will never consent to any propo-
sition which means reduction of the reve-
nue. which keeps the relatives in well-pay-
ing positions where they have no work to
do. According to the Constitution, the
members of both Houses of Congress hold
office for two years. During their term of
office their relatives and friends are we'll
provided for in the offices of the Ministers
and other departments. In the Department
of Fomento (war) alone there are so clerks,
each of whom is a relative of some Congress
man. These clerks have absolutely nothing
to do, and they draw large salaries while
lounging about town or playing poker in the
office of their chief.
"While the dome of the Federal palace
was being erected about a year ago L had oc-
casion to visit it several times, and from the
place where 1 stood watched them for sew
eral hours playing poker. They had one of
their number stationed as a lookout to warn
them of the arrival of the Minister of Fo-
mento, but there was no danger, for that gen.
tleman seldom looked into his office. There
was nothing going on to call him there, and
his time could be more pleasantly spent
elsewhere.
"This is but sample of the manner in
which the affairs OF the Government are
carried on. In the offices of the Minister of
Finance, of the Interior and others the
forces are equally as large and there are al
most as many Government clerks in Caracas
rs there are in Washington. In the Customs
department it takes about six clerks to do
what one man might do in tho United
States. Is it any wonder then that Congress
men will not vote to reduce expenses when
their own relatives are liable to be cut off?
"The Congressman as well as the Presi-
dent are in their offices for what they can
make, at any rate that is the general i'm
preston, and results seem to bear out this
conclusion. Guzman Blanco was regarded
as great public benefactor because while
he held office he expended portion of his
money i'll improving the city, but when he
went out of office he had between $20,C0O, 600
and S30000,OO0. The present President was a
poor man less than two years ago and it
is said he could not pay his daughters
music bill. Now he is reputed to be worth
from eight to ten millions.
Congressman Get Share.
"Congressmen get share of the profits of
office holding also. AS an instance showing
how public spirited they are, it is only
necessary to visit the electric plant erected
for supplying the city with light. There is
q gas company in Caracas which has sup
piled the streets and parks with gas at $40
per thousand for a number of years. Con-
gressmen own most of the stock of the COM
pany, and the profits go into their pockets.
When the electric light company asked per-
mission to put up its wires, Congress refused.
They did not care to benefit the public so
much as their own pockets, and the con-
sequence is, the plant of the electric COM
pany is idle.
The Congressman don't care whether
prices of food products decrease or not
Some years ago potatoes were imported
from the United States. The market men
were forced to sell them for cents per
pound. The same price is asked for them to-
day. At the same time the duties on onions
were such that the dealers were to ask II
cents for 3. This has been the price for years
and is current now. Butter is sold at 80
cents per pound as it was years ago, and is I
imported principally from Belgium in tin
cans. Flour sells ut about SIC per 6arrel,a
coal cannot be obtained for less than $23 per
ton. The Congressman and their gas factory
don't pay that for it, but the duties to every |
one else make it cost never less than that
price.
"The sole and only reason, upon which |
Congress will refuse reciprocity, will be that |
it directly affects their own fortunes and |
those of their friends. Attempts have been |
made to have the enormous expenses of the |
cut down, but they always failed |
and reciprocity and lower prices of food |
stutfs cannot come until action is taken in |
this direction. Each Congressman is afraid |
to take u step looking toward reducing eX-
penses, because he thinks that his relatives |
or his friends may be the ones to be cut off |
from the salary list"
Another Similar Opinion.
"Senor Francisco Paul, of the firm of Paul |
& Co. told me-" continued the recently re- |
turned gentleman, "that there was no hope |
for reciprocity. Senior Paul is relative of |
the President and has considerable influence |
with the government. He did not use the |
same language as did Mr.. Brandon, but he |
that reciprocity would fail, for |
luc IedSOn Iuut Illc eApcuSeS VI Ine govern
ment were so large that Congress could not |
afford to reduce its income l talked with |
at least dozen merchants on the same sub
iect and the opinions OF both Mr.. Brandon
ana Senor Paul were reiterated. DR.. Batclie- |
lor of the English Harbor Company at La
Guayra was very emphatic in his denuncia-
ton of the manner in which the Customs
department was conducted. He had been at |
La Guayra for several years and was famil-
lar with affairs there. He had found that |
unless the Congressman was to be benefited
in his own pocket, no measure could pass.
The taking off of duties on English goods |
would have suited him but he said it was
useless to try as long as the majority of peo-
pie of influence were Office holders. He had |
found that the congressman did not care
what the people had to pay for their food so
long as their positions were dependent upon
the present tariff. Every other man outside
of the few merchants and the laboring
classes was an office holder and as long as
they drew enough from the Government to |
pay for their luxurious time nothing would |
be DONE"