Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1892-12-11

mine into which Mr.. Blaine was induced
by Steve Elkins to put $1,000 has re-
turned him fifty times that sum in divi-
bends. His book paid him enormously,
too, and though this was literature, and
not politics, it was his fame as a public
man which made his book profitable.
Senator Sherman has made fortune
out of politics. Always careful man
in money matters, a good fnancier,
economical and careful in his invest
ments, it was savings out OF his salary
as q member Of Congress third OF a
century ago that proved the foundation
of his wealth. He invested his money
in real estate, which rose rapidly in
value and made him rich, Now he is
building one of the finest houses In
Washington, and when he dies his es-
tate will be found valued A. upward OF
! a million dollars.
Besides these men, think one could
count on the fingers of his two hands
ali the living Americans who have made
money in any considerable sums out Of
politics of a national character. These
are the men who have capital prizes in
the lottery Of politics. For every prize
10000 other men have drawn blanks.
Nearly all the men who make politics
or public service profession remain
poor as long as they live. 1t is true that
the presidency is the only Office in our
government that has attached to 1t an
adequate salary. The day is coming, in
nv Judgment, when the American peo-
pie will demand reform in this respect.
Ii is a shame that as rich country as
this should pay its public servants such
meagre salaries that poor men cannot
afford to take high official positions.
This is particularly true OF offices
which require OF the incumbent rest
dences in Washington, ana yer after
year, as the Capital City grows larger
and more pretentious, this difficulty in
creases. The cost of living in style be-
fitting high official position increases
all the time in this city.
How can a poor man with family on
his hands-and most poor men | have
noticed do have families-afford to
come TO Washington as Senator, Rep
resentative, Cabinet officer, Justice OF
the Supreme Bench? He simply can't,
unless he be willing to sacrifice fnan-
cial prosperity for fame. The salary Of
a Supreme Court Justice is SlO,O0a year
and one of the Justices tells me that
only two Of the nine men on the bench
live within their official income. More
than one-half of the Senators spend in
Washington much more than their
salaries. Probably one-third of the
members of the House find il necessary
TO draw upon their private resources to
pay current expenses. Those who live
within their incomes do so at no little
sacrifice Of pride and comfort.
The constant tendency in Washing
ton is toward finer houses, more costly
mode of life, greater luxury and style.
1t is all very well 10 talk Of Republican
simplicity and plainness-thst may have
been done in the days of JeffersoR, when
Washington was q village in the mud
and the country was poor. The same
salaries that were paid in the times Of
simplicity and plainness are paid now.
So many rich men have Of late entered
public life that the poor men ind IL the
more difficult TO get along.
went along the other day with a
Congressman who was looking for q
place to live during the winter. He has
little besides his salary 70 go on. His
family consists Of his wife and himself.
sast winter they lived in one Of the
humber hotels for SIS q month. HaV-
ing bean reelected and his political
prospects now being very brlghh his