Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-01-15
AFTER THE LEAKS.
ECONOMICAL CONGRESSMEY STUDYING The
FEs SYSTEM
Bow 3. K. Bruce Makes S4OOOOa Year in Per-
= uEciory Way-Ths New York Post0fice
Receipts From Stamp Sales-Othsr
Driblets That Count Biz.

Driblets That Count Big.
WASHINGTON, January IA West
ern Congressman has declared himself
10 the writer as decidedly in favor Of
applying the pruning-knife 10 some OF
the larger branches Of the Government
and letting the little tw!gs alone.
1T all lOOsks very we'll on paper" be
said to-day, "for a Congressman or a
a.. Senator 70 be stingy with other peoples
money, and il makes little difference
10 the general public whether his close
listed Tight on the floor results in the
discharge Of a charwOman aud the
saving OF S. a week or the contraction
OF expenses in other directions where
the output is much larger"
The member went on 70 say that he
believed the fee system would receive a
thorough investigation ana regenera-
ton. IL seems that nearly every officer
OF the Government who does not depend
on stated salary rests In the enjoy
ment OF a ''snap." What is eVerybOdy's
business is nObOdy's business, and some
OF the commissions these Federal APP
pOinteeS take out OF the pockets OF the
people for transaction OF business are
startling In their bulk and girth.
Take, for instance, Blanche IL. Bruce,
Recorder OF Deeds for the District OF
Columbia, who, before he went into ma
tiOnal politics, was a Mississippi barber.
His Office pays him about $40, 900 year.
In other words, this professional pOllti-
clan, who has even made capital OF the
color Of his skin, draws more out OF the
Treasury every twelve months than the
average man OF equal accomplishments
can even in an ordinary lifetime. he
receives for his services land his duties
are pertunctOryl i've times as much as
a judge Of the Supreme Court, aud yet
nOthinEr5s said about 10 because II Is not
generally known.
Let the salaries Of the Justices OF the
Supreme Court be increased TO CORES
pond with this mans income and the
people would not stand 10 FOR a minute.
Ana yet, Bruce is only type. These
''Sin-e-Cu-rses, as they are called in de-
riSlOu by citizens OF Washington, are
held in reserve by the administration 70
reward party henChmen, especially
those henChmen who are able 70 control
an element State delegation Of free
negroes, for instance.
But by far the greatest evil resultant
from this system is the way In which
fees are kept inflated. II the officials
received fair salary, aad were forced
by law 20 cover the surplus received
as commissions into the Treasury
i'm their annual reports they might
advocate retrenchment in certain direc-
tiOuS, a thing they will never do so long
as retrenchment would mean a proper
tionate decrease in their piCkings. But
even a fixed salary does not always
pave the way 20 absolute safety agsinS.
officials with an eye 10 the main chance.
Take New York Post Office, for instance.
OstenSlbly the postmaster gets Sl0,OOOa
year and no pickings, except that which
his immense political patronage may
bring him indirectly. And yet the New
York Post Office is one OF the plums
within the gift OF the administration.
The Congressman referred 20, who pro-
- poses q make dIliEent inquiry concern
ing these things, speaking or the New
York Post Office, said:
''The New York Postmaster is shop
keeper on q large scale, and ont Of sta
tionery alone he is enabled 20 save
fortune during a single tenure OF four
wears. Take the item OF stamped en-
welcomes alone. II the Postmaster sells
two Of them he gets cents; that is 60
say, the purchaser pays a hal! cent
each for the envelopes, but II the Post
master sells twenty-five stamped envel-
opes ne receives but 50 cents, believe.
At least the purchaser pSys a great deal
less proportiouatelY for the envelopes
after paying for the stamps than when
he buys in smaller quantities. In
making his returns 70 the Gov
eminent the Postmaster pays Tor
the envelopes disposed Of at the
lowest wholesale rate and pock-
cts the difference. He clears about
10 or u cents on every dollars worth OF
stamped envelopes sold in small quaOti-
ties. He is not dishonest IN doing this;
il is one Of the well-knOwn Gin admins
tration circlss) and acknowledged per
ouisites OF his position. The fault lies
in the system, not ia the man. The law
should compel him 70 make correct
return OF every envelope sold, with the
price paid by the consumer"
What is said above applies 10 every
large post Office Ia the country. There
is certainly a wije-open opportunity
for some watchdog of the Treasury to
show mis- teeth.