Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1892-12-12
DOES IT PAY?

The Question Asked and An
| swered by a Brainy Man
Who Has Seen the Ups and Down
Of the Political Arena.
Ms Fun n reu Like it--Peli.ieians Nhs nas
Bssa Festuaats.
! WASHINGTON, Dec. 1.-THE followin
article from the pen Of one of Washing
toms most popular correspondents will
of interest TO all who may
Hooking for job" Does polite
pay? This is question often asked
The answer is contradictory. 1t doe
and it does not. Ii all depends ON you
idea of profit. 1t is like fishing--it's ful
il you like it, whether you have goos
luck or not, but it's more fun if yo,
catch fat string.
As means of getting along in thu
world, acquiring fortune. laying up /
reserve for the family after ones death
or providing for the wet days whici
may come while one yet lives. it is as :
rule delusion and a snare. There ar
exceptions TO all rules, and here an,
there is man who makes politics pa,
from financial point of view. Once il
awhile you will hear of a man VIII,
draws the capital prize III a lottery ol
gets rich playing games of chance ol
following the races, but he is only on,
out of ten Thousand. So it is in politics
Let me tell You of few of the luck,
ones l know of-just enough exceptions
to prove the rule: Mr.. Cleveland is now
a rich man. His fortune | have heard
estimated at 100000. Nearly all Of
this he has made in politics. Ten o,
twelve years ago his fortune didn't
amount to more than $4,000. As 4
lawyer in Buffalo he was earning prob
ably $4,000 year and spending 'he
biggest part Of it.
As soon as he entered politics his
financial condition began to improve,
He saved little out of his salary as
governor of New York. He saved more
out Of his salary as president. His real
estate investment in Washington repre-
sented small fortune in itself. In the
practice of law during the last foui
years his annual income has been about
$35, 900, the prestige of his name hav-
ing brought many large fees to his firm.
President Harrison, too, has made
money ont of politics. He has saved
$125, 900 out of his salary in four years,
and this is five times as much as he was
worth when he was elected TO the chief
magistracy. There is no reason why he
shouldn't add rapidly to his present for
tune after leaving the White House
He will, after rest of few months, re
sumo the practice of law at indianapolis.
His speciality in the future, as in the
past, will be railroad cases. His prestige
will now be so great as TO enable him t.
serve only as advisory counsel and fo'
none but handsome fees. ! shall pe
much surprised if General Harrison in
come during the next five years falls be.
low the salary which he has enjoyed rs
president. There are few better lawyers
in this country than President Harrison
Mr.. Blaine has made money ont oi
thirty years ago he had to borrow money
to travel with. For some time he con
tinued poor, but with his rare quality o'
attracting friendships it was not lona
before he found opportunities of making
money by fortunate investments. Of his
savings. One Colorado mine into which
Mr.. Blaine vas induced by Steve Elkins
to put $1,000 has returned him fifty
times that sum in dividends. His book
paid him enormously. too, and though
this was literature, and not politics. II
was his fame as a public man which
made his book profitable.
Senator Sherman has made a fortune
out of politics. Always careful man
in money matters, good fnancier,
economical and careful in his invest
ments, it was savings out of his salary
as 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 at upward of
million dollars.
Besides these men, think one could
connt on the fingers Of his two hands
all the living Americans who have made
money in any considerable sums out of
politics Of national character. These
are the men who have capital prizes iii
the lottery of politics. For every prize
10000 other men have drawn blanks.
Nearly all the men who make poiitiei
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 it an
adequate salary. The day is coming, IN
my Judgment, when the American peo-
pie will demand reform in this respect.
1t is shame that as rich a country as
this should pay its public servants such
meager salaries that poor men canno;
afford to take high official positions
This is particularly true Of offices which
require of the incumbent residence ii
Washington, and year after year, as the
Capital City grows larger and more pre-
tentious, this difficulty increases. The
cost Of living in style befitting high OF.
fetal position increases all the time ia
this city.
How can poor man with family on
his hands--and most poor men have
noticed do have families-afford to coius
to Washington as senator, representa-
tive, cabinet officer or justice on tn
supreme bench? He simply can't, unless
he be willing TO sacrifice financial pros
perity for fame. The salary Of Il sri-
preme court Justice is 10000 q year
and one Of the justices tells me that osily
two of the nine men on the bench live
within their official income. More than
one-half the senators spend in Washing.
ton mnch more than their salaries
Probably one-tbird of the members ol
the house find 1t necessary to draw upon
their private resources TO pay current
expenses. Those who live within thei.
incomes do SO at no little sacrifice d
pride and comfort.
The constant tendency in Washington
is toward finer houses, more costly rnesie
of life, greater luxury and style. i. il
all very well y talk Of republican sitn-
plici,y and p.ainness--that may have
been done in the days Of jefferson. whell
Washington was village in the mrl
and the country was poor. Ihe sai;it
sala,ies that were paid IN the tirEcs of
simplicity and plainness are psia now.