The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-10-30
UNCLE SAM SHARES
IN THE EXPENSE
10 Contributing to the Cost Of the Politi |.
cal Campaigs.
IMPARTlALlTY TO ALL PARTIES
The Government is a Most Liberal
Contributor to the Campaign Fund
in Furnishing Free Postage for
Public Documents and Other Aid.
Over s2,aOO,OOO Dropped Into the
Hopper This Year.

Uncle Sam is a liberal contributor to
the campaign fund this year. Few
people realize how liberal this patriotic
parsonage is in this matter. His direct
contribution this year is something
over $2.400,000. This is a very moder-
ate estimate. The fact that no accounts
are kept makes 1t impossible to ascer-
tain the exact amount. This amount
covers the more direct contribution.
and does not take into account that
which Is done indirectly.
According to the very lowest esti-
mate, the two parties, through their
distributing agencies, have sent out 40
100000 pieces Of literature under con-
gressional frank. The probability Is
that this estimate is altogether too
low. Mr.. Hanna has stated that the
Republican committees have distribut-
ed 6OO,000000 documents. The DEM
ocrats have not distributed anything
like as many. but their number is un-
usually high. 1t is likely that at least
a third of all the documents sent out
were parts of the Congressional Rec
ord, and were sent under frank, free
Of postage. These documents are
sealed in envlopes, and would be sub
ject to letter postage If not sent free.
The average postage would be 6 cents
or more per piece. Taking the low es-
postage would amount to 81, 400, ,00O
This Is one item. There Is a good
deal besides that Uncle Sam does.
The printing Of documents Is paid
for by the committees, but to a very
large extent they are saved the cost of
composition on speeches and congress
sional documents through the use of
stereOtyped plates made at govern
ment expense for the congressional
record. How much this government
contribution amounts to 1t would be
difficult to calculate. 1t is not a di-
rect expense to the government. In
sional record which go through the
malls free. under frank, there are
many documents from the depart
ments which 60 free as official mat
ter. Much matter of this sort has
gone out under the covers of the bu-
reau of statistics. the treasury depart
ment and the department of agricul-
ture.
COST OF FOLDING.
OF course the cost of collecting in
formation cannot be taken into ac-
count, but II this had to be done by
the campaign committees the cost to
them would be enormous. Those cam
paign documents which are q part of
the congressional record are folded,
that is, put into envelopes and sealed,
at government expense. One dollar a
thousand is paid for this work, and
there is always large appropriation
made for this purpose. This year the
amount Of folding was so great that
the appropriation was exhausted about
three weeks ago, and the work has
been done since on credit, under a
promise Joined in by the senators and
members Of the house on the two cam
paign committees that they would Sc
cure a deficiency appropriation frop
congress to pay the bills as soon as the
next session begins. A large number
or persons are engaged in this work,
and have been making good wages out
or 1t. The average Is not below 81 q
day, and few. who are expert, make
as much as $12 day.
Some years ago the franking prvi-
lege was extended to all members of
the house and senate for their corres-
pOndence, both private and official.
This was regarded as an abuse, and an
act was passed withdrawing the privi-
lege. Being deprived of the right to
send their letters free of postage add
ed great deal to the expense of con-
gressional life, and was regarded as
great burden by congressman. The
money spent for postage made a hole
of no small size in their salaries of
$4,000. 1t cost members anywhere from
dollar to three dollars a day. Dur
ing the last session of the Fifty-thlrd
congress an act was passed granting
the franking privilege in all official
correspondence. This relieved con-
gressmen Of the expense of postage on
all except their private correspond
ence. The term official" Is given O
broad construction and many q two
cent stamp is saved.
WITH FREE POSTAGE.
This Is the first general election un-
der this new dispensation of free post
age, and the volume of official mail has
been immense. 1t is impossible to
made anything like an adequate esti-
mate of the amount 1t has cost the
postal revenues. During the sessions
of congress fifty letters a day for each
member is not a high average esti-
mate. The average has probably been
higher than fifty during the last two
months of the campaign. This item,
therefore. may be safely estimated at
about $4,000 for the sixty days.
Moreover, the senators and members
have had to a large extent the services
of the salaried congressional employees
and have had their private secretaries.
The entire sum of Uncle Sans con-
tribution to the campain Is not small.