Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-01-22
THE PAY OF PARLlAMENTS
Pecuniary Rewards of Lawmakers in Vari-
GUS Countries.
Boer Legislators Get the Largest
Salaries, While ENGLAND
Pays Nothing At All.

Written for The Evening Star
An exhaustive examination has been
made of the political pay-rolls of the civil
lied globe, with the following interesting
results:
So far as payments in hard cash go.
the brawny burghers of the Transvaal are
decidedly the best OF. Quite recently the
Boer parliament increased the salaries OF
Its members to 5000 a year for each indi-
vidual. as they can very easily AFFORD TO
do, when one remembers the big tax-tolls
which the unfranchised Uitlanders are
compelled to pay. But In actual emolu-
ments the United States senator prob
ably receives a better reward. He is al
loved mileage and numerous minor fees
and privileges. which swell his annual in
come materially over its nominal 5000.
Great Britain, as every student knows.
les. although government officials for the
time being are royalty paid. The first lord
OF the treasury receives $4,000 as also do
the foreign. home. colonial, Indian and
war secretaries. The lord chancellor re-
ceives $4,000 per annum. But for the
NJ. P. who does not hold Office there is
naught save honor. Even the old privi-
lege Of net being liable to arrest for debt
while an NJ. P. has been abolished.
The British colonies. however. do not
follow the example of the mother coun-
try. New South Wales and Victoria al
low their NJ. P.'s 81. 500 per annum, Canada
and South Australia $1,000. with an addi-
tional mileage rate for the former. and
Queensland $3.50. with mileage. New Zea-
land representatives get 81, 80.
France gives its senators and deputies
1,SO0, but there is a string to this sal
airy, which might be tried elsewhere, In
Vienna, for instance. with good effects.
Any member who is twice called to order
during a sitting forfeits half his salary
for two weeks. Cases exist where certain
fiery French deputies have lost their en-
tire years allowances in this manner.
Belgium, while ii grants members OF
the representatives chamber $500 a year
and passes on the railroads. curiously
enough makes its senators work for moth
ing and pay their own travelling expenses.
In the realms of the little Queen Of Hol-
land members of the upper house are
paid a sum equal to about $i-1S per diem
for each session, but since they only meet
on thirty or thirty-two days In the year,
they can scarcely be said to clear much.
In the second chamber $3.50 per annum,
with a travelling grant of q cents for
every hour spent on the railroad. are the
allowances. Absentee Dutch law-givers
forfeit their salaries. whether their abb
sence be caused by illness or not.
The new Japanese parliamentary consti-
tuition compels each and every member
Of the national parliament to draw an
nually from the treasury about 1865. Any
member of the aristocratic classes refus-
ing to accept this salary. through pride
or other reasons, Is subject to fine and
dismissal, by the parliamentary rules OF
1880.
Portugal is niggardly with its repre-
sentatives, giving them only $3.50, and
Norway pays members from $3.50 to $780,
according to the length of the session.
In Sweden members Of the upper house
serve absolutely fer patriotism, while the
lower chamber members are only given
1886. Moreover. $275 per diem are de-
Quoted for non-attendance. Even the I'M
paid upper house Is fined for absenteeism,
although it's members get nothing-not
even train fares.
The Greek lawgiver is a $3.50 per annum
man, with additions for overtime work
(such as in the recent war;. 1t was re-
Gently suggested that these salaries should
be slightly locked" SO as to help pay
the Turkish indemnity, but the idea was
promptly condemned. Switzerland gives
her councillors something less than $
week, with about 6 cents day for travel
ing expenses.