St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1899-08-02
ODD GOVERNMENT EXPENSES.
Unfamiliar Purposes for Which Thous-
ands of Dollars Are Paid Annually.

Unfamiliar Purposes for Which ThOus-
ands OF Dollars Are Paid Annually.
The United States government pays
out annually thousands of dollars for
purposes which not one citizen in a
thousand knows anything about. APP
preparations for some of these purposes
have been regularly made for years and
will probably continue to be made for
many more to come.
Although slave trading is generally
supposed to be thing Of the past, the
government does not think so. This is
shown by the fact that this country con-
tributes annually 500 as its share of
the expense OF keeping up at Brussels an
institution known as the International
Bureau for the Repression of the African
Slave Trade.
Uncle Sam is deeply interested in as
pertaining the size of the earth over
which he recently stretched out his
mighty hand. With a view of gaining
the desired information he pays $500
annually, through the American embassy
at Berlin, as his quota as member of the
International Geodetic association for
the measurement OF the earth. The re-
cords do not show what progress the
association is making toward reducing
the size OF this planet to cold figures, but
the $500 is paid every year.
In Brussels there is an International
bureau for the publication of customs
tariffs. 1t costs money to maintain the
bureau, and the United States pay $1318
annually as their proportionate share of
the expenses. More expensive still is the
annual membership fee of the United
States in another institution with head
quarters in Brussels. Every year $2270
is paid by this government as contribu.
ton to the maintenance of the interna-
tional bureau of weights and measures.
1t costs the United States no less than
$14, 900 annually to provide prisons Tor
American convicts in foreign countries.
These prisons are under the jurisdiction
of the consular officers in various cities
in China, Corea, Japan and Turkey.
They are seldom used, but they must be
maintained, nevertheless. The locations
OF the prisons with the cost of rent and
salary of keepers are as follows: Bankok,
$1,000; Shanghai, $3.50; Yokohama,
$780, Turkey, $1,000. For keeping
and feeding such prisoners as may from
time to time be confined in these prisons
$4,000 is set aside every year.
The secretary of the treasury would
doubtless experience no difficulty in find
ing plenty OF men about Washington
who would, without remuneration,
spend day watching the destruction by
maceration of United States securities
But to save the secretary any possible
embarrassment, Congress has provided
that he may pay the representative Of
the public, who the law says shall be one
of committee, to witness the reduction
Of the securities to pulp, SIS day for
each day he may be so employed.
On the coast of Morocco, at Tangiers
and Cape Spartel, mariners used to ex
perience great difficulty in avoiding dis
aster on account Of the absence of warn
ing night signals on the shore. Light
houses were sadly needed, and as the
government OF Morocco would not pro-
vide them the great powers took the
matter in hand. Lighthouses were es
tablished and the powers are assessed sc
much annually for their maintenance
The share of the United States in thi.
expense is $325.
1t is sometimes necessary for the United
States to bring back to this country
from abroad persons charged with crime
1t is rather expensive work, and for i
there is an annual appropriation o
$4,000.
This government is ever grateful fol-
any service rendered to its citizens il
case OF marine disasters by people o
foreign countries. Such services ar,
usually substantially remembered anc
there is a special provision for them. Ar
annual appropriation of $4,000 is mad,
for Expenses incurred in the acknow
Judgement of the services of masters ant
crews OF foreign vessels in rescuing Ameri
can seamen and citizens from shipwreck.
The government also pays $500 a yeal
toward maintaining hospitals in Pa
mama in order that American sailor.
may enjoy the benefits of those institu
tons whenever necessary.
The people OF Alaska, who inhabit the
islands of St. Paul and St. George, re
ceive special consideration at the hands
OF the government. Congress author
ICES the secretary of the treasury to
furnish them food, fuel and clothing, and
for this purpose $40 50Ois appropriated
The Washington monument comes in
for good-szed appropriation every
year. In order that it may be kept open
to the public and receive the necessary
repairs, Congress allows the war depart
ment an annual appropriation of SILL,
500. The same department receives
$547,2 annually to be expended in
providing artificial limbs for soldiers
and an additional sum of $4,000 is ap'
propriated for surgical appliances for the
veterans.
The state department has secret fund
which is used for diplomatic purposes
The public knows absolutely nothing
about this fund and everything concern.
ing it is surrounded with the greatest air
of secrecy. Out of it are paid the bills
for entertaining foreign visitors who
may be the guests of the government