Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-06-08
UNUSUAL EXPENDITURES
Uncle Sam Has Some Bills That Few Know
Anything About
Light Houses and Prisons in Foreign
Lands-Rewards for Bravery
Queer Items.

| The United States government pays out
| annually thousands of dollars for purposes
| which not one in a thousand citizens
| knows anything about. A close study of
| the appropriation bills passed every year
| by Congress reveals the fact that this
| country has an expense account which
| contains some remarkable items. Appro-
| priations for these have been regularly
| made for years and will probably continue
| to be made for many more to come.
| Although slave trading is generally sup
posed to be thing of the past the United
States does not think so. This is evidenced
| by the fact that this country contributes
annually 500 as it's 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 ascer-
tanning the size of the earth over which he
recently stretched out his mighty hand.
with view of gaining the much desired
information he pays annually through the
American embassy at Berlin, his quota as
an adhering member of the International
Ieodetlc Association for the measurement
OF the earth, 1900. The records do not
show what progress the association is MAX
ing toward reducing the size of this planet
to cold figures, but the 81 500 is paid every
year.
In Brussels there is an international bu-
reau for the publication of customs tariffs
IL costs money to maintain the bureau, and
the United States pays S1,31S annually as its
Proporlonate share of the expense. More
expensive still is the annual membership
fee of the United States in another institu-
ton with headquarters in Brussels Every
year S2,2lO is paid by this government as
contribution to the maintenance of the in
ternational bureau of weights and meas
ureS.
Prisons In Foreign Lands.
1t costs the United States no less than
Sl4,lOo annually to provide prisons for
American convicts in foreign countries.
These prisons under the immediate
jurisdiction of the consular officers in va
rious cities in China, Corea, Japan and
Turkey. They are seldom used but they
must be maintained, nevertheless. The pris-
ons, with the cost of rent and salary of
keepers, are follows: Bangkok, 1000;
Shanghai, 81 $50; Yokohama, $3.50; Turk
ey, $1,000 For keeping and feeding such
prisoners as may from time to time be
fined in these prisons 5000 is set aside
eE cry year
The Secretary of the Treasury would
doubtless experience no difficulty in finding
plenty of men about Washington who
would spend day without remuneration
watching the destruction by maceration of
United States securities. But to save the
Secretary any possible embarrassment Con-
gress has provided that he may pay the
representative of the public, who the law
says shall be one of a committee to witness
the reduction of the securities to pulp, s.
day for each day he may be so employed.
On the coast of Morocco, at Tangier and
Cape Spartel mariners used to experience
great difficulty in avoiding disaster on ac-
count OF the absence of warning night sig
mails on the shore. Light houses were sadly
needed, and as the government of Morocco
would not provide them, the great powers
took the matter in hand in the interest of
their shipping interests Light houses were
established and the powers are assessed SO
much annually for their maintenance The
share of the United States in this expense
is 1929
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 it there is an
annual appropriation of 5000.
Rewards for bravery
This government is ever grateful for any
service rendered its citizens in case of ma
rine disasters by those of foreign countries
Such services are usually substantially re-
membered, and there is a special provision
Tor them. An annual appropriation of
$4,000 is made for EXPENSES incurred in
the acknowledgment of the services of
masters and crews of foreign vessels in
rescuIng American seamen and citizens
from shlpWreck" 1t also pays $500 year
toward maintaining hospitals in Panama
in order that American sailors may enioy
the benefits of those institutions whenever
necessary.
s.
lands of St. Paul and st. George receive
special consideration al the hands of the
government. Congress authorizes the Gee
rotary OF the Treasury to furnish them
with food, fuel and clothing and for this
purpose Sl39oo is appropriated. Industrial
ana elementary education in Alaska costs
the government $4,000 a year.
The Washington monument comes In for
good sized appropriation every year In
order that 1t may be kept open to the pub
nc ana receive the necessary repairs, Con-
gress allows the War Department an an
nuaI appropriation of s11, 520 The same
department Is given s547, 275 annually to
be expended in providing artificial limbs
Tor soldiers, and an additional sum of 81 600
Is appropriated for surgical appliances for
the veterans.
The Secretary of the Treasury is allowed
S2,'Do year with which to employ a man
to inspect public buildings and examine
into their requirements for furniture. fuel
and lights The items enumerated are onIv
a few of The long list of unique expendi-
lures made by the government The State
department has q secret fund which is
used for diplomatic purposes. The public
knows absolutely nothing about this fund
and everything concerning it is surrounded
with the greatest air of secrecy Ont of
1t are paid the bills for entertaining for
elgn visitors who may be the guests of the
government from time to time