The Worcester spy., 1899-06-23
EXPENSE ITEMS.
Government Spends
Money for Many
Queer Things.
UNCLE SAM PAYS FUNNY BILLS.
Lighthouses in Foreign
Countries and Euro
pean Prisons.
UNCLE SAM PAYS FUNNY BILLS.
washington Star.)

Inc OnlteQ states government pays
out annually thousands of dollars for
purposes which not enc 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 remarka-
Bile items. Appropriations 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
supposed to be a thing of the past, the
United States does not think so. This
is evidenced by the fact that this coun-
try contributes annually S100 as its
share of keeping up at Brussels an in
stitution known as the international
bureau for the repression of the Afri-
can slave trade.
Uncle Sam is deeply interested in as
certaining the size of the earth over
which he recently stretched out his
mighty hand. With a view of gaining
the much desired information, he pays
annually, through the American embas-
sy at Berlin, his quota as an adhering
member of the international Geodetic
Association for the measurement Of
the earth, $500. The records do not
show what process 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 pays
$131S annually as its proportionate
share of the expense. More expensive
still is the annual membership fee of
the United States in another institution
with headquarters in Brussels. Every
year s2270 is paid by this government as
contribution to the maintenance of
the international bureau of weights and
measures.
1t costs the United States no less than
$14,100 annually to provide prisons for
American convicts in foreign countries.
These prisons are under the immediate
jurisdiction of the consular officers in
various cities in China, Corea, Japan
and Turkey. They are seldom used,
but they must be maintained, neverthe-
less. The prisons, with the cost of rent
and salary of keepers, are as follows:
Bangkok, $1,000; Shanghai, $3.50; Yoko-
hama, $780, Turkey, $1,000. For keep
ing 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
finding plenty of men about Washing
ton who would spent day without re-
muneration watching the destruction
by maceration of United States securi-
ties. But to save the secretary any
possible embarrassment congress has
provided that he may pay the re-
preventative of the public, who the law
ha a
witness the reduction of the securities
to pulp, S5 a day for each day he may
be so occupied.
On the coast Of Morocco, at Tangier
and Cape Spartel mariners used to ex-
perience great difficulty in avoiding
disaster on account of the absence of
warning night signals on the shore.
| Lighthouses 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. Lighthouses
were established and the powers are
assessed so much annually for their
maintenance. The share of the United
| States in this expense is 1926.
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 ap-
preparation of $4,000.
This government is ever grateful for
| any service rendered it's citizens in case
] of marine disasters by those of foreign
countries. Such services are usually
| substantially remembered, and there is
| a special provision for them. An an
| nual appropriation of S4500 is made for
Expenses incurred in the acknowledge
| ment of the services of masters and
crews of foreign vessels in rescuing
| American seamen and citizens from
| shipWreck." 1t also pays $500 a year
| toward maintaining hospitals in Para
| ma in order that American sailors may
| enjoy the benefits Of those institutions
| 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
authorizes the secretary Of the treas
ury to furnish them with food, fuel and
| clothing, and for this purpose 49, 50(
| is appropriated. Industrial and ele-
mentary education in Alaska costs the
government $4,000 year.
The Washington monument comes II
for a good sized appropriation every
year. In order that it may be keep
open to the public and receive the nee
essary repairs, congress allows the wal
department an annual appropriation O
S11, ,520 The same department is giveT
s547.275 annually to be expended il
providing artificial limbs for soldiers
and an additional sum of $1,000 is ap
propriated for surgical appliances 70
the veterans.
The secretary of the treasury IS al
lowed S2500 a year with which to en-
ploy a man "to inspect public build
| ings and examine into their require
ments for furniture, fuel and lights.
| The items enumerated are only a fev
of the long list of unique expenditure
made by the government The state de
partment has a secret fund which !
used for diplomatic purposes. The pub
lie knows absolutely nothing abou
this fund, and everything concernirl
it is surrounded with the greatest al
of secrecy. Out of it are paid the bill
for entertaining foreign visitors wh
may be the guests of the governmen
from time to time.
"Id be afraid to marry a girl who ha
lust graduated, wouldn't you, Billy?'
Yes; too much like going in for