Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1900-01-11

IF|H1HT' ljR 81 stipend, but year at
- NV" ter year there have
been tucked into the corners of approprl-
alton bills items which are in the nature
of bonus to members.
The most substantial perquisite that
goes with a seat in Congress is mileage
at the rate of 20 cents per mile each way,
to and from the capital, once each SEES
sion. For example, if a member lives
1000 miles from Washington, on arrlv-
ing at the Capitol he finds the sergeant
alarms of the House, if he is Repre-
sentative or the secretary of the Senate,
if is a Senator, has credited his ac-
count with $500, or nearly an extra
months pay. The rate Of 70 cents per
mile was fixed long ago, when transpor-
tation was high The members from
the Pacific slope are luckiest in the mile
age hand-out. One of them gets Sl,44Z
per session, or 1854 for the term. Ii
a member rides on railroad passes the
mileage is all clear gain.
Congress appropriates every year Sl2o
per member for stationery, postage and
newspapers The stationery clerk opens
an account with the member, credltlng
him with 1925 at the start. He may take
his choice between drawing $125 the first
day of the session, or he may let MS
account remain open during the session,
drawing from time to time such supplies
of pens, ink, paper, ETC., as he needs,
which are charged to his account as he
gets them. At the end of the session he
signs a voucher for the uneXpended bal
ance. Whether he draws his $l20 IN
cash and pays for what he takes from
the stationery room or keeps an open ac-
count, the member pays about one-thlrd
or one-half what other people would pay
for the same article.
The allowance for postage and news
papers," included in the $125, is another
relic of the old days when members put
postage stamps on their letters and news
papers-in which they were supposed to
feel the public pulse-cost fancy prices.
The franking privilege has changed all
that, and the Congressman delights in
nothing more than in his ability to send
tons of stuff through the mails free of
charge.
The franking privilege has had it's ups
and downs. Years ago it was practically
carte blanche-members franked every
thing, but the privilege was so much
abused that the law was repealed. Then
the privilege was limited to public doc
uments and letters to officers of the gov
eminent on official business. The last
change made was in 1895, when mem
bers were authorized to send under frank
any communication ION official business"
to any person, provided the weight did
not exceed two ounces. The weight linn
itation is ignored by members and it is
not enforced.
The Congressman determines for him
self what constitutes official business
At the beginning of the last session of
Congress there came into the House
postoffice one day a typewriter, boxed,
bearing the frank of a Boston member
of Congress. To him that was official
business" Not very long ago one mem
Der used to frank to and from his home,
500 miles away, weekly, the family wash,
which was Numbered and returned to him
under frank as official business" An
agrarian member was accustomed to
have sent in from his farm fresh sup
Plies OF butter, green vegetables, etc.
Then comes the matter of clerk hire,
each Congressman during the session be-
ing allowed 500 a month for this pllr-
pose. There is we'll grounded suspi-
clon that in good many cases Congress-
men have regarded the 500 monthly
clerk hire as another perquisite of their
own. If clerks to members drew their
$lOO at the disbursng office and signed
the pay roll, like other employees, of
course there would be no rake-off for the
member. But the clerks are unknown,
officially. The member signs voucher
which states that he has paid or agreed
to pay the sum of 500 for clerk hire
during the month of - and files it
with the disbursng clerk, who thereupon
SENDS the member draft for 500, pay
able to his own order. The law says
mot to exceed $780, and few instances
are known where members have certified
only $50 or So
Some members have regular clerks to
Whom they turn over the 500 straight
quite a number of bright men handle
eacn the work of two, three or four men,
Ders, receiving from each $40 or $50 a
montn-the member making suitable dis
position of the balance of the 800. A
resolution was offered in the last Con-
sress TO put the clerks to members on
the pay roll, letting them draw their own
money. Of course it was promptly stifed
Salary, stationery allowances and clerk
hlre give the member $6,325 a year, to
when must be added the variable sum
received for mileage. This exhausts his
pun on the treasury, but if he is so mind
Gu Ne stlll has the opportunity to turn
penny by selling his seeds or public
documents.
News of Minor Note.
James Morris fatally shot Amede Do
menge, Rayville, La.
Three men killed John r Commence