Crawford avalanche., 1900-01-11

alton billS items which are In the nature
of bonus to members.
The most substantial perquiste that
goes with seat in Congress is mileage
at the rate of 20 cents per mile each way,
to and from the capital, once each ses-
sion. For example, il a member lives
1000 miles from Washington, on arriv-
ing at the Capitol he finds the sergeant
alarms of the House, IL he is a Repre-
sentative, or the secretary of the Senate,
if he is Senator, has credited his ac-
count with $400, or nearly an extra
months pay. The rate of 20 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 81 ,442
per session, or $2,SS4 for the term. If
a member rides on railroad passes the
mileage is all clear gain.
Allowance for Stationery.
Congress appropriates every year $125
per member for stationery, postage and
newspapers" The stationery clerk opens
an account with the member, crediting
him with 1926 at the start. He may take
his choice between drawing $125 the first
day Of the session, or he may let his
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 voucher for the unexpended bal
ance. Whether he draws his $125 in
cash and pays for what he takes from
the stationery room or keeps an open ac-
count, the member pays about one-third
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 its 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abused that the law was repealed.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
ernment 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
postofiice 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
ber used to frank to and from his home,
500 miles away, weekly, the family wash,
which was laundered 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..
under frank which declared them to be,
in the members opinion, official busi-
ness"
"Rake OFF" from Clerks.
Then comes the matter of clerk hire,
each Congressman during the session be-
ing allowed 500 month for this pur-
pose. There is well grounded suspi-
cion that in a good many cases Congress
men have regarded the 500 monthly
clerk hire as another perquisite of their
own. If clerks to members drew their
500 at the disbursing 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 a voucher
which states that he has paid or agreed
during the month of -" and files it
with the disbursing 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
each the work of two, three or four men,
bers, receiving from each $40 or $50 a.
month-the member making suitable dis
position Of the balance of the 800. A
was offered In the last Goa
gress TO put the clerks to members on
the pay roll, letting them draw their own
money. or course it was promptly stihed.
Salary, stationery allowances and clerk
hire give the member $6,325 a year, to
which must be added the variable sum
received for mileage. This exhausts his
pull on the treasury, but if he is so mind
ed he still has the opportunity to turn
a penny by selling his seeds or public
documents.
His annual quota of seeds, plants and
cuttings" is as follows:
Vegetable seeds five papers in a pack
age), $500 packages.
Flower seeds Give papers in package),
400 packages.
Field corn, so quarts.
Lawn or grass seed, 60 quarts.
Strawberry plants, 140 plants.
Grape vines, 40 vines.
This seed luxury costs the people like
S1OO per year for each member.
The public documents each Congress-
man receives are many. A member who
serves several terms can accumulate a
stock of books which have a considerable
market value.