Daily camera., 1901-02-27
SEE HOW THEY GROW.
Great Strides Of Soft Snaps Toward Per

Great Strides Of Soft Snaps Toward Per
m,neut Sin. cures
A writer in the Washington Post has
been looking into some things and he
finds cause for rejoicing in the first act
of retren1hment recorded by the U S.
senate.
The senate has actually passed bill
saving the government over $1,000 a
year by dispensing with the services OF a
committee clerk. 1t seems that the
committee on Foreign Relations had two
assistant clerks. each drawing $l.44, a
year. BY resolution adopted yesterday
there is to be only one clerk who is to
get $1,000. 1t is the only resolution OF
its kind that the senate was ever known
to pass.
1t mi, ht be added, however. that the
two assistant clerks were needed because
the clerk OF the committee Lever CAME
to the Capitol-never even came to
Washington. for that ma,ter-and abso'
lutely did nothing but draw his salary.
He has los. his sinecure, one Of the as
sistant clerks has been appoir,ed to his
place. and III. change Of salary been
made.
Talking about sinecuIes THEY are as
thick at the Capitol as peas in pod
The revelations made during the debate
on the general deficiency bill were as
founding. They showed that commit.
te. clerks, the moment they do any
real work tor the govsInment, a,
ono, use their inhu .nce with members
to secure additional money. and con-
gress has been in the habit Of pre-.
sen,lng them with handsome gratu,ues
simply because no one had the nerve 10
oppose the petty depredations upon the
public treasury. For Instance, the clerk
OF one committee, who was called upon
to read proof of the testimon taken be
will receive 81 900 Tor extra work. Pen
sion Office clerks. who happened 20 b:
detailed to help tn. congressional pen
sion committees, are presented with $500
apiece. in addition TO ;hhs regular salar
les which the government pays them
O,her clerks. who compile" few pages
out Of the Congressional Record are
given from $50 to $1,000 for extra
| work, although they do the work 10 OF
hce hours. Aud all this, too, when they
are at the capital never more than six
months GU: Of the year.
Tne lsxi,y through which this abuse
has grown up was well illustrated in a
brief dialogue between Representative
Loud and Chairman Cannon, the latter
having reported the bill which contained d
all these e gratuities. who is William l.
Stiles. who is to receive ali appropra
ton as messenger for the committee
on accoun,s1" asked Mr. Loud.
"We.l.' frankly replied Mr. Cannon
"if God do.sntknow him any better than
do, then hris lost"
These are, however, minor rails upon
the treasury. A report just issued BY
congress is remarkable illustration oil
the growth Of the bureau system
Not very long ago congress author
lied the establishment OF the bureau oil
animal industry. The bureau W. 10
consist OF one chief at salary O. 5; 900
year, one clerk asSl.5oo year, and
twenty inspectors a, $40 day. The re.
port just issued shows that dur.ng the
last year the expenses OF the bureau
were as follows:
Salaries s76o.3ao 6I
travelling expenses 22.ol7 S.
Miscellaneous IoI.6,l as
Total SSo36I O.
From two officials with a com oIned
salary Of 81 500 to bureau which :prnes
nearly million dollars in twelve months
is pretty good record, even for Wash.
ngton.
TO CURE A COLD IN ONE DAY