The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-12-27
OUR NATIONAL LEGISLATORS.

The benevolent orders throughout the
country are very much interested in
bill now pending before the Ways and
Means Committee of the House. The OBJ
ject of the bill is to repeal that section of
the war revenue act of June 49, 1898, re-
quiring fraternal and beneficial societies
TO affix revenue stamps to checks, orders
and receipts for money The bill was in
tToduced by Representatives Gaines of
Tennessee. He is an earnest advocate
and defender of fraternaI and beneficial
societies. In his opinion orders of this
character should be exempt from paying
the var revenue tax mentioned. He will
so before the Ways and Means Commit
tee al an early day and make an argument
in support of his measure.
It has been observed for years that just
about this season the drinking water of
the National Capital is anything but in
viting, and the members of Congress do
not like it. In the opinion of Representa-
tive Schirm of Maryland there should be
q complete system of filtration OF the
water supply for the Capitol building He
thinks the House and Senate could very
easily get along with 300, 600 gallons per
day each Of filtered water, and that
plant capable of furnishing 100000 gallons
daily could be installed in the Capitol at
a cost of not exceeding $50. 900. He has
Put his ideas on the subject izs4f1e form
Of a bill, which is now before the Com
mittee on Public Buildings and Grounds
Quite a nupber OF the members have been
made i'll by drinking muddy water, and it
goes without saying that they Will sup
port Mr.. Schirm in his effort to secure
filters at the Capitol.
Representative Jenkins of Wisconsin,
who is a member OF the House District
Committee, not only fayors liberal ap-
DroprtatIons for all District improve
ments, but also believes that the salaries
Of the District judges should be increased
in proportion to their dignity and import
anee- For several years he has commended
for al increase in the salaries of the
District judges and he win renew the
fight this session. He says the Chief
Justice OF the Court OF Appeals of the
District should receive $500 per annum,
and the associated justices ss,00o. The
Chief Justice and the Associated Justices
OF the Supreme Court Of the District he
would give s. 500. and to the Judges OF
the Police Court 81 zoe per annum. In
order to get the best class Of men for
the bench Congress, Mr.. Jenkins says,
should pay liberal salaries, and then
there would be nc occasion for men TO
leave the bench and resume the practice
Of Law in order TO support their families
---
There is one bill before the Senate
Committee on Postonees and Postroads
in which Senator Mason, the chairman,
is very much interested, providing for
gradual increase in the salaries OF the
letter carriers. Chairman Mason says
there is no class OF Government employees
SO poorly paid as the man who deIiv-
ers our daily mail The letter carrier,
says Chairman Mason. somehow or other
has always been overlooked when Con
gress in a fit OF generosity, has raised
the pay Of employees of the Departments
and it is about tine that a little portion
be meted out to the man who carries
the mail bag The increase asked for by
the carriers is very modest. They enter
the service at $500 per anBum, and can
get no higher than 81 900. and sometimes
a carrier viii serve ten and twelve years
before reaching the maximum pay. The
bill he wants passed will give the car
rier after four years faithful service
81 200 per aRnun. They start in al $500,
and if their record IS all right they re-
ceIve an increase Of soc each year until
they receive 81, 200.
This will be one Of the first measures
to be considered by Senator Mason's
committee after the reassembling of Con