The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-03-31
GOVERNMENT PIN MONEY
Disbursement of Funds Outside Of
Ordinary Requirements.
Odd Items of Expense - Foreign
Scientific Societies. Prisons in Re
mote Countries. and COUrtesies 10
Diplomats Among the Features.

Not one person In a thousand probably
is aware of some Of the items of expense
for which this Government renders itself
liable. Thousands Of dollars are expend-
er annually for purposes which seem at
at first view far-fetched, but which dis
bErsinE officers regard as entitled to re
spectfuI consideration and approval.
For instance, 800 q year is provided as
the share of the United States toward the
/ fund for keeping up at Brussels an In
stitution known as the International bu-
resU for the repression Of the African
slave trade. One thousand five hundred
dollars are expended annually by the
United States for the privilege of belong
ing to the international Geodetic Asso-
citation for the measurement of the earth.
The money is paid through our Embassy
at Berlin. II is impossible 10 learn from
the records what progress the associa-
ton is making toward reducing the size
OF this planet to black and white but
the 1850 is paid faithfully every year.
In Brussels there is an International
bureau for the publication of customs
tariffs. II costs money TO maiItain the
bureau and the United States pays
El,3lS annually its proportionate share
OF the expense. More expensive stu is
lil' dililtit membership zee III dilplil'l
stitution located at Brussels. Two thou
sand two hundred and seventy dollars are
paid by this country as a contribution to
the maintenance Of the international! bu-
rcau of weights ana measures.
Fourteen thousand one hundred dollars
are paid by the United States each year
to provide prisons for American convicts
In foreign countries. These prisons are
under the immediate jurisdiction of the
consular officers In various cities in chi
ma Korea. Japan. and Turkey. Although
| they are seldom used they must be main
tanned. The prisons with the cost OF rent
and salary OF keepers are as foiIows'
Bangkok, $1,000. Shanghai, N550; foko-
hama, $3.50; Turkey. $1,000. For Keeping
and feeding such prisoners as may from
time to time be confined in these prisons,
81, 900 is set aside every year
The man who represents the public
during the maceratlon Of United States
securities, has a decidedly easy position
There he sits merely looking on AT the
operation of reducing to pulp what had
previously been worth money. FOR TINS
duty he receives s. day.
On the coast OF Morocco at Tangier ana
Cape Spartei mariners formerly expert
enced great difficulty in avoiding disas-
ter on account of the absence OF warning
night signals on the shore. Lighthouses
were badly qeeded, and as the Govern
ment of Morocco would not provide them,
the great Powers took the matter IN
hand in the interest of their shipping.
Lighthouses We're established ana the
Powers are assessed so much annually for
their maintenance The share Of our Gov
eminent in this item Is 1925.
IT sometimes becomes necessary FOR the
United States to bring back 20 TINS coul-
try persons charged with crime. This Is
expensive work and for It there is an
annual appropriation of 50 900.
The Government is always deslrous OF
rewarding bravery shown In the RESCUE
or relief OF its citizens by natives Of 9TH
er countries. therefore. an annual appro-
prlation OF 1850 is made for expenses IN
Cured in the acknowledgment OF the
services Of masters and crews OF foreign
vessels In rescuing American. seamen and
citizens from shipwreck"
The Government also pays $500 a year
toward maintaining hospitals In Panama,