The times., 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 COGrtesies TO
Diplomats Among the Features.

Not one person in 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
bCrsinG officers regard as entitled to re
I spectful consideration and approval
For instance. 800 "A 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
collars 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. 1t is impossible TO learn from
the records what progress the associa-
ton is making toward reducing the size
of this planet 10 black and white, but
the $3.50 is paid faithfully every year.
In Brussels there is an international
bureau for the publication of customs
tariffs. IL costs money to mali tain the
bureau. and the United States pays
$l.3lS annually as its proportionate share
OF the expense. More expensive still is
the annual membership fee in another in
stitutiOn located at Brussels Two thou
sand two hundred and seventy dollars are
paid by this country as q contribution 10
the maintenance Of the international bu-
roau Of weights and 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 IA various cities IN Chi
ma Korea, Japan. and Turkey. Although
they are seldom used, they must be main
taiucd. The prisons with the cost of rent
and salary of keepers are as follows:
Bangkok $1,000, Shanghai, $3.50; ioko-
hama, $l,55o; Turkey. $1,000 For keeping
and feeding such prisoners as may from
time to time be confined in these prisons,
50, 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 al lhe
operation OF reducing 10 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 dlsas-
ter on account of the absence or warning
night signals on the shore. LlSht houses
were badly geeded and as the Govern
ment of Morocco would not provide them,
the great Powers took the matter IN
hand ia the interest Of their shipping.
Lighthouses We're established ana the
Powers are assessed so much annually Tor
their maintenance. The share of our Gov
ernment in this item is sS2o.
1t sometimes becomes necessary Tor the
United States to bring back TO this coun-
try persons charged with crime. This is
expensive work and for it there Is an
annual appropria ton OF 50 900,
The Government Is always deslfous OF
rewarding bravery shown in the rescue
or relief Of it's citizens by natives OF 9TH
er countries. therefore. an annual appro-
priatlon OF $4,000 is made for expenses m
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 $oV0 a year
toward maintaining hospitals IN Panama,