Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-03-06
some STARTLING EAcTs.

I q
the trend OF national legislation with
great deal Of interest. II should be read
by our citizens far more than at present.
Senator Baeon's resolution TO lessen the
present price Of the document was move
in the right direction.
The regular reading of the proceedings
OF congress would do an immense deal
towards checking the present tendency to
waste and extravaganza with public
money. There is nothing so helpful in
public affairs as publicity.
AL public business needs a general air
ing. Secrecy and private arrangements
are like rats and mice in a neglected
granary. When you discover the loss you
have nothing left to look after.
A debate on clerks and messengers Tor
the senate viii be found In the Record
bearing date OF February Il. 1902 And
that debate and discussion we owe 10
Senator Clay. He called a halt in no I'M
certain tones. and the matter was fairly
discussed before the senate. A resolution
10 add on additional clerks and messeng-
ers was sufficient. after debate. TO get THIS
unsavory matter referred back 10 a COM
uittee OF investigation. II is rich de-
velopment.
The family secret was we'll aired. We
can now get I'm on the inside OF matter
which is literally soaking up hundreds OF
thousands OF dollars every year, and TINS
matter should be exposed.
There are lightweight members belong
ing to the United States senate-two from
each OF the forty-four states Of the union.
Each senator has been allowed clerk
for a quarter of a century. The body Is
extravagantly supplied with pages ana
doorkeepers and all necessary attenuoh
Is given inside and out the chamber wnile
congress is in session. The regular pay
roll of the senate is very full. and the
men who are employed get handsome sal
aries by the year. not by the session.
But in these later years the single clerk
allowed each senator has been multiplied
and multiplied until the individual service
"a each member of the body is something
enormous. Senator Clay called attention
10 the fact that there had been added to
the pay roll Of the senate within the last
thirty days, twenty additional ana extra
clerks and extra messengers, all drawing
salaries OF s1.44O per annum, OF SlzO per
month. 1t was discovered that every
chairman OF a committee (and there are
"a committees) has from one to two clerks
and a messenger, at 81. 40 per annum. The
clerks range from $3.50 to $1.Soo per an
mum on, the regular roll, and these extra
clerks mentioned by Senator Clay get
81. 40. the same as messengers.
Senator Clay said: 1T appears, Mr..
President, during the last thirty days we
have employed more than twenty add
tional messengers and assistant clerks in
the senate at a salary Of S1,440 each, and
I have been informed that messengers
have been employed for committees that
never meet. II we are creating new pla-
ces for political favorites. regardless OF
the need Of the service we ought to stop"
Committees that never meet" are cred
tied with messengers who do something
else. and the pay goes on.
Senator Dubois, of Idaho. let in consid-
cradle light. He has clerk, and has no
Craftsmanship. but he gets a messenger,
who is paid $40 per annum as a messenger
to the senator.
What does he do?
Answer: Study law!
Listen: Il have a laborer at $40 per
annum, and he is quite valuable to me.
He came here to study law. He ekes out
his salary Cas laborer) with money from
his parents. 1 feel a delicacy in asking
him to do extra work. / want him to have
time for his law studies" "Delicacy" is
the word!
This is the use the "laborer" was put
to by. United States senator from Ida
no! Being a Democrat or fusionist in his
country, he must have places to bestow
cf1anaaH = n11OvC-
ing them to put in "laborers" at $40 per
annum, while those who are more infiu-
entail get messengers at $1.440 per annum.
And these 'Iaborers' study law. and
must not be interrupted in their legal
studies to labor for a lord of the Amer
lean senate. who brings him to Washing
ton torbe educated by the money Of the
government. Maybe it is his nephew. or
brother or a son Of an influential sup
porter. and the government supports him
as laborer at a law school! This is no
hearsay, IT is in black and white, printed
in the Official records of the senate.
Mr.. Lodge, the administration leader in
the senate admitted that these additional
clerks and messengers amounted to Civ
ing each senator two clerks instead of
one" He added. ut is true that the roll
Of the senate has swollen to enormous
proportions"
Senator Allison said these clerks and
messengers are absolutely for their own
USE
1t is high time that senators were elect
| ed by the people. 1t is high time that the
people should know how many students
are being supported by the tax money
OF the people, expended, as Senator Clay
remarked. ION political favorites," and
assigned TO committees which never
meet"
Have we an American house of lords?
Is there no man brave enough to rise up
and denounce these fraudulent appoint
/ menfs2