The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-08-08
Old TINE CRAFTS
Time onored Temptations that will
Assail Honest Bobert Baker,
Brooklyn Congressman.
He Has Already Declined Passes on
the Railroads Will He Turn
the Others Down?
From The Journal Bureau, Room IS, Post Build.

From The Journal Bureau, Room As, Post Build
ing, Washington.
Washington, Aug. Free transportation
on the railroads Is not the only thing Con.
have chance to refuse. Considerable IN
terest will be felt by his fellow representa-
tives, democrats as we'll as republicans IN
the effect which will be produced on this indie.
| pendent new member by other small gratis
There are a number Of these. There is no
great secret about it; and in the enjoyment
above party lines They are all in.
"Mileage"is the first temptation that WIN
assam ME- Bakers unsuliied in mo- pen ss
| legislators rode on horseback, and distances
were shorter, every congressman IS ailoWeu
20 cents mile for coming to Washington
| from his place Of residence, and returning
| thither. Now, even for congressman who do
not accept passes from the railroads, 1t does
can come from Brooklyn to Washington for
| $3.50, not counting the Pullman fare, and
can return for the same, making, a total OF
$1s. But the government allows him at the
rate of 20 cents for each of the 24o miles
travelled. which is $4s one way and $50 for
clear Ep Meb mars viii Is wa o
balance Of $3.50.
Like other members Mr.. Baker will be
of stationery. There are probably not two
members Of congress who spend s25 a year
of this allowance. Many Of them do n not t
has stationery, which the members of the
committee are at liberty to use. The sta
tionery is charged to the account of the com.
mittee, and not to the individual members OF
| it. At the end of each session each member
draws SO much of the 1925 as stands to his
credit-which is generally the whole of lit.
This also is Legislative graft"
The question that is occurring to the col
leagues of Congressman Baker is: VIII he
leave the money undrawn?
Then there will be still larger temptation
lying In wait for the virtuous congressman
in the $1,000 allowance for clerk hire. .
New congressman do not always hire regu-
lar clerk. Some of them write many OF
their own letters employ stenographer at
intervals, let daughter or son hell, at home,
and get along without the regular clerk;
and at the end of each month they sign q
certificate to the effect that have expended
500 for clerk hire-making $1,000 for the
| year-and that amount Is turned over to
them. There is sometimes profit of as much
as $1,000 year in this.
to draw more than 5000 or $500 BY refusing
to do so he can put himself into very
egregious minority.
enjoy the privilege Of free baths in the sub
terranean regions Of the capitol. There is
nothing in the laws or the statutes about
free baths for congressman; but natural
predsposition to purity and cleanliness in
and about the legislative halls has resulted
in the me-honored graft. There col
towels are furnished by Uncle Sam, as are
also the soap, and the heat. In one of the
bath rooms is an electric device to inject
static energy into solons; and on the senate
side there are Turkish bath incidentals and
free shaves and hair-cuts.
A congressman with conscientious scruples
object to sponging on the government in this
manner. Indirectly it is robbing the tax
payer, for it is not authorized by. law. :,
AS a congressman, ranking privilessS Will
be offered Mr.. Baker by the Western Union
and Postal Telegraph companies. This is q
convenience highly priced by politicians, who
|
political and personal in character, which
they want to put on the wire. Senator Bev-
eridge is the only member of congress known
to have refused this favor at the hands Of
the telegraph companies, and the senator also
pays his railroad fare, ,altho he does not send
his letters of refusal to the newspapers, mol
make them long does Mr.. Baker. 1t re.
mains to be seen whether the Brooklyn con-
gresham will have something to say to the
public on this subject.
| The express companies also give congress-
men franks which entitle them to send things
by their lines-anything from COW to &
g. FRESHMAN Baker with this price of honor, am
It is possible that Senator Plat, of New
York, who is president of one Of the compan
les. will urge it upon him personally.
Free packing boxes-several to each con
l gressman-are among the perquisites. The!
are, supposed, to be for carrying home the
t books but when made of cedar they are con
= venient for housekeeping purposes. But n,
one is obliged to take them In hot weathe
there is Apollinaris water furnished by tn
government for congressman, and sometime
lemonade the senate side.
Such are a few Of the incidental. the time
honored CRAFTS There are other temptation
nnotbes TIA but hat
sting the spirited and sensitive like Baker
To the pachdernatous congressman they ar
3 on the hide of the rhinoceros. Their homo
is tough and weather-beaten and no longe
4 snorts and SHES at these unsubstantial dan
-, - w w Jermane