The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-01-25
VIII Demand Better Salaries, Pay
ment by the Government Direct and
Redressing of Various Wrongs.
FAIRBANKS BILL PASSE
100000 FOR INDIANAPOLIS BUILD
ING SECURED BY THE SENATOR.
Representative Overstreet to Push
the Measure Through the House.
Plans of Representative Steele.

Staff Correspondence of the Journal.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 24.-The private
secretaries of members of the House to
the number of 100 banqueted at the Ebbitt
House last night 1t leaked out to-day that
this ostensibly social affair was in reality
the occasion for forming a labor union.
These private secretaries will ask for an
increase in salary from $1,000 to $500 and
will demand the placing of their names on
the pay roll of the House in order to in
sure receiving their salary. Congressman
who have learned the intent of the new
organization are at loss for a defense to
make against the expected demand and
wonder if there will be a strike should the
secretaries demands be refused.
Members of the House are allowed each
$1,000 year for a private secretary. Each
member is his own disbursing agent and
the name of the secretary is not upon the
pay rolls of the House. This does not ap-
ply to secretaries of committees who re-
ceive $500 year direct from the govern
ment. The custom of congressman appoint
ing their wives or daughters as private
secretaries is a common one. Sons absent
at college also have figured in the same
capacity. Cases are even on record where
congressman have appointed their grand
mothers, and In at least one instance
yet unborn scion of a congressional family
was duly appointed. In most of these in
stances stenographers employed at ordinary
market rates for their actual time of serv-
Ice have performed the duties for which
the law thoughtfully provides the private
secretary and the difference In cash went
to swell the family exchequer. Several
members of Congress have been known to
club together in employing such a stem
ographer. this pool resulting in a sub
stantial saving to each.
The chief plant. however. of many a
secretary who holds the position both nomi-
nally and actually is that he does not receive
the full $1,000 allowed him by law. From
time to time little scandals have resulted
from the exposure of devices employed by
congressman to profit by the secretarial al
lowance. The secretaries who organized
last night naively suggest that their efforts
are really in behalf of the congressman
themselves and in defense of their repu-
tations, since If the demands made by them
are acceded to no opportunity can again
be afforded for the casting of such refiec-
tons the lawmakers for if the names
of the private secretaries were placed on the
pay rolls of the House, as the names of
the secretaries of the committees are now,
congressman would no longer have to do
with the payment of salaries and the secre-
taries would receive the full amount al
lowed by law from the government pay
master. To do this bill would have to
be passed by both houses modifying the
present law.
Chairman Mercer. of the House commit
tee on public buildings and grounds, said
to-day that Senator Fairbanks's bill pro-
viding an appropriation of an additional
100000 for the Indianapolis federal build
ing may be taken up for consideration
next Friday. The senator was able to
get his bill passed by the Senate to-day
and 1t was referred to the House commit
tee, which already has Mr.. Overstreet' $
bill under consideration. The only differ
ence between the two bills is the fact
that the Senate bill contains an allusion
TO the north front. Mr.. Overstreet will
appear before the House committee and
urge favorable consideration OF the Fair
banks bill. The question with the commit
tee now seems to be whether the Indian
apolis bill should be reported omni-
bus bill. with other appropriations or as
an individual bill. Mr.. Mercer says the
committee feels that Indianapolis should
have more money. and he talks as If the
matter will receive favorable consideration.
Mr.. Mercer will next week address let