The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1906-12-20
BY William Wolff Smith.


Washington, Dec. 19.-There were
many good arguments against an in
crease IN the salaries of members CT
congress but in the opinion of your
correspondent, the preponderance OF
reasoning is in favor Of the increase.
notwithstanding the proposition has
been defeated. During the years l
have been stationed here | have had
some considerable experience with
members of the lower house. One Of
them Is worth relating.
member from Indiana secured the
nomination from an overwhelmingly
republican district He therefore had
/ Substantially no campaign expenses.
/ Il was a two term" district and he
+ served four years returning to his
home with something over $4,000 he
had saved while here. That would
Soon to prove that IL Is a profitable
hing 10. be member of congress
But how did he do it? He travelled
he7e enc back on passes, bringing his
wife and daughters. Thus his mile
a. more than paid the travelling ex-
IeIses Of all of them. During the
session they lived in a very modest
BOARDING. house and in a very frugal
manner The daughter was enrolled
as IFS private secretary, which gave
~ family $1,000 a year additional
Each member is allowed 1925 a year
''r stationery which he can draw in
cash. Il he prefers. This member
took his allowance in cash aud used
no stationery of the committee to
Thlch he was assigned. His books
and papers were franked to and from
sls house by mail or express. During
'hc recess Of congress ne practiced
lev which paid his living expenses at
home. Being a member of congress
b had no postage to pay. Thus his
inCOme can be set down as follows:
Salary, $1,000; clerk hire allowance
'or daughter. $1,000: stationery jcash)
tIoh: mileage 500; law practice
during six months one year and nine
Tho next. average $1,000, total income,
E925. EXPENSES: berths and meals
IN route $50; board for throe at $40
month. average session being ~
months, 500: clothes and Incidental
Npcrses while in Washington, $1,000;
expenses at home. average ~
months a year. 81 800; campaign ex
ponses $50 a year: total eDxenses
S190. Thus he had about ST, 735 each
vnnr 20 the good II is not SURPRISING
That he retired with more than So.
1000 after fOuI years service
An Opposite Case.
hgofnut fbic I rroplJ II -, -.
ot another member of my acquaintance
whose election expenses arc about
$50. O00 every two years or mora then
'ouble the salary during the term
lIe lives well and has fairly er
ronslve family. At the same time Re
IS not worth more than $4,000 a,
ne very outside. Query: How CIR
no afford It?
~ course We can never nay our con
~ossmen enough to enable them I,
make campaiens against wealthy nc,
Who are willing to expend from $50
nm " $4,000 for the honor Of roin.
n congress. But We can and shout,
ny them enough to enable them (,
I'VE Especially while hero withou
0sorinE TO I'll sorts Of petty devices
ma with being dependent on corpora
t1re for "re;ainers." When congress
''ce"izcs the fact that suhterfuge
~ not NV in the end. We will hav,
more honest, Straightforward ,egisla
Nlihoueh the country tolerated TIL
R,ion Of Congress in increasing tn,
'ary Of he president by $4,000 {;
T under the pretext 1t was for
.TeIlng expenses" it would hav,
L'm'oly more resDect. for the mem
II they would frankly increas,
,'r own pay rather than attempt t.
'.ln The same end by increasing
''r clerk hire allowance and arrang
H., so they can collect it them