Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1906-09-07

Two and two make four. Ana ION
fell on Ben's neck when Quigg pre-
vailed, and Ben patted Tom affection
ately on the back. There hasn't been
anything SO tear compelling since Mark
Twain wept copiously at the tomb Of
Adam.
Too Expensive.
At least half dozen representatives
In congress, capable men, certain of re-
nomination and reelection, have vol
unfairly retired to private life, and
they almost invariably give the same
reason, that the great expense Of living
In Washington eats up their salaries
and prevents their saving anything for
their families and for old age. Before
congress adjourned Mr.. Sullivan Of
Boston, brilliant and growing mem
Der, notified his constituents that he
could serve them no longer and pri-
vately to his friends gave the reason
as stated above. Mr.. Shortell Of the
Fifteenth Missouri district did the
same. Now comes Mr.. McNary, also
Of Boston, and announces that he will
be congressional candidate no more.
Shortell is new member and was gen
orally appraised by his fellow repre-
sentattves as being At to render good
account Of himself. McNary was adj
mitted on all sides to be a strong and
rising man. In announcing his retire
ment he says:
Further service at Washington. in view
OF Its great expense, could only be given
at a sacrifice Of the future welfare of my
family and to the INJURY OF my personal
business interest here.
It is pity that such men should be
forced out of public life. Consequently
1t Is a pity that great and fashionab BILE
city ever grew up around the federal
capitol. 1t is all right to boast about
the beauty and magnifcence of Wash
ington and to assert that it is the finest
capital in the world-which it is; but 1t
makes living there exceedingly expen-
sive and thereby works q hardship on
public officials. The salary of sena-
tor or representative Is $4,000 per an
| mum, which looks large and would be
ample to enable one to live we'll in a
small place, far from the madding
crowd, and to save something, but the
average public official cannot live as
well and comfortably in Washington
On $4,000 as he could on $500 at home.
Once in awhile some malicious person
writes an article and gets 1t published
a. to how much representative or
senator receives. By adding to the
1900 salary, the mileage, the station
cry allowance, garden seeds, docu-
ments, etc.. be manages to run it up to
over $4,000. He thus counts these
things as increasing the salary when,
- matter Of fact, the seed and docu-
msnts bring him out in debt. Year by
year. after sending to my constituents
all the seeds, books and documents to
which am entitled, spent from 500
to $500 in cash purchasing others to
send where they are asked for beyond
my quota. It's easier to purchase and
ssnd than to try to explain why I
don't send them. At one session paid
out over 500 in cash for agricultural
reports alone to exc out my quota, and
I do not believe my case is exceptional.
Tho fellows who try to make 1t ap-
pear that books, documents and seeds
are q source Of profit to Representatives
and senators in general are too igno-
rant to write for the press or are ma
licious liars. OF course once in long
while some freak breaks into congress
who, instead Of sending these things to
his constituents, sells them, but he is
the exception to the rule. Because one
western congressman sold his quota Of
garden seeds, ]. Sterling Morton once
slandered all congressman and sena-
tors BY holding up that sinner as
sample, but ]. Sterling IL dead and the
Islander ought to die with him.