The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1907-03-07


strange analogy that the heavyweight
legislators of the country should de-
eide that > cents a mile should be the
maximum charge for transportation
by railroads and at the same time
congress should decide that 20 cents
mile was about right to carry rep
resentatives and senators to and from
the capitol? When the matter of i'm
creasing the salary" of members Of
congress came up and was favorably
acted upon, it was declared that the
loss of the mileage steal and other
small incidentals would in reality pre-
vent an additional expenditure of
money-that it was simply paying in
one lump sum the amount formerly
squeezed out of the position of ma
tional legislator. However, the 20
cents-a-mile rate still sticks.
AS has been stated before, the ma
jority of the members of congress
are as honest and upright as the
average" citizen (not more SOY, and
are in financial circumstances Which
enable them to avoid the petty tricks
necessary to get all the money they
can out of their official position.
Nevertheless, when a member of con-
gress cashes in the surplus allowed
for the purchase of stationery and
supplies. it is mighty small business"
The practice of members FORMERLY
INDUCED in of appointing their sons,
daughters, and in some cases their
wives, as private secretaries at sal
airy of 500 per month, has given way
under the odium of public opinion.
But usually an influential politi-
clan in Washington can find some
thing for their offspring to do. Re-
Gently there was call for the names
of special employees" of the different
Recommendations not appointed
through the civil service-and the list
read like roll-call at the capitol. In
this connection might be mentioned
the fact that there are more Hitch
cocks holding fat jobs in Washington
than Smiths or Browns. OF course
they are not relatives Of Secretary
Hitchcock! Is it any wonder that
minor employees of the government
try to get their sons and daughters
lin Office" Hartman is universally
condemned for his eagerness to get
the coin of the realm, but it would APP
pear as If nearly every one in this
city were scent editions of the cap
tains of industry.
Regardless of the historical refer
ences to the munificent benefits of the
extended use Of denatured alcohol, the
Department Of Agriculture puts a
quietus on the movement in Farmers
Bulletin No. 277 by saying: "In most
localities it is unlikely that alcohol
power will be cheaper or as cheap
as gasoline power for some time to
come" Experiments have proven that
alcohol contains but 0.6 of the heat
Ing value Of gasoline, by eight. and in
the Departments experiments a small
engine required 1.8 times as much
alcohol as gasoline per horsepower.
(NOTE-This is not a Standard OIL
advertisement!)
Civil service has removed the last
vestage of influence" from the gov
ernmental service! If you do not be-
lieve 1t, ask some of the men who do
the work of keeping the wheels going.
A government employee sending In
his card to the head Of department
is required to tell his business to a
messenger Frequently a colored
mani. who majestically REFERS him
to Mr.. So and So. and that gentleman
tells him there is no show for pro-
motion except through exceptionally
meritorious work. Walk up the steps
with mere member of the house or
senate and the doors fly open to your
approach. and you are ushered into
the sacred precincts of leather chairs
luxurious case. The head of the de-
partment rises and grasps your hand
and smiles his pleasantest welcome,
and II your influence" Is strong
enough your name will be among
those bulletined as promoted on mer-
It" at the next bi-monthly shake-up.
Very encouraging to those having no
"irag!"
There IN mn dan~ar ~ H.. u.-s...