Los Angeles herald., 1907-03-24
IS
NOT EXTRAVAGANT 7
EARNS $4,000 AND SAVES
S11,o00
Former Missouri solon Explains How
He Did lt-Board Bill Was
Only Forty Dollars
Monthly
Special to The Herald.


SPRINGFIELD, Mo-. March 23.-
With his shirt sleeves rolled up to his
elbows, standing beside a table in a
smokehouse, where he was assisting in
cutting up a big, fat porker that was
to make meat for the family for many
days, w. T. Tyndall. formerly member
of congress from the Fourteenth dis
trict, Missouri, told how he had been
able to save nearly $11,0OO out of his
salary of $4,000 and the allowances for
incidental expenses during his two-year
term at Washington. For very little OF
the time he was talking did the former
congressman cease his labors on the
porker, and occasionally he brandishei
piece of meat or the knife he was
using, as if to emphasize a point.
at was simply by practicing very
strict economy" said Mr.. Tyndall. To
him. it had been the usual, and not the
unusual thing, and was to be dismissed
as of no consequence.
But how did you practice such econ
omy?" was asked of the former repre-
sentative of the hill counties in the
Fourteenth Strengthening UP for a mo-
ment from his task of cutting meat,
Mr.. Tyndall said:
II have always believed that mans
first duty was to his family. After he
has seen that they are well provided
for he should do what he could for the
support of charitable institutions. Then
when he has done his share in that
sort of work, he can think about some
of the luxuries of life. Until that time
man ought to do what he can to save
and provide for his home folks.
when l thought about my wife at
home making sauSages and looking
after the baby, and, maybe not feeling
well, I knew 1 didn't have any money
to spend in any unnecessary ways, and
L didn't spend any that way.
Doesn't Blame Others for Spending
Nov, don't understand me as mean
ing that congressman who spent much
more money than L did, did wrong.
Lots of them had plenty of money, and
did not need their salaries They could
enjoy many of the luxuries that l
couldn't, and they had a perfect right
to do so if they wanted to.
eff q congressman wants to, and can
afford to put UP with his family at a
$5 or $40 a day hotel, that is all right.
A mans circumstances make a lot of
difference, and 1 had to do according
to my circumstances. Every man ought
to do what he thinks is right, and l
tried to do the best / could.
There are lots of ways a man can
save money, and a congressman in
Washington ought to be able to save
money as well as anyone anywhere
else. Washington is a city, just about
like other cities, in most respects, and
if a man can save money in one place
he ought to be able to save it in an
other. Living expenses in the capital
are not higher than in other cities, and,
when a man is economical that part
of living is always the highest.
Instead of putting up at one of those
fashionable hotels where a man has to
pay from S. to $25 a day, 1 obtained
board and lodging with a family 1 had
known. Congressman Murphy of the
Sixteenth district and l stayed at the
same place, and both of us were eco
nomical
"I had to pay $40 a month for living
expenses in a private home, and this
was the largest part of what I paid out.
If a man is at all saving his board and
lodging will be higher than any of his
other expenses, and when we got as low
rates on that as we did we were able to
save easily in other ways.
1.-The place where Murphy and I
stayed was only a quarter of a mile
from the capitol, and this made it
possible for us to save in one way at
least. We always walked to and from
the sessions. 1t was just a short dis
tance and we had plenty of time. Many