Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1907-04-26
A PRINCE OF ECONOMY
CONGRESSMAN SAVED $11 900 OUT OF
$40 900 SALARY,

j, $40, 900 SALARY.
Springfield. Mo,-With his shir
sleeves rolled up to bis elbows, stant
Ing beside table in a smokehous
+ where ne was assisting in cutting u
a big fat porker that was to max
meat for the family for many days. W
L. Tyndall. formerly member of Cor
gress from the Fourteenth district
+, Missouri. told how he had been able {,
save nearly $1l 600 out of his salary O
SIC, 600 and the allowances for inclden
tai expenses during bis two-year tern
at Washington.
ut was simply by practicing very
strict economy" said Mr.. Tyndail, 6
have always believed that a mani
first duty is to his family. A fter b,
has seen that thev are well provided
fur he should do what he could for the
support of charitable institutions
Then when he has done his share il
that sort of work be 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 af
ter the baby, and, maybe. not feeling
well, l knew didn't have any money
to spend in any unnecessary way, and
didn It spend any that way.
''There are lots of ways man can
save monay, and a ngressman in
Washington ought to be able to save
money as well as anyone anywhere else
Instead of putting up at one of those
fashionable hotels where man has to
pay from S. to $25 day 1 obtained
board and lodging with the family of a
man l knew. Congressman Murphy,
of the Sixteenth Missouri district, and
stayed at the same place. and both of
us were economical. had to pay $40
a month for living expenses in a pri-
vate home. and this was the larger part
of what 1 paid out.
1.-The place where Murphy and l stay
ed was a only quarter of a mile from
the Capitol, and this made it possib lie
to save in one way at least We al
ways walked to and from the sessions.
1t was just short distance and we
had plenty of time. Many OF the other
congressman would drive back and |
forth in cabs and fine carriages that |
cost money. | think Murphy and l |
were The only Congress men from Mis-
souri, who didn't have silk hats and |
dress suits. We felt that we eouldn't
afford such things, SO we didn't get
any.
M My family stayed at home They
we're not with me- any of the time |
Vas in Washington, so that ] didnt
lave to give anv receptions, and l
couldn't have afforded it even If they
lad been there. 1 never attended any
II the receptions or things of that Sort
)ne reason was that didn't have time,
was working hard while was there,
o that it wouldn't have been easy for
ne to attend any of the regular social
fairs if | had thught L could afford
t.
''Whel Was at home my wife help
me with my correspondence and
leTlcal work, and when l was in Wash
1gton l attended to it myself, so that I
didn't need private secretary. AS {
ing as my wife aud / could do the l
ork there was no use in getting some
ne else to do it, and could not afford t
ny extravagances.
"When man can efford to pay for I
Il these things it is right for him to Z
ave them if he wants to. but as long =
be isn't able to spend the money 3
hen he ought to see to things him 1
,lf.n
Mr.. Tyndall was elected in the Re-
1blican landslide of 1904. and proba-
ly nobody was more surprised than a
3 at his victory. Reared in the coun- a
y, be has some strong prejudices S
.ainst city life. For example, it is [
Id of him that he baked at entering il
1 elevator on his first trip to st a
ouis after his election, declaring this l
,cessary convenience menace to hu- t
an life. Inasmuch as it was the frs {
lie he had seen, his opinion was quite t.
asonable. F
A Cougressman's salary hereafter will ls
, 81 500 a year, the increase having d
zen voted by the late Congress in a
hich Mr. Tyndall sat. But during el
r. TYndall s term the salary was $5,- v
70 a year, and he drew $4,000 in sal L
y. all Of which he put away. He was
lowed 81 800 year for private sec.
tary and 10 cents a mile for travel
e expenses between his home and
aehingtOn and return. Inasmuch as
) employed no secretary, be not only
ade these perquisitles pay his ex- =
,nses, but also saved $500 year out
them, bringing his total savings for
70 years up to $1,000 8
Mr.. Tyndall will become a country
mixer, and those who are familiar
lth his Congressional experience pre-
ct that be will make successful Il.
meier.
Bitten by a Spider. a.