The Washington times., 1907-02-25
Nebraska Representa-
tive'S Unearned Salary
Destroys His Peace.
No Official Way Yet Pro-
vided for Return TO
Treasury.
Religious Societies Clam
oring for 1t Day and
Night

Ernest NJ. Pollard, of Nebraska. who
is trying TO get rid of Sl.S61 OF unearned
salary, is having new troubles.
Mr.. Pollard came TO Congress to fill
a vacancy caused by the promotion Of
Senator Burkett to the Upper House
For several months between the time
Mr.. Burkett became Senator and the
time Mr.. Pollard was elected. there was
no representative, but when he was
elected Mr.. Pollard was paid the salary
for that interim, and told that II was
one OF the good things about being a
Congressman; everybody took il under
such c rcumstances. he'd be a "geeenie'
10 refuse it.
Mr.. Pollard took il. and when his con-
stituents found out they criticised Then
he set about 20 return the money to the
Treasury The Treasury refused Il. The
Sergeant-at-Arms OF the House refused
IL. Nobody would touch it, Such a case
of ingrowing Congressional conscience
was unheard of. Mr.. Pollard came TO
be regarded by the various people TO
whom he rendered his 81. sol as a danger
oTs sort OF crank.
But nothing could discourage him He
introduced a resolution asking the Ju-
dietary Committee to report how he
could get the money back into the
Treasury He also introduced bill au-
thorizing the Treasurer Of the United
States to receive and receipt for It.
They'd Like the Money.
Meanwhile some newspapers had been
circulating the unadorned story that
Congressman Pollard had Sl.S5l he dldn I
want and couldn't get rid Of. This item
Co. ] afF %,
come from all over the Union. from per
sons who were willing to take the
money rather than have Mr. Pollard
suffer 50.
They came al first one and two at a
time: then by the dozens; then in
bundles; then in pecks. They came from
women's clubs, from village improve
ment associations. from the Y. w. c. a,
the W. G. T. l., the Y p. s. g. F.. the
3. Y. 2. 1.-THE whole star spangled
alphabet In fact, arranged in every pos
sible order Mr.. Pollard thought 1t was
funny at first; he learned afterward that
it was rothing of the sort. 1t became
stern reality.
Between times. when he wasn't open
:rg letters from aid societies and village
library associations, and coIored Meth
cdist churches in Georgia. and associat-
ed charities all the way from Saskatche-
war TO Palm Beach. he spent his spare
moments pushing his various legislative
propositions. At last the Committee on
judiciary brought forth the opinion that
Mr.. Pollard had no business to take the
money: he hadn't earned It, He should
be relieved OF IL.
But it didn't tell him how TO get rid
of it, No mention was made of any
public official who. IN the ordinary
course of trade. could take il in and give
a receipt which Mr. Pollard could show
10 the folks out I'm Nebraska as evidence
that he had disgOTged.
That was pretty bad. he was convict
cd Of wTOngfully having the money. but
las not shown how 10 rid himself of H.
Sad OF heart. Mr.. Pollard got busy with
the Ways and Means Committee pushing
ioT a report or his bill TO direct the
Treasurer Of the United States 70 re-
ceiVe the mOrcy. 1t was hard shedding:
the committee wasn't very enthusiastic
over the prOpositition, but finally II
stood without hitchinE until Mr. Pollard
mad explained his troubles. and then
went into executive session