Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1907-10-26
They viii Next Ask Thai Their
Travelling Expenses be Paid.
CHANGE COMES OVER THE HOUSE
Members of It Want to Have as Fine
Things as the Senate EnIoys-As
Long as the People Have No OBJ.
Iections to Make.


of the house of representatives in 10
years has been one of the marvels of
Washington. The senate was always
"a rather luxurious body. a score OF
years ago the senate had provided n
room for every senator and when the
membership was increased additional
Accommodations were found. The
Senate always had session clerks for
senators who were not chairmcn of,
committees. and a long time ago these
clerks were made permanent annual
employees. But the house of represent.
.tatives was an economical body. There
were annual clerks for certain limit.
ed number of committees, and clerks
on per diem basis for the balance
of the committees during the sessions.
Salaries of the employees were not
high and $1,000 was considered very
good pay for many of the important
officers. The furniture and fittings OF
tho house side of the chamber were
cheap, even to shabbiness. in appear
ance. Oak furniture. well worn, was
seen in the chamber and in the COM
mittcc rooms. The committees were
cramped for space. Members of the
house. save those who were chairmen
OF committees. did all their clerical
work or paid for II out of their own
pockets
But change came over the spirit
of this economical body The house
side of the capitol was completely
refurnishcd and improved Mahogany
furniture filed every room; and ma.
hogany desks aud chairs were placed
In the hall for the members, Timid,y
the members voted themselves 500
per month TO pay for clerk hire This
is now made an annual appropriation.
The salaries of many of tie ofhcers
have been doubled, notably the clerks
in the immediate charge of the work
of legislation.
For years members had to hire
rooms where they attended to their
work, or fitted up a 'cubby hole in
their homes or boarding houses where
icy could write letters and transact
their business. Looking across the
capitol building they saw that every
senator had 4 rom in the capitol. or
in what is called the Maltby Annex.
The members of the house became
Mold and decided to have an Office
building so that every member might
be as well fixed as Il senator. Fol.
lowing the movement by the house
I'ht CtbtAC NtNiNNu II DttNtA
lfac.ltics. and 1t, too, caused an Of
flee building To be erected.
After this extravaganza the mem.
bcrs OF the house returned to their
homes and were surprised to find that
their constituents were not condemn
ling them for providing accommoda-
ltions II order TO transact the necessary
government business. They found
the people did not object TO the ex-
lpenditure OF money in such n manner
Then the members of the house grew
holder and actually raised their sal
aries 30 per cent. This was not done
on direct vote. A large majority
agreed to vote for the increase. but
when ii came to going on record
lrecord which might be used against
them, they considered that 5000 in
the hand was better than $500 in the
hand of some man who might defeat
them ON account of salary grab, and
at first the salary increase was de-
Heated. But by a shrewd bit of manip.
Iulation the salary increase was made,
and there has been little criticism of
that action.
What next? Why. it will not be
very long before provision will he
made for the travelling expenses of
congressman and their families in
going TO and from the capital and
about their districts. BY cutting on
passes the increase for travelling OK
lpenses has been very great. 1t is
true that there is very liberal mile
age allowance for members but ii is
mot sufficient to pay the expenses Of
congressman and their families Be
sides many congressman find It neces
sary to visit the capital when Con
lgress is not in session. They also
find it needful TO so about their dis
tricts and states to ascertain the
wants of their constituents. So the
next thing will be an allowance for
travelling expenses in addition TO the
usual mileage that is paid for each