Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-03-21
PRINCE OF ECONOMY.
Representative Saved $11 900 Out of
$4,000 Salary.

SPRINGFIELD, Mo-, March 21.-With
his shirtsleeves rolled up to his elbows,
standing beside a table in a smoke house,
where he was assisting in cutting up big
fat porker that was to make meat Tor
the family for many days, w. 7. Tyndall,
formerly member Of Congress from the
fourteenth district, Missouri, told how he
had been able to save nearly S11,0Oo out OF
his salary of $4,000 and the allowances
for incidental expenses during his two-year
term at Washington.
''It was simply by practicinS very strict
economy" said Mr.. Tyndall. Il have al
ways believed that a mans first duty is
to his family. After he has seen that
they are well provided for he should do
what he could for the support of chart
table 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 a man ought to do what he can
to save and provide for hts home folks.
when l thought about my wife at
home making sausages and looking after
the baby, and, maybe, not feeling well, L
knew | didn't have any money to spend
in any unnecessary way, and didn't spend
any that way.
There are lots of ways a man can save
money. and congressman in Washington
ought to be able to save money as well as
any one anywhere else Instead of putting
up at one of those fashionable hotels where
a man has to pay from So to so a day OBJ
tanned board and lodging with the family of
q man / knew. Representative Murphy or tie
sixteenth Missouri district and / stayed at
the same place, and both of us We're
economical. l had to pay $40 month for
living expenses in private home. and this
was the larger part of what paid out.
THE place where Murphy and i stayed
was only quarter of a mile from the Cap
itol, and this made it possible TO save In one
I1gCf lyua We % 1lnH N
from the sessions. 1t was just a short dis
lance 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 were the
only congressman from Missouri who didn't
have silk hats and dress suits. We felt that
we couldn't afford such things, so we didn't
get any:
my family stayed at home. They were
not with me any of the time l was in Wash
ington, SO that l didn't have to give any
receptions, and / couldn't have afforded it
even If they had been there. never attend
cd any of the receptions or things Of that
sort. One reason was that 1 didn't have
time. l was working hard while l was there,
so that it wouldn't have been easy for me
to attend any of the regular social affairs IL
l had thought l could afford 1t.
when | was at home my wife helped me
with my correspondence and clerical work,
and when l was in Washington l attended
to 1t myself, that / didn't need private
secretary. As long my wife and L could
do the work there was no use in getting
some else to do 1t, and couldn't afford
any extravagances.
when a man can afford to pay for all
these things it is right for him to have
them if he wants to, but as long as he
isn't able to spend the money then he
ought to see to things himself"
Mr.. Tyndali was elected in the republic
can landslide of 1904, and probably no
body more surprised than he at his
victory. Reared in the country, he has
some strong prejudces against city life.
For example, 1t is told of him that he
baked at entering elevator on his first
trip 10 st. Louis after his election, declar-
ing this necessary convenience u menace
to human life. Inasmuch as it was the
first one he had seen. his opinion was
quite reasonable.
A representatives salary hereafter will
be $3.50 a year, the increase having oeen-
voted by the late Congress In which Mr.
Tyndall sat. But during Mr.. TyndalPs
term the salary was S. 900 a year, and he
drew $4,000 in salary, all of which he
put away. He was allowed s1.5O0 a year
for private secretary and 10 cents "A mile
for travelling expenses between his home
and Washington and return. Inasmuch as
he employed no secretary. he not only
made these perquisites pay his expenses.
but also saved $500 year out OF them,
bringing his total savings for two years
up to $1,000.
Mr., Tyndall will become country
banker, and those vino are familiar with
his congressional experience predict that
he will make q successful financier.