The Monroe journal. [volume] (Monroe, N.C.) 189?-1965, 1911-04-11
CUTTIN OUT SMALL GRAFT.

Amounting TO Enormous Sum
Cut Out by Democrats the First
Thing-Take Out the Little As
j Well as the Big Graft, says
Champ Clark.
corresinrisucr II Tie Ioarrsl
I Washington, April ). - That the
/ doorkecper Of the House Of Repre-
Sentat!ves had his thirteen-y ear-ola
daughter on the payroll as a clerk
to the doorkeeper" at a salary q
81 200 a year with an extra month
pay, was one Of many unique discov
cries made by Congressman 4. Mitch
ell Palmer Of the ways and means
committee while investigating use
less positions on the House payroll.
Palmer'S retrenchment program was
unanimously adopted by the Demo.
cratic membership, rejecting the
greatest of credit upon the young
Pennsylvania member who has come
to be recognized as one Of the strong
leaders Of the House. The position
as clerk TO doorkeeper' will be
abolished.
Although the clerks document
room and all the offices therein was
abolished by statute in 1898, the
salaries aggregating SG,2G0 went
right on The Republican machine
needed the patronage, and why be
discouraged by little thing ike a
statute.
Six useless but expensive House
committees will be abolished. Say
ing, $4,000 a year.
4 saving Of $4,000 a year will be
effected through dispensing with the
services Of two attendants 10 the old
library space. These positions were
created when the library was in the
Capitol. The library was removed
many years ago Since then the two
attendants have had nothing to at
tend 10 but blank space, 1t was an
easy job.
Two night watchmen charged to
the folding room will be dropped.
Seventy-four policemen are on duty
at the Capitol, and unless the two
stalwart Republican night watchmen
watched the police, It is difficult to
understand how they put in their
time.
Here is another illustration Of
wastefulness in running the govern
ment: Before the telephone was in
vented a telegraph wire was con
structed between the Capitol and
War Department for quick commit
nication. Since the telephone has
come into existence it has been used
exclusively. But the Jobs Of the two
talegraphers remained. At last they
are to be abolished. Saving, $500
annually.
During the Spanish war;" says
Mr.. Palmer, somebody's friend told
somebody's cousin that somebody's
aunt had heard someone say that a
plot was on foot to dynamite the
Capitol. Thirty-eight extra police
men we're added. They have re-
NAMED ever since"
The Palmer committee believes
the danger is now over, and will
have thirty.tour private policemen
and one lieutenant given a perma-
nent leave Of absence. Saving, $50, |
600 annually.
Retrenchment in the House alone
sums up as follows: Saving under
speaker, $500; saving under clerk,
S39,970; saving under sergeant-at-
arms, $47,050; saving under door
keeper, S3l,340; saving through
abolishing extra months pay, $50
600; saving through abolishing six
useless committees, $4,000, saving
through aboishing speakers auto
$4,000 Total annual saw
ing, SlSS,6S0.
Economy in public expense, that
labor may be lightly burdened, has
but just begun in Washington. One
department after another will be
AIKEN up by the Democrats, and
wherever they have the power, they
will abolish useless offices and sub
,titute a business administration for ,
yastsfulness and extravaganza.
An Unreportsd Speech.
Speaker Champ Clark made an {
speech recently that Las !
Tot as yet been printed in any news. ,
,aper. Il was made in caucus, at 5
which no newspaper men were pres I
mt. II was private, heart-to heart ,
ak between Clark and his Demo. 9
ratio party fellows. Here is what 5
Ir. Clark said, not for the public. I