The Fargo forum and daily republican., 1911-12-21
DENIS. NOT CONSISTENT
WITH KNIFE
Continued FROM Page One.

IL
by having useless offices created for
favorites who did no work. The re-
publican leaders promised hearty CO.
operation in ridding the pay roll OF
this class Of grafters. but the ambi-
tious democrats pressed on and cut
out lot of other places primarily for
the purpose of making a showing"
Included in the $4,000 was $780,
GOO session which for years had
been laid to employees in lieu OF mile
age, constituting an extra months
pay. The republicans and some de-
mocrats before them had appropri-
ated this money regularly on the theo-
ry that the employees, many of whom
come from a distance, were entitled to
their travelling expenses. The "prun-
ing committee" appointed by the
committee on ways and means decided
that It would be a fine stroke of
economy to cut out this $4,000 and let
the employees get to and from Wash
fngton as best they could.
Don't Cut Own Mileage.
However, when Rep. A. Mitchell
Palmer of Pennsylvania, chairman of
the pruning committee moved by
q desire to be consistent and square
himself with the employees, offered an
amendment to the urgent deficiency
bin cutting the mileags of members
from 20 cents to 10 cents a mile, he
was howled down by thunderous
NO" A great volume of the mo"
came from the democratic side, where
there was, also, a fair sprinkling of
ayes" when the amendment was put
to a vote. On rising vote the larg-
est number who stood with Mr.. Pal
mer, including q few republicans, was
fifty-six. When formal roll call was
ordered on a motion to recomnit the
bill to the committee OF the whole
with instructions to cut the rate OF
mileage, ninety eight members ans
wered AYE" as their names were
democrats. They were willing enough
to vote to continue the present and
long established rate so long as their
votes were not recorded, but when it
came to a question of a record vote
which their constituents could see,
forty two more members Topped over
to the side of an economy that would
touch their own pockets. However,
this was not a sufficient number by
thirtyone votes to cut the rate Of
mileage.
After the vote was taken on the
Palmer amendment in committee of
the whole and the members had over
whelmingly voted TO maintain the
present rate of mileage, Representa-
tive Garner of Texas arose and in
jected another inconsistent echo. Act
ing for the committee on accounts, the
Texan offered a new paragraph to
the bill reducing the number of ses-
sion clerks carried in the legislative,
executive and judicial appropriation
act from nine to eight and cutting the
salaries of the eight from $e to 81
per day. Fortunately for the clerks,
who could not defend themselves
Minority Leader Mann made a point
of order against this amendment,
which was promptly sustained by
Representative ughes of New Jersey,
laborite, who was in the chair. The
democrats had Immediately before re-
fused to lop Off $4,000 from their
own mileage account, but had It not
been for Mr.. Mann's objection would
have saved the government, say $3.50
at the expense Of few defenseless
clerks.
CT course, all OF the items mem
toned above are small compared with
the immense pension bill which the
democrats were so anxious to have
passed and which carries anywhere
from $4,000 to SIS, 900, 900. when, as
some of the democratic leaders point
ed out, there is a prospect that de-
ficit will occur in the treasury even
without this increased expenditure. 1t
is certain that the senate will use the
pruning knife on the Sherwood bill
and save the country many millions
of dollars annually thereby, not be-
cause the republicans of that body
would not like to see the veterans
of the Union army receive as liberal
pensions as are now provided In the
bin. but because the finances of the
government. especially with the demo-
Gratis tinkering with the tariff, are not
in condition to stand the strain