Saint Mary's beacon., 1911-04-13
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Washington, d. c., April 13. 1911
By CLYDE II. TAvENNER.

Washington, D. c., April 13, 1911.
BY CLYDE II. TAvENNER.
That the doorkeeper OF the House
OF Representatives has his thirteen
year old daughter on the payroll as
clerk to the doorkeeper" at a sal
airy OF 81 200 a year with an extra
months pay, was one OF many uui
Que discoveries made by Congress
man A Mitchell Palmer of the Ways
and Means committee while investi-
eating useless positions on the
House payroll. Palmer's retrench-
ment program was unanimously
adopted by the Democratic member
ship, rejecting the greatest of credit
upon the young Pennsylvania mem
Der who has come to be recognized
as one Of the strong leaders OF the
House. The position OF clerk to
doOrkeeper" will be abolished.
Although the clerks document
room and al. the Offices therein was
abolished by statute in 1895, the
salaries aggregating 5000 went
right on. The Republican machine
needed the patronage, and why be
discouraged by little thing like
statutel
Six useless but expensive house
committees will be abolished. Saw.
ing. $l2, 900 q year.
A saving OF $1,000 a year will be
effected through dispensing with
the services OF two attendants TO the
old library space. These positions
created when the library was in the
Capitol. The library was removed
many years ago. Since then the
two attendants have had nothing
TO attend to but blank space. 1t
was en- easy job.
Two night watchmen charged to
the folding room will be dropped.
Seventy four policemen are on duty
AZ the Capitol. and unless the two
stalwart republican night watch
men watched the police, it is diff
cult 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 telegraph wire was con-
structed between the capitol and
war department for quick communi
cation. Since the telephone has
come into existence it has been used
exclusively. But the jobs of the
two telegraphers remained. At last
they are to be abolished. Saving.
y, SOC annually.
During the Spanish war;" says
Mr.. Palmer, somebody's friend
told somebody's s cousin that some-
oody's aunt had heard someone saw
that q plot was on foot to dynamite
the capitol. Thirty, eight extra
policemen were added. They have
remained ever since"
The Palmer committee believes
the danger is now over, and will
have thirty-four private policemen
and one lieutenant given q perman-
ent leave of absence. Saving, $39.-
600 annually.
Retrenchment in the House alone
sums up as follows:
Saving under Speaker, $2. 800. 90.
Saving under clerk. $39, $40. 90.
Saving under Sergeant at arms.
$47. .O5O.OO.
Saving under door keeper. $3l,- :
$4,000.
Saving through abolishing extra
month s pay. $5O.OOOOO.
Saving through abolishing six
useless committees, 100000.
Economy in public expense, that
labor may be lightly burdened,"
has but just begun in Washington.
One department after another will
be taken up by the Democrats, and
wherever they have the power,
they will abolish useless offices and
substitute business administra-
tion for wastefulness and extrava-
gance.
AN UNREPoRTED SPEECH.
Speaker Champ Clark made an |
important speech recently that has