The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1913-04-29

Advises Members to "Begin at Home
and Upon Ourselves" Citing Personal
Expenses as a Good Starting Point.
Semi personal Bills Passed For Pat
ronase Could Be Trimmed.
BY ARTHUR w. DUNN.
Washington. April 80. - tSpecial.]-
eff we are going to economize we
must begin at home and upon our
selves sageiy remarked Congressman
Cox of Indiana in one Of his annual
speeches against the mileage paid to
members.
Each member now receives 20 cents
mile for every session he attends.
1t is thought that quite saving couk
be accomplished by cutting down the
rate to cents q mile. But congress
men do not take kindly to the reduc-
ton of their personal expenses. They
tried to keep down the number Of
clerks and other employees. but with
out making much Of show. On the
personal side it is hard to economic
when the government pays the bills.
But the personal economy amounts
to but drop in the bucket. The big
saving could be made on the semi
personal side. in cutting down the
large river and harbor and public
building bills, in reducing the number
of military posts and navy yards. most
of which are maintained for the bene-
1t of states and congressional districts
and help to re-elect the men who keep
them in operation.
Income Tax May Help.
There is widespread belief that the
income tax will go long way to help
along sentiment in favor of reduced
expenditures. 1t Is believed that the
men who pay the income taxes will
try and create sentiment in favor Of
federal economy. !.
At present the feeling in all commu-
mites and among most of the congress
men is that whatever comes out of the
federal treasury is so much ''velvet."
Uncle Sam has always been regarded
good thing" and government mon
ey has been considered easy money.
The income tax may make q differ
ence.
Old Soldier In tho House.
And here is another old soldier. one
Of the civil war, elected a member of
congress. Sanford Kirkpatrick. one of
the Democrats from Iowa. enlisted
when nineteen years old and served
four years in the great struggle. AS
a government officer be has visited
forty-one different states of the Union.
Mann and Assistants.
During the two years he was minor
ity leader James r. Mann rarely had
any one assisting him. He had no
heutenants. Occasionally he yielded to
men for short speeches. but he never
really had any one who was ever ready
to take up the work he mapped out.
81 can't get any member sufficiently
interested" explained Mann. ito take
up the questions and learn them thor
oughly. and SO l determined to take
care Of everything myself" 1t looks
as If Congressman Gardner Of Massa-
chusetts would be Mann's lieutenant
during the present congress.
A Southern Educator.
Congressman Abercrombie Of Ala
bama is one of the educators in con-
gress. He has been connected with
many different educational institutions
in his state and has been at the head
Of many educational associations
throughout the country. He ought to
have a standing with Professor Will
son at the White House.
PeriIs Of High Station.
Naturally the secretary of state is
much sought after as a dinner guest.
Let any fashionable hostess send out
an invitation ito meet the secretary Of
state" and mighty lot Of acceptances
will be fled. No member Of the diplo-
matte corps could refuse an invitation
of that kind. and high ranking diplo-
mats make distinguished dinner par.
ties And so the common people are
reading about Secretary Bryan at fun"-
tons of high society and wealth. for
wealth is also part Of dining.
In fact, many people in society think
wealth is solely for dining. There are
quite a goodly number Of the rank and
file still haunting Washington. many
Of them dining rather frugally after
nearly two months Of waiting. who
read with misgivings that William J
Bryan is dining frequently with the
aristOcrats. the smart set. the pluto
Gratis. in short.
There is peril in seats" Judson Har-
mon was practically bowled out Of the
presidency by dinners. where he talked
and where things were said about him.
| President Taft was constantly going to
dinners. Woodrow Wilson rarely goes
to dinners
Tom Powers View.
Most of the Democrats down deep
in their hearts believe in what Tom
Power expressed openly. Power was
one Of the FIRST senators from Montana
and Of course was given almost moth
ing In the way Of committee assign
ments. He was much dissatisfied and
expressed himself thus: '"They have
put me on civil service. reform and re-
trenchment am not in favor Of civil
service nor Of reform nor of retrench
ment. which shows the lack Of judg-
ment Of the men making the commit
tees"