New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-04-04
EXTRAVAGANZA OF
DEMOCRATS SHOWN
Rep. Sisson Apologies to
Republicans for Ad-
verse Criticism.
EXPENDITURES WORSE
THAN CRIMINAL {"
Pay of Secretaries Is Increased,
and Congressmen Will Retain
Old Mileage Allowance.

Washington. April s.-Apologiring to the
Republican party for having accused II of
e1travagance. Representative Sisson, a
Democratic member of the Appropriations
Committee, rounded out bad day for the
committees economy programme in the
House to-day by turning to the minority
and saying:
III the expression 'criminally extrava-
CANT was proper to apply to you. my God.
the English language has never found an
adjective strong enough to apply to Dem
ocratic extravaganza"
Mr.. sisson said he expected the Repub-
leans TO use his speech as campaign ma
terial. and declared he did not care II they
did. The Sissonesque outburst followed
the maltreatment of the legislative appro-
priation bill. Here is the way the House
economical:
10 struck from the bill the committee
proposal for curtailing the mileage allow
ance OF members. thus adding sl12,Coo TO
the total OF the measure.
It increased from $500 to 8, 80 a year
the salary Of every secretary to a member
OF the House, adding $4,000.
1T adopted an amendment providing
that the Capitol BARRIERS shall buy their
own toilet preparations and pay the bar
ter shop laundry bills, saving, perhaps.
500.
The committee proposed 10 reduce 10
actual travelling expenses the mileage al
lowance Of members Of Congress. The
paragraph was stricken from the bill by
vote Of So to 4S, leaving the customary
appropriation for mileage at the rate of
20 cents for each mile travelled by a
member In coming to or returning from a
session Of Congress- Efforts OF Repre-
sentatives Page and Bartlett to effect a
compromise rate OF and 10 cents a mile
were unavailing.
Members who live considerable dis
lance from Washington were up In arms
from tho outset and every retrenchment
proposal was voted down 20 to /.
Representative Bartlett, OF Georgia, tn en-
sprung a surprise on his colleagues serv-
proposing an increase Of salary for the
secretaries of members OF the House The
800 raise was adopted by vote of 142 to
81, after Representatives Fitzgerald, John
son and Sisson had inveighed against the
extravaganza Of their party. Mr.. Johnson
lectured Mr.. Bartlett for repudiating the
recommendations OF his committee
AS second outrage" upon the Appro-
priations Committee was about to be per-
petrated Chairman Fitzgerald hotly said;
This Democratic House came into
power with promises Of economy In ex-
penditures. We were elected upon a
sweeping denunciation OF tho Republican
party for its extravaganza. l am sure the
exhibition We have given here to-day will
appeal to the country" Mr.. Fitzgerald
was sarcastic in the latter expression.
adding:
Having refused to save over 100000 on
the mileage OF members, you now propose
TO increase tho expenditures for clerical
assistance OF members about $4,000. This
will not bring members more efficient
service. Members will simply pay the
increase 70 the clerks they now have. ana
tho service will be the same"
Mr.. Austin, a Tennessee Republican,