The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1914-06-30
BECOMING RICH
THRIFTY MEMBERS OF CON-
GRESS PILE UP FORTUNES.

Washington, June 30.-That tidy
little fortunes are being accumulat-
ed by some members of congress was
the assertion made today by a mem
Der of the house who has been study
ing the subject from the inside.
Thrifty members, it is said, have
cleaned up" between $4,000 and
$4,000 out of two terms in congress,
while other members who have
served five or six terms, and who
come from districts where the nomi-
nation Is as good as an election, have
become plutocrats, according to the
standards of their communities. out
of the emoluments of their office.
The average senator or representa-
tive who accumulates what to him
means a comfortable fortune while
serving his country does it by living
on his mileage and mucilage," as
they say in the cloakroom.
There are at least a score of repre-
sentatives who are living on $500 a
year and supporting families. There
are one or two senators whose ex-
penditures for household expenses do
not run over $4,000 a year. The per-
quisities attached to their Offices fur
nish the sum necessary for their liv-
ing expenses and their salaries of
$500 a year + sailed" away
against the time when some other
man will take their place in congress.
The mileage allowance of members
of congress varies according to the
distance they have to travel to get to
Washington, but the average is be-
tween $500 and $500 a session. 1t
usually costs about a quarter of this
sum of make the round trip.
Every representative and senator
gets a stationery allowance of $125
per session, but as any member can
get all the stationery he needs from
his committee without cost, a frugal
member can draw this amount in
cash.
Representatives are allowed one
clerk at $500 a year and senators
have two, ranging from $500 to
$2,500 a year. The frugal repre-
sentative who is out for the money
appoints his wife or some other mem
Der of the family as his clerk, and
| gets along by writing the necessary
letter himself.
Both senators and representatives
get free shaves" and free baths. .
most of the household necessities, ex-
eept food and clothing, at cost price.
The senator or representative who
attempts to live on his "perquisites"
may not have his residence in the
fashionable part of Washington,
where rents are high and where it is
expensive even to board, but within a
few blocks of the capitol, either
southwest or northeast, the econom-
ical member may obtain rooms for
light housekeeping for himself and
family for SIS to $50 a month.
The government furnishes every
representative and senator with
handsomely appointed offices where
he may receive his friends. Nor is
the penurious congressman entirely
| shut out of the social game, for by
reason of his office he gets invitations
to certain official functions at the
| White House and at the shomes of
members of the cabinet, and there is
no social obligation created which he
has TO repay.
Some of the men who are consider
ed accidents" in congress, having
come in on the democratic landslide
that swept the country two years ago
will frankly admit that they expect
to save enough out of their salaries
to buy a farm.
A representative from Arkansas
who is about to retire voluntarily
after having served five terms says
When / came here the salary wa:
$4,000 a year. l found l could live
on the perquisites and save the in
come. When the salary vas raised
to $500 a year | didn't have to in
crease my living expenses. / came
here for the money and / am wei
content il the other fellow gets the
glory. l am going home to live In
ease"