The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-04-04
SALARY GRAB ADDED
TO MILEAGE GRAB
congressman Swell Perquisites
by Increasing Sccrc.
taries' Pay.
JUMP FROM $500 TO $1,000
Uncle SANS Watchdogs Are
Cried Down by Those Keen
for "Pickings."

nAsHISGroS. April 3--N-hcn the
~atchdogs Of the Treasury smiled into
the House to-day determined to save Uncle
sam nearly 100000 a year by knocking
out the so-cailed mileage grab they were
unprepared for the defeat that awaited
them. The House i,embershi,, not only
refused to vote against the mileage grab -
but II determined to add TO its per.
qusites. and that is what II did before the
House adjourned
In the scrimmase over the mileage pro.
vision OF tho legislative bill some one
happened to mention that the alaries OF
the secretaries OF members should be in.
creased. There was a moments silence.
and then followed a loud outburst OF en-.
thusissm.
Members are supposed to pay their Sec
re'aries 1880 year. Some members do
pay their secretaries 1880 a year. but
some others pay their secretaries less and
pocket what remains, which In many. in
stances is the greater part OF the allow
aroe. So the thrifty ones sat up and took
notice when they saw an opportunity to
increase the ''pickings"
Every Member IL On Hand.
Every seat was occupied when the
Speaker raped for order At noon. The
word had gone around that tho miieag
provision was to be voted on.
Representative johnson of South Caro-
lima VINO was in charge Of the bill.
started the ball rolling. He made A
strong argument for the section providing
that for mileage expenses members should
be reimbursed for their actual outlay in
stead OF being paid 20 cents mile for
the Journeys between their homes and
return. as at present. Mr.. johnson
pointed out that II this provision was
adopted the Government would save
nearly $4,000 a year.
The present mileage law entails an ex-
penditurc Of $4,000 "a year. The pro-
posed law would have cut this amount
one-half.
Mr. Johnson was strongly supported,
but he WAS bitterly opposed by such
members as Representative Humphreys
who comes from Washington, away out
on the Pacific coast, and to whom mile
sse at 20 cents a mile amounts to some
thing. The battle ragged furiously for a
while. but when the vote was counted II
Vas found that the provision to retrench
had been defeated. SO to IS.
Having saved tho mileage grab. and
thus having tile lure for coin in mind, the
House proceeded to tho consideration Of
al iiStedsiTS
members secretaries from $500 to $500
year At tho present ratio OF $500 a
year it costs S5SS,0o0 a year to employ
secretaries for memoars. The increase
advanced the total 10 100000
Austin EulOgises Secretaries.
Members rushed to the support of this
amendment. Representative Dick Austin
~ Tennessee. who brags about the mill
ions that he has taken to his district
eulogized the 'Congrcssnan's secretary"
Cheers, yells. handclappimg and other
means Of expressing the approval pune
tured Mr.. Austins remarks
Representative Sissoii Of Mississippi
suggested that many members employed
their sons. daughters, wives or other
relatives to do their secretarial work
lie said the country would not approve
OF members voting money for themselves
Mr.. Sisson asserted that If the salaries Of
secretaries were increased as proposed
ms Congress would be looked upon AS
the most outrageously and criminally
eAuaVa3ant Congress that ever sat on the
American continent"
Members did not like this kind of talk.
and during Mr.. Ssson's speech they kept
shouting, Vote! Vote, Vote" And
~hen the House did vote the amendment
carried. lis 10 CO.
Members AT once lost interest in tho
proceeding. They left the Chamber i'm
groves, and soon only a corporars guard
was present