Charlevoix county herald. (East Jordan, Mich.) 189?-1953, 1918-06-21
]. S. PAYS BIG SUM
FOR ODD PURPOSES
HELPS KEEP UP WORLD SLAVE
REPRESSION BUREAU
Maintains Prisons and Lighthouses
Abroad-CIothes A1askans
on Islands.

Washington, d. -C.-The United
States Government pays out annually
thousands Of dollars for purposes that
not one in a thousand citizens knows
anything about.
Altho slave trading is generally sup
posed to be a thing of the past the
United States contributes about 500
each year as its share of the expense
of keeping up at Brussels an institu-
ton known as the international
bureau for the repression of the
African slave trade. -
The Government Is deeply interest
ed in ascertaining the size OF the
earth. SO 1t pays annually to the
American embassy at Berlin, Ger
many, its quota Of $1,000 as an adher-
ing member of the International
Geodetic Association.
At Brussels there Is an interna-
tional bureau for the publication Of
customs, and the United States pays
$1,38S annually as its proportionate
share of the expense. Also at Brus-
sells every year $2.270 is paid by this
Government as a contribution to the
maintenance Of the international bu-
reau of weights and measures.
1t costs the United States not less
than $14,100 annually to provide
prisons for American convicts in
foreign countries. These prisons are
under the immediate jurisdiction Of
the Consular officers at variour cities
in China, Korea. Japan and Turkey.
They are seldom used, but they never
theless must be maintained.
The locations Of the prisons, with
the cost of rent and wages of keepers,
are as follows: Bangkok, $1,000;
Shanghai, $3.50; Turkey, $1,000. For
keeping and feeding such prisoners as
may from time to time be confined in
these prisons, $4,000 is set aside every
year.
The Secretary OF the Treasury
doubtless would experience no diff
Guilty in finding plenty of men about
Washington willing to spend a day
without remuneration watching the
destruction by maceration of United
States securities. But, to save the
Secretary any possible embarrass-
ment. Congress has provided that he
may pay a representative Of the
public-who, the law says, shall be
one of tho committee to witness the
reduction of the securities to pulp-$5
a day for each day he may be so en-
ployed.
The United States also has to spend
a few dollars every year to aid in
keeping our sailormen from going
ashore on foreign coasts. On the
coast Of Morocco, at Tangier, and at
Cape Spartel, mariners used to ex-
perience great difficulty in avoiding
disaster on account of the absence Of
warning night signals. Lighthouses
were sadly needed. and, as the govern
ment of Morocco would not provide
them, the great powers took the mat
ter in hand in behalf Of their ship
ping interests. Lighthouses were es-
tablished and the powers are assessed
80 much annually for their mainten-
ance. The share of the United States
In this expense Is 1926.
In addition to this, an annual ap-
propriatio~ of $4,000 is made for ex-
penses injured in the acknowledge
ment Of the services Of masters and
ere - of foreign vessels In rescuing
American seamen and citizens.
The people of Alaska who inhabit
the Islands ofSt. Paul and st. George
receive special consideration at the
hands of the Government. Congress
authorizes the Secretary Of the Treas
ury to furnish them with food, fuel
and clothing, and for this purpose
$19,600 Is appropriated. Industrial
and elementary education in Alaska
costs the Government $4,000 a.year.
To keep open the Washington monu-
mept Congress allows an appropria-
tiOn of x11 6OO vaorIv