Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-07-05

4nC VA1o.o ulAAl1OAl dppIOpIls
alton for the fiscal year that
began last Wednesday was in
contrast to about $50 million
appropriated in 1850 and $50
million in 1854. Although the
$128.8 million was about 81
million less than the fiscal
1858 total. the drop resulted
more from bookkeeping thans-
actions than from real or last
ing savings.
Members of Congress, mean
while, defend tn m selves
against charges that they spend
excessively and needlessly while
claiming substantial economies
in cutting millions from other
governmental budget requests.
They contend, for instance.
that the legislative appropri-
alton bill covers some areas
and activities related only in
part, If at all, to the cost of
legislative functions. These in
clude the Library Of Congress.
Government Printing Office and
Botanic Garden.
They also draw a distinction
between operating and capital
expenditures Of Congress. Thus,
much Of the swelling of the
legislative budget in recent
years is attributed to OUTLAWS
for the $26 million new Senate
Office Building, a third House
Office Building that eventually
will cost $50 million, and the
SIT million extension Of the
Capitol's east front.
Nom Recurring Costs
Those sums are being spread
over several years but more
than 500 million will have
been spent by the end Of fiscal
1860 next June 30. The Archi-
tect Of the Capitol, j, George
Stewart, refers to them as nom
recurring costs. =
In any event an examination
Of the legislative budget trend
indicates that even after all
these capital improvements are
paid for the cost of Congress
will be at least 500 million a
year from now on.
In 1854 members Of Congress
voted to raise their salaries to
$22,500 a year. Together with
pay increases voted last year for
legislative employees, this in
creased the salary total from
about 500 million in 1854 to
$46 million this year.
The current legislative ap-
preparation bill also provides
money for Alaska and Hawaii's
new members and their stats.
This alone accounts for an
$50. 900 increase for Senate SAL
aries and mileage in the COM
ing year.
A constant complaint heard
at the Capitol is that congress
sional offices and committee
payrolls are padded and that
home district allowances are
unrealistic if not unwarranted.
Analysis of House Appropria-
tions Committee and House
Discussing Clerk reports-ad-
mittedly sketchy-seems to re-
flute some Of the charges.
Senate records Of this kind are
not available for publication.
House staff Personnel
The most recent record shows
that the number of staff per-
sonnet in House members offices
is about 1900, almost 1000 less
than the number permitted by
law. This, however, must be
scanned with some reservation.
It does not necessarily mean
that the total pay is cores
pondingly less. There is Moth
ing to prevent a member from
using his full authorized pay
roll allotment for fewer en-
ployes.
There is danger in conclud-
ing that vast sums are being
wasted or misused for such
matters as rental of home dis
trict Office space. Congress was
shaken by revelations early this
year that some members abused
that privilege. The House
Appropriations Committee in
quired into the matter and
learned that 234 of the 438
House members and delegates
rented space in their districts
last year at a total cost of about
5000, 1000, less than half of the
$525,000 available for that
purpose.
But while the Post Office
Department commended this
year that it should be reim-
bursed $3.6 million as the cost
OF handling Congressional
franked mail, the House ap-
proved a repayment of only
100000.
Aside from the merits of that
case there. Is no denying that
the heavier congressional work
load and other factors such
as requests from constituents
and Governmental agencies
have increased congressional
mail from 44.5 million pieces
in 1855 to almost SIS million
this year.
High Cost Of Drugs
Congressional officials con-
tend that the higher costs of
legislative operations are no
worse-and in many respects