Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 22, Number 59, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 April 1901 — POCKET THE PERQUISITE. [ARTICLE]

POCKET THE PERQUISITE.

Men bers of CAnt-rcas Make a Good Thinic Gut of Stationery Allowance. When it was decided some years ago to allow each member of tlie house the the sum of $123 a year for stationery it was supposed that tlie amount would be expended for that purpose. The fact is, however, that a very large number of congressman use the committee stationery, which is supplied by the government, nnd pocket the $123 as an addition to their salary. The report of the clerk of the house, gives the names of the members who accept the money each year and their number shows that tlie custom is increasing. The custom is confined to no section. Some of the best known men in tlie house pocket the money. The members who use only $l -or $2 worth of stationery are also very numerous. They draw nearly the entire allowance in cash, adding the amount to their salary. The comparatively small amount of stationery used and -"the very large proportion of cash paid out lias led to some suggestion of the abolition of the stationery privilege, but it is not at all likely that such a proposition will be adopted. Quite a number of members find the appropriation of $1,200 to each congressman for a clerk to be very acceptable as another addition to the salary of $3,000 a year. They are not compelled to make public record of tlie name of the clerk, but it is known that many of tlie wives, daughters or sons of the members do duty as clerks, in order that the money shall not escape from the family treasury.