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The Chickasha Daily Express
Chickasha, Grady County, Oklahoma
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Foreign diplomats and US officials report Washington's cost of living as the highest globally and nationally. Statistics show nationwide increases, with local rises of at least 50% in the last decade. Congress considers salary boosts for government employees, raising top officials' pay to $12,000 but deferring members' from $5,000 to $7,500 due to political fears. Example: A Missouri congressman struggles on $5,000 with family expenses exceeding salary.
Merged-components note: Image bbox overlaps with domestic_news bbox; likely an illustrative element for the 'COST OF LIVING AT CAPITAL' article.
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Foreigners stationed here at the legations and embassies declare that the cost of living is greater in Washington than in any other capital of the world. Officials and congressmen, who are in Washington from all parts of the United States, complain that the cost is greater in this city than in any other of the country. Statistics gathered by the bureau of statistics of the department of commerce and labor, despite the consistent Republican effort to have it appear through this bureau that the average wage is going up and the average cost of living going down, now are permitted to show a considerable increase all through the country in the cost of living.
Residents of Washington need no statistics. Only a very short memory is needed to establish the fact that the cost of living in the capital has gone up at least 50 per cent. in the last ten years. The various propositions to boost the pay of government employes, which are pending in congress, are explained by these conditions.
Take the congressmen on $5,000 a year. A certain member of the Missouri delegation, elected in 1904 under circumstances that made him a conspicuous figure, came to Washington with a family of three besides himself. He went to a certain residential hotel, of good class, but not the most expensive, and the best figure made to him was $400 a month for himself and family.
As his salary exceeds the sum by less than $40, he had to look elsewhere, and now lives very modestly, more modestly than a prominent man should, at an outlay of $275 a month. He is a man who has always lived excellently at home and moved in the first circles on an income that averaged $5,000 a year.
The house did not have the courage to vote its members an increase of salary from $5,000 to $7,500, but the failure to do so arose only from fear of political consequences. Folks out in the "rural deestricts" probably could not comprehend how $5,000 could be small pay. But the house did recognize the situation by increasing the salaries of the speaker, the vice president and members of the cabinet to the $12,000 figure.
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Domestic News Details
Primary Location
Washington
Key Persons
Outcome
cost of living up at least 50% in last ten years; congress increases salaries of speaker, vice president, and cabinet to $12,000 but fails to raise members' from $5,000 to $7,500 due to political fears.
Event Details
Foreigners at legations and embassies state Washington's cost of living exceeds any other world capital. US officials and congressmen from across the country agree it is highest in the US. Commerce and Labor Department statistics show nationwide increases despite Republican efforts to downplay. Local residents recall 50% rise in past decade, explaining pending congressional pay boost proposals for government employees. Example: 1904-elected Missouri delegate with family of four faces $400/month hotel but lives modestly at $275/month on $5,000 salary, which barely covers. House recognizes issue by raising top officials to $12,000 but avoids members' increase fearing rural district backlash.