Legislators--Salaries, etc.

President Roosevelt looks over a fence at a farmer labeled “Congress” chopping the roast off a pig: “salary increase.” The rest of the pig is labeled, “inheritance and income tax,” “big warships,” “Panama Canal legislation,” and “currency reports.” He smokes a pipe as he says, “I’ll take this roast home. The rest will go in the smokehouse.” In the background stands “The Congressional Smokehouse” with a sign, “The Long Cure Process Used.” Four cuts of meat are in there: “Philippines Tariff Bill,” “Ship Subsidy,” “Santo Domingo Treaty,” and “Immigration Bill.”

comments and context

Comments and Context

The underlying point, or contemporary pertinence, of cartoonist Kirk L. Russell’s cartoon is in its title — “Planning a Raid On the Smokehouse” — despite not portraying President Roosevelt as anything but a casual observer over the fence.

A richly dressed man stands in the street in a neighborhood of lavish homes, with two large bags of money hanging at his sides, labeled “Profits as Attorney at Law” and “Profits as Claim-Agent.” A smaller bag, labeled “Salary,” hangs at his waist.

Collection

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs

Creation Date

1883-02-14