Washington telegraph., 1854-07-26
Congressional "Pickings a. Stealings. +"

ne Washington correspondent Of the New
York Courier brings some serious charges against
the management Of the book department OF Con-
gIess:
In European hotels stewards pay for their
places. and live npon the perqui>ites. A New
York Common Councilman gets 10 salary for his
services. and yet lives well as even gentle
man ought to do. upon tie proceeds. T..ese per-
| quisites are iami,iary kIown in our political
phTaseoogy pickings and stealings. The pick
lngs and s.ealings' OF member of Congress have
begun to rival the illicit receipts OF New York
Alderman. or an upper servant at Morley's, Mer-
rivette's OF Fenton's.
The most noted abuse is the biennial stealing
of the books. This is very curious custom
like the shearing of the girls in Brittany or the
sale of Circassian beauties Tor The Turkish Ha-
rems, OF the Roman Carnival, it is the most strik-
ing and unique feature in national manners.
In compilation of the curosIties of politics it
would have very striking place This ceremo-
ny consists in the main of pilaging the Treasury
and dividing among two hundred and thirty mem
bers OF Congress about s250.D00 by way of en-
Tightening the people. This is done by tistribut-
ing to each member five six hundred volumes
OF books. designed to form full political library
The Clerks estimate OF the expense of this pro-
ceedings during the present CongIess is s. 90 900.
The custom began in a few modest and moderate.
pilierings. Each member voted himself dozen
dred dollars or so. 1t next stood confessed a bill
Of plnnder 70 the amount OF $4,000 and has now
reached 100000.
To strengthen and solidiiy his knowledge of the
Constitution, each member receives one hundred
and slxtv-one copies OF that standard document
In order to ground him well in the history of the
body to which he belongs he takes in 40 copies
of the Annals OF Congress. and "a more of the
Congressional Globe. and takes in the Treasury.
in these volumes. to the extent of 355.o0O The
total cost OF the four boxes of books, which each
member votes himself. that he NAV obtain the
requisite information for the services of his con-
stituents. is sl.202. This respectable addition to
his per diem increases every succeeding YEAR
Many additional works are now passing through
the press which will be added to the list OF Con-
gres>onal plckings. and it is supposed that if not
checked the sum annually voted under this head
will amount to 81 100000. thus adding bout So
600 to the compensation OF members OF Congress-
But what marks this appropria ton of the books
as example OF the most glaring and bare-face
corruption. is the fact. that while taken under the
pretence of distribution among their constituents
they are not generally taken by the members at
all; but are sold in bond. without having been
seen by them. They are then re-sold to the
Clerk OF the House. by the persons engaged in
this traffic OF contraband. who retains them for
the next division among members, Each OF these
private political Libraries costs the government
81 ,202. 1t is said that the current speculator's
price is only 500. Ii would be great deal bet
ter to vote the money at once. There would be
great saving TO the Treasury of the nation and
in the honor of the individuals concerned in the
operation.