Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1859-03-23
NATIONAL pRorLIaAcY.

At time when the people of this country.
/ are studying economy, and when the revenues
/ OF the government are Inadequate for the most
! carefully regulated expenditures, our rulers
should be held to strict accountability for
their administration of the national finances.
They require to be watched in small things as
well great for when prohigacy becomes q
habit, its abuses are general, and correction
must be applied at every point. Some itens
where less money in the aggregate is wasted,
may serve to show the prevailing vice in even
O more impressive light. For instance, the
two front doors of that remarkable building,
the Capitol, with their side trimmings cost
SAL ,012. In addition to this, the designs and
models for these doors cost ST., 900. BY the.
original estimate, these doors were put down
at 5000. One of the bronze doors leading in
TO the new Representative Chamber will cost,
according to estimate, $ Il ,'4l6-the design and
model having already cost $4,000. 1t is no
wonder the ancients had high idea Of the
position OF n s'door-keeper.' Each window
has cost about 81 ,00c exclusive of glass. ssThe
spread eagle handrails for the private stair
ways, in both wings, cost Sl2 ,000,'' and yet
they are in such dark places that it is propos-
ed to tear away one of the committee rooms,
in order to let little light shine upon one OF
them. So much by way of detail, merely E.
nough to prevent any wonder, when we state
that the appropriations for the Capitol already
reach S5,075, 600, and that it is estimated that
the building cannot be completed on the pres
ent plans for less than So 900 600,
The same inordinate expenditure also ex-
tends TO the furnishing of the various rooms.
Thus the furniture of the Speakers room a.
lone cost $500. Everything is on grand
scale--of expense at least. Mr.. Speaker Orr,
for instance, Withdrawing from the arduous
duties OF the Chair, refreshes himself by sur
veyiDg his portly person in a mirror which
cost 81 $50. If the light is not sufficient, he
arranges the brocatelle curtains for which the
ssdear people, have paid $500. Should he
discover any dust upon his brow, he repairs TO
a wash-stand worth SS5. He can then select
some interesting work from a bookcase which
cost S66S; takes choice between S4s and a
$50 chair and a $50 lounge; and thus enjoys
himself till S1i5 clock tells him il is time
either to write note from $50 nkstand on
S95 writing table, else take his coat and
hat from SiI clothes rack and temporarily
absent himself from a room of such ssrepubli-
can simplicity"
And so it is throughout the Capitol. The
room of the Committee of Ways and Means Is
furnished at an expense of S2,740-one of the
| items being ssfine book-desk and case, S60o.'
| The desks and chairs of the Representatives
hall cost S45, 600; and merely the cleansing
and vanishing OF them last fall cost over
1,1OO. Carpets, curtains and lounges are OF
the same scale The members of the last scs-
sion even brushed their shrewd financial heads
at an expense of S425 to the people, and
combed them (the peoples heads also) to ths
tune of S220.-Bosfon Journal.