Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1868-10-15
OUR NATIONAL PIN MONEY.
How Congress Squsnders the Funds,
A scorching Lashing from a Radical
Paper.

kdpcfs
Gold Pens, Iron Criddies, Quill Pens
Nutmeg Graters, steel Pens aud siIve
Spoons, Cieavers, Urns, Household an,
Kitchen Furniture, and many other Ar
tlcies s'Too Numerous to Mention.v1
Prom the Cincinnati Commercial, Radical.J
Tho liberality which Congress ha,
displayed in voting large subsidies o
lands and money to various railroad
and internal impropenaant a torp,.;as.
has created the impression that it u
extravagant in the management o.
fits own affairs. Rumors have from
time to time gone abroad that the
members INDUCED in extravaganza
at the public expense which ought tC
be paid for out Of their private resour
ces IL was not many months age
that Mr. Stevens, of Pennsylvania
when a bill was before the House pro
posing TO allow members TO order sta.
tionery dd iibitum, said that if il pass.
cd there were members who would
supply themselves with underclolhing
enough TO last them seven years-or
words TO that effect Such disparage-
ing remarks, coupled with the gossip
OF the letter-writers, have assisted 10
confirm the impression that Congress
is an extravagant body, whose mem
bers manage, during single term, to
carry off or waste an amount Of plum.
der equal TO their salary
1t is our intention to show that Con
gross, or rather that branch OF It
known as the House of Representa-.
tives, is not so profigate as 1t might
be in expending the peoples money.
The facts are furnished 10 our hand
by the "Letter from the Clerk Of the
House, transmitting statement Of
the contingent expenses of the House
of Representatives," The statement
covers a period Of one year, from and
including December, 1866, to Decem-
Der. 1867. y
This statement is required by a law
of the House, passed in 1912, BY which
the Clerk is instructed TO deliver to
the Postmaster of the House such
kinds and quantities Of stationery as
may from time to time be necessary
for the use OF the Hohse, cost of that
used in the Clerks office, the accounts
to be kept separately and in detail.
Very queer things are TO be found
in this statement, as we shall show
before we are through with it. But
it is necessary to say, before examin-
ing the items, that each member OF
the House is allowed certain sum
,,.i for stationery aside ttGg4Rp the sgg4ks
on almost every page, for instance,
long lists Of the names of members
with the amounts drawn by them for
stationery set opposite their names,
and we have Only TO add that very few
men doing largo business make them
selves so liberal an allowance. 70
feeble minds, unable to grasp the great
scope of the duties OF a member Of the
House OF representatives, il would
probably appear that, with so much
money in bis pocket for the particular
purpose, member would have no
occasion 20 make farther requisition
during The session. But 70 those
whose ideas have been enlarged BY Q
visit to Washington and attendance
on the House for a few days, it will
at once appear how inadequate the
stipend is, and how the wants Of q
man multiply and magnify the mo
ment he enters into the service Of the
Republic and lives ut the expense oI
the people.
II is out of a desire 10 enlighteu The
minds of those who have not the op
portunity TO attend upon the sessions
of Congress that we have gone ovcl
the statement Of the Clerk, Mr. Nc
Pherson, and collected and aggregated
the sums expended for specific arti
cles. The items are scattered through
a list which fills two hundred ant
thirty one pages, and embraces NOR,
than every thing in the line OF station
cry, as understood by the trade.
One OF the popular errors touching
the extravaganza Of Congress is tina
vast sum Of money is wasted in tn
printing and publishing of public doc
uments. The Clerks statement doe
not show the cost Of the composition
press work and material employed an
used in these documents. That be
longs to the Superintendent of Publ
Printing TO tell. We are to suppos
the documents printed and taken !
the folding.room Of the House, whence
after being folded, wrapped. pasted an
, tied up, they are cartcd away TO Oh
postofice, the express offices, the raj
road depots, and TO other public d,
partments in Washington. To sho'
. our rehGers how trihing, after all,
the aggregate bulk of these document
we will take the transactions for th
year ending last December.
We find that there was paid
Thomas II. Beaton, mail.carrier Il
the House, and exclusive OF his sery
ces for carrying the ordinary mai
) aud also 10 ]. B. Clark, Jr, for carliu
10 express offices, railway stations, az
the following sums for hauling publ
i documentsi
ITO Thomas IA. Bcaion.)
s2s loads pub. doc, December. 1885,. Siii
/. l.2l0 Loads pnb. doc, January. ls67-... COS
! ,60l loads pub. doc. February. 1867. so2
as loads pub, dQo, March 70 Mch 4 let
!, 752 loads pub. doc April, is67......... so
tts lpads pub doc, May, ls67.......... 222
gae loeds bnb doc June 1881 .... I5a
/ - 80