The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1868-04-24
Public Plunder.

the contingent expenses of the House of
Representatives, which Mr.. MPherson
communicates In obedience TO II resolu
tion Of the House of Representatives
passed on the Ith day. of March, 1912,
which requires "that the Clerk deliver
to the postmaster of the House such kind
and quantities Of stationary as from time
to time may be necessary for the use of
the House, keeping an accurate account
of the same, and also of the quantity and
value of that used in the Clerks office;
and that, hereafter, in the annual re-
ports now required by law to be made
by the Clerk, showing the amount Of
expenditure from the contingent fund
of the House, he be required to state
accurately and distinctly the quantity
and cost Of Me stationery used by the
House and the Clerks Office separate
ly." All this is stated in very brief
communication on the first page of Mr..
M'Pherson's novel and the remaining
go pages are filled with figures which
will convey to the Taxpayers of the
country startling view of what Radi-
calism considers "Stationery." 1t would
take good accountant week to aid
up this bill, and whether it amounts to
millions, or only hundreds of thousands
of dollars, the items show that full one
half, and probably two-thirds, of these
charges are downright swindes upon
the Treasury and the pockets of the
people. Radicalism and robbery are
Synonymous terms.
The present bill of the House for the
mere item of STATIONERY" is only for
single year. 1t does not include any of
the larger legitimate expenses of the
House-the pay of members, printing of
public documents, and so on. But the
mere carriage ofdocuments, mostly Radi-
cal electioneering pamphlets printed at
the expense of the people, amounts to
-, 562 80 a year, this carriage covering
| II ,ljl loads of trash, the bulk of which
goes to wrap bundles in grocers' shops
and to baser uses. Thomas IL. Beaton
and J. B. Clark, "trooly loil" of course,
have the carting of these "lOads." If
the articles of what may properly be
called stationery are really furnished to
the members of the House, it i, proba-
BILE that nearly every member intends
to set up Il stationery shop ut the close
Of his term as IA Representative. In a
single session 4,7ll 1868 envelopes, cost
ing -, ,47S.73 were furnished. This ell
x-.ln nn htts f., tAu
per and envelopes to match, visiting
cards, monograms, and paper collars
and cuffs, not only for the members but
for their families for present use and fol
several years to come. 1t should he re
membered that every member is pre-
sumed to purchase all the stationery hi
needs with money which he draws fol
the express purpose. There are now
l9l members and delegates from Terri
tories in the House. In Il single year
according to MPherson'S romance
these members used 72d gold pens, cost
ing s., ,537 81; ,O39 inkstands; 2,726 pen.
knives, costing $3.50; and j27 port
monnaies, costing Sl,Oll 80. Among
otheritcms stationery are hnir-brush
Is, nail-brushes, toilet soap, Marti niqut
snuff by the dozen bottles, cork-screw-
and kid gloves. The kid-glove busines,
is one of the sublimest of all the swim
dies. For instance, ION account of the
,h.,,., -, -
h,I, ,,o,,,,,, III ,.,.,a.' ..,',. 80,
oIa,,t , ,n,,,. I 81. s '', o'
to .,;,,,,Ia f,,,ona, n.ha ..',,.,',,a,'.',
.,,,,a,,' ;, ..,', a,. ..,
,,a,oo,non. Lroi,an, n,,nr ,;,,a.. 49,,
a.l I,dttnl - ,a,, ha nan,,l,al t,n,
u,,4 ~ =, I,..,. ,.'.-''
tLolIa,,,o L...',,., a.''' tI,,,,. 80, +,
r,,,,, .,,'., ,',,,. ,,'oaI. ,,.,,,' T.; In
,,,. 49,, ,i,o,' .I,,',,a,,,a ,lor,,., Ia,
nnt n,nnor AMI his ...,,,a,I,nn nv
nnnsai,, aIa',o ,,.,,,th oo,,as .hn H,,,,r
nnst ,rthn U.i,;,I, ,h,,.,;,,;om o,.ran;
tinr Colu,nn. oo,ld ho nIoI from tbi
o,o a,o,,,,,,,,, 40 sL,,,,. ,,,,. ,,,,., ,.,,,,,
.wi,dlinu n,,rif..+ +, mi. ,i,t ot ~,
continyent ,xren... nr th. Home
Prominent o,nnr ,ho.o ,wi,l,o. =;
tho outrnunous nnn nr Sunuonin
,vjtnos.o. ha,nr., .o,,a oon,n,i,,ao ~
otber from Tou, nrlaam. or AIa.La an
having tbom f,. thoi. to.tin,on, az th
r,io of .ooo ar xoon o..i, rn,lar ,,rntoro
, that travelling expenses cover the bill
Every "loil" loafer in tine South VIII
| went TO Washington last year 10 beg fc
. an office, or to lie about his neighbor
or rs IA Radical dirty work agent, W.
summoned as awtness and was roundl
r paid out of the peoples money. n
member, too, that this gigantic swind
; is one OF the least Of those constant
perpetrated by the party in power. 7
= support the Government, the old cal
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