The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-08-17
Radical Plunderers.
From The ". Y. World.


From the ". =. World.
Not long ago Mr.. w. j. Marker, Of Wash
ington, published a pamphlet exposing the
extravaganza of the Radical Rump in what
are conveniently called ''the contingent ex-
penses of the House of Representatives"
These contingent expenses cover the compen-
satiOn of clerks, messengers and others
employed in the House; the expenses of sum
moning witnesses to testify before various
special committees; hack hire; use of par
l0rs in hotels in all the leading cities in the
Union; travelling expenses of the Sergeant
alarms; and the paper, gold pens, PEN
knives, pantaloons, and other peTquisites
which are vaguely summed up as 'station-
cry" Mr.. Marker says in the predatory
paragraphs to his pamphlet that he "has
been Republican from the organization
of the party in 1854" that he received
an appointment in the Doorkeeper's depart
ment in the House of Representatives through
the influence of Republican member, aud CON
tinued in his position till July l, 1868, when
he resigned. These statements are to show
that he has had opportunities to know some
thing of the expenditures and eXtravagances
he exposes, and that his publication is not
biased by party prejudice. He says that he
attempted to secure the attention of members
to the shameful abuses and general squauder-
ing, but to no purpose, and that ne finally
''became satisfied that this scandalous waste
of money would never be stopped, or honestly
inquired into, while the present party was in
power" So he printed his pamphlet in which
he makes the following statement:
Il Statement Shouting the Expenses Of The House Of
Representatives. for the gear ending June 81, 1861,
1865, 1866, 1867, and 1868.
Year ending June 80 1858 63O 90
Year ending June 80 1865 .... lSl 1871 %
Year ending June 30, lS6G............. 49, 13S %
Year ending June 30 lSb7............... 5J2 OSlOO
Year ending June 3d. S6S........"...... rs 555 OO
a oil ~ EafNgt "a Inn
Total.............. ................s2 625 5S8 %
This shows an enormous increase the ex-
penses OF 1868 more than doubling those of
1864 The details exhibit an extraordinary
expenditure for particular items, which should
at least be explained. For instances: for the
second session of the Fortieth Congress the
whole amount of STATIONERY" would equal an
allowance OF $500 to each member; there were
S5OS6 worth of pens for the House, the pen
knives amounted TO $562O, equal to fifteen
knives at $25 so for each member. No one
supposes that members used, or even re-
ceived, all these articles which tue people pay
for. The bills OF the Sergeant alarms amount
to thousands upon thousands of dollars; he
charges for 2OS 4O3 miles OF travel for him
self aud witnesses; the scandalous details of
the investigation of the New Orleans riots
show that nearly $40 900 we're expended,
mainly to pay the board, washing, and travel
ling expenses of the carpet-bagging beggars
who pretended to be "witnesses.' These are
but items in the mass of swlndles which Mr..
Marker has exposed. The House thought it
worth while to investigate the matter of its
own extravaganza. and a committee was
appointed, July Is, 10 inquire into the
disbursement of the contingent fund for the
years 1857 and 1868. This committee has
made report which explains, denies, attri-
butes increased expenses to extra sessions,
and whitewashes generally. The report has
been printed, but further action has been
taken; only MIR. II. McCulloch, of the COM
mittee, showing that funds have been i'm
properly or illegally disbursed, and
declaring that the committee is not proper
committee to investigate such charges. SIT
is like" says Mr.. McCulloch, ga member
charged with corruption or fraud asking for a
committee to investigate that charge, and
being appointed its chairman, to report on his
own case" Yet the party in power, which
has plundered the people of 100000, 900 q
year during the past three years, is now
| patching upits own accounts for campaign pur
poses, and by its own showing the people
cannot continue that party in power, simply
because they cannot afford it. Radioalism
must go next November. 1t is "loil, u
''moral," and all that but it costs the ooun
try too much money.