Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1869-12-11
How the Money Goes in Congress.

- .s.
A well known contributor TO the Atlan.
tic M0~fh'y calls attention to the waste Of
public money which goes on in and around
Congress. He condemns the pictures un-
der the dome and elsewhere, in common
with most of the critics who have any taste
to boast Of He is severe in his remarks
about the young lady who managed to Ca
jole Congressmen into awarding her large
sum Of money, in advance. for executing
statue Of President Lincoln. ... .->.. -.
What puzzles our contemporary most is
the charge made for the daily work Of
Congress. A session costs the country
81, 600, ,000-a good round sum, consider
ing what little we get for it. Each day en-
tails on US an expense of $50, 900. But
there is something more than this to Won
der at, if we look into the details. The
Fortieth Congress used up nearly eleven
hundred pen.knives, costing about three
dollars each, and Of course the members
did not pay for them. The country is SO
rich, and has SO few taxes to pay, that
prodigality in Congress is not avenal fault.
Besides ren.knivcs, such necessary arti-
cles as snuff, pocket scissors, hair brushes,
and "cxtra morocco desks" have been fur
nishcd by grateful nation to its represcp-
tatives. Among the items is this very
startling one: "l2 gross cotton stay laccs,
$4,000" Can such things be? We pre-
sumo the stay laccs were not dear at the
price, but is there no dark mystery con.
ceiled under the supply Of them? Does
some intelligent patriot keep his family in
such articles at the cost of his country
Or does congress give stay laces to "sculp-
tresses" as we'll as money for European
tours? Or is there Congressman some
where in the background who is proud of
his figure, and who has revived the old.
fashioned custom Of wearing stays to keep
ii in shape? Let us have committee on
the subject. IF the truth were told, the
revelations would be change on the
usual style Of such reports.
1t costs 2,l43 65 TO transport tho body
ola deceased Congressman to his home,
and that when the distance is only short.
, The people may we'll hope that their rep
rescntat;vcs will manage to survive their
term of office. They ought to be exam.
incd by medical man before they are put
on the nomination ticket. Sometimes
there is call of the house," and absent
members have to be hunted up from all
parts. The Scrgoant-at.Arms is allowed
to charge S. 20 for every truant he thus
captures. How his heart must rejoice
when prolonged fillibustering" move.
ment is going on, and the majority Of the
members 60 home to bed. He may bring
up hundred in one day, and thus bag
$500 as his pcrquisites. Stationery is an
article which most members use by the
cart load. Had Mr.. Parton ever made a
tour Of the rooms Of our Legislators during
the session, he would have been at NO loss to
account for the qaantity consumed. There
are many ways of getting rid of good pa
per.
The correspondent advises the abolition
of all tho allowances now given Congress-
man, and the substitution of one fixed sum
as salary instead. The franking swindle
is the first abuse that ought to bc put an
end to. Now Congressman send almost
every thing under his frank, from stay
lace to pair Of top-boots It amounts to
nothing more or less than Wholesale rob-
berry of the nation-somebody must pay
for everything that q Congressman uses,
and Of course the poor taxpayer is the the
victim. The AHantic says that other ma
tions arc no better off than we-but two
blacks don't make white. Will Congress
reform ITSELF or wait until an indignant
people takes it in hand I? f..~'.'. ~ g.,