Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1870-02-24

for securing witnesses for committee on
$419,S0 for committee on treatment OF
Union prisoners, $1,039,60 for securing
witnesses not stated what for, and the
numerous other charges which he has
made, one of which is for "arresting''
several members of the House at $500
who were absent on the 2Sth Feb.-but
all in Washington-upon expense of $123
for that nice little job. Nor would I want
man in my employ who on seven days
trip to Philadelphia, would bring in bill
of $220.65, or in the arrest and custody
of man IS days would bring in bill
like this !:
Expenses of sending to St. Nicholas Hotel
to see if c. W. Wooley was there, $500
Hack hire and expense of finding him, $500
Carriage hire to convey him to the capital, 1880
Use of bed and room for Wooley Is days, $500
charge, 81. 90 2l.oO
Extra services in keeping prisoner, 5000
This would seem to be a woody transac-
tion. 1t is, and in keeping with many
others that could be named.
/ would have the Sergeant-at-Arms
paid a stipulated salary and demand his
whole time therefor, and pay in addition
only what he actually paid out when di-
rected. I think | should arrange with
the New York Independent and try to se-
cure the services of its correspondent at
a rate less than $1S0.S7 per month to act
as clerk for the committee ON elections,
and try and see if it was really necessary
for eighteen of these House committees
to have clerk at a salary not less than
$12196, when in fact many of these COM
mittees do not meet oftener than once a
week. In some of the committees it is
problb necessary to have clerk, but in
most of them it is useless But the COM
mittees, or the chairman of them, is no
sooner announced then they are beset on
all sides by applicants for the position
which, by lately inaugurated rule, they
can fill with one of the many applicants.
mittees, as a general thing, want clerk,
or think they have the least use for them,
but like the old maid who married her
suitor to get rid of him, they give out the
place and are thus relieved of the clamor-
ings of those who desire it. The same is
true of all the other offices, not only in
the House but in the Senate, and also in
every department of the Government.
The beads of departments cannot stand
the pressure brought against them. The
people are in a measure ignorant of the
condition of thing, and probably would
deem man '$penny wise" who would ven-
ture to advocate a reform by reducing
the force to one-half its present size.
No itizens of Washington, nor any one
of the correspondents that are employed
in any of these departments will raise his
voice against these abuses. If the opposite
party raise it, it will be said that partisan
feelings prompt them to do it and the
facts will not be believed !; but, as | am 3
free man and am not asking favors of
Washington. Congress, or of any of the
departments-nor even of the Republican
party, | have ventured to make these
statements, and if 1 thought further expose
of the several departments would be
agreeable to the readers of the HERALD,
L would go on and, if possible, would
drive out MANY OF the money changers
from the temple, and they should no
longer change the money from Uncle
Sans pocket to their own. would not
do it for the sake of faultfnding, but the
permanency of the Republican party, and
even of the government, demand that
these abuses be corrected, or both will be
swallowed up in one grand ruin.
In the fable, the mouse is made to re-
lease the lion by gnawing the meshes Of
the trap that holds him, and possibly
your humble correspondent, by alluding
to some of the leakages and obstacles that
retard the great ship of State, may call
the attention of those who have power to
scrape off the barnacles and stop the leak
ages and thus keep her up-and accelerate
her in her onward course. If SO, he will
be content even if he gets the jeers of
those who are hit by his reports. H.