, 1873-01-20
WASHINGTON.
Les OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES Of
the Dooument-Rooln.
Fifty Thousand Per Annum SUBJ
servioncy Money.
Disbnntlment Of tho DelnOc.
racy---,rle Tlme for Re-
organization.
From Our O,rt, Correspondent.

From Our O,en Correspondent.
WASHINGTON, jan. IL, 1878.
Tho newspapers aro beginning to Bum up the
relative culpability Of n,ombors Of Congress
for the Credit Moblior bribery. No Journal do
fonda the bitton members outright, o1copt tho
New York Times (whoso Engliuh editor will
presently return homo to write book against
us, and prove our public decentralization by tnie
worry transaction he dofonds); tho Washington
Chronicle, controlled by James Harlan Of tho
United 8tatoa sonato; and two or three Boston
papers, which aro taking caro- OF tho DaNoa IN
terest, md arc full Of fear that Bon. Dntlor may
reach tho Goveruorship. It Is now rory certain
that Boutwell, will roach the sonato, and 80 do
rnora1ize tho Dawes- " sshburn-D -Doaton dip con-
venticle. Buffers friends ASSERT that, II he is
made Governoor Of tho State Of Massachusetts,
he will make an Administration memorable by
its disroBpect Of barnacios and sta positive ful-
ment Of Commonwealth reforms.
y1NDEx.
About four months ego, in obedience to In
struetions, investigated the Credit Mohslier
matter, md hold IN intoryiow with Horny g.
MComb. I did not mako any nows but merely
roported It; and to whack me osor tho head for
doing NV duty was aa mean aa for James Brooks
to assail DI'Comb for his involuntary er' ,ouco.
Alr, Cofax did this In his usual superficial way.
I had said that Oakos Amos WAS tho load OF tho
Pacific Railroad Committee. Mr.. Colfax twisted
"head" to bo Chairman. and, having shot of
some such hro-oraekers. retreated like q Ohlnese
actor, amidst the explosion Of differences Time
has proved tho faithfp1Rass OF my report, and
can look with n sort OF grim sympathy upon
responsible being making suoh IN explanation
as tho Vice President mado before tho Credit
AIobilier Committee, To be Vice President, and
profess not to know what the Crodlt Alobilier
meanB, Is to prefer tho ignobln distinction Of
stupidity rather than tho frank acknowledgement
Of having made blunder.
THE DoouSENr-nooM.
Ono Of the c.,riosltioa Of the tho Capitol Ia
tho Document-Room, where printed copies
Of bills are Bent for distribution amongst tho
members, and whore letters from the Executive
end Of tho Capitol, and tho Departments,
often momoria1s from States, citios. aud corpora
tiops,-are placed, fresh from the printing
Office.
OF each document 2G5 copioa ARC printed, and
OF each bill $40 copies, for tile use Of the House
alone. There arc from 5000 to G,000 billa per
Congress in our day, and nearly 1000 docu-
ments. The House aud Senate together have
had, during the present Congross, about 400
miscellaneous documents and about $50 reports.
TheHo figures show vast printing businoss
conducted merely for tho Haka Of simplifying
tle parliamentary routine and Of preserving
tho suggestions Of Congress In q durable form.
Many uombers Introduce bills for no other
purpose than to remind their constituents that
they aro doing something. During the pnst
week about 125 different bills and documents por
dioun oaina intn tha Hnnaa nnrument- Room 4
this would imply about $4,000 copies. To do
ali this work, "a vol aH to recover from paat
Congresses any documents needed by m in9tliBi-
tive member, only four persons arc employed.
Tley arc subordinate to tho Doorkoopcr of tho
House, Mr.. buxton, who comoB from Wyoming
County, n. Y he ia modest mud Industrious
official, who has been IN Washington, filing This
place, since tho rise OF tho Republican party.
The Superintendent Of Documents for tho
HouBe ID 8. e. Dufteld, Of PennBylyania. The
two young men who luotle about in lively way,
md I'LL tho mean required in public position be-
soans ssSa y 6h sa e1d p8Semss f. T2e
these bssd-vorEiag men hsve l. Ittle
time to draw breath, 1t is curious to climb mp
he stairs leading to tie gallery Of tho oa Hsl
rows, packed tight 30 as to givo no encourage
ment to fire, arc documents, III form almost like
the presont, which roach back to 1873 -
,BUxToN's YIEwa.
Whilo Was rakinR over some Of these old doc
told mo that ho had about ono hundred porsons
In his employment, Of whom the greator number
workod ID the Folding.Room, which lies in the
durable character, which aro printed and
bound in Immense quantities for distribution
amongst tho constituents, Of the members, are
folded and counted BY 70 or so boys. and men,
working On time os BY the hnadrea:. Adjacent
tne foundations ot tho Capitol, WHICH arc ofton
packed to tie ceilng with books.
Southern members /, Of Congress, nn wanted to
amougat their people, who, according to Mr..
Buxton, wore "hungry for Government read
Ing, having beon deprived of Il for gegon or
eight years. because when tue Rebel Repre- r. 9
books.
Here is something omitted In all tho histories
Of tie Rebellion Amongst ita torrlLlo conse-
auencea was tho, loss Of the Patont Ofllce Re-
room, in which it was beloved about 1000 Agrl-
cultural Reports wero atoweI away,
"And, would YOU belioyo 1t p said Mr.. Dux-
Se @ got i, 300 Agrioulturala ud out out Of there" w
"What Ia tho greatest number Of copies Of
any one book printed, b1r. Buxton 2"-
Well, air, tie Agriou!turals About Alb}fu e7o cop:
ve1y big, don't itp but, blesa you. thoy don't
make d ahow in Aome digtriotD. IN gomo Of tho
agricultural districts Of Texas, for example,
there are 20 countios. What can Representa-
tive accomplish in aucl districts with $40 copios
There have boen "a high ns 75o copies Of somo
books struck off,"
"How many departments como under you1
charge, Mr. Buxton ?"
"Well, sir, appoint tho Pages, tho Door;
keepers tho clorltB of tile Document-R Room, and
khe hands In tho Folding -Room."
"Your's must bo tho best position here, is II
not ao2"
"Oh, no think tho best office Is gergoant.
at-Arms Of the House. Tie has tue appointing Of
moro than half tho police, and tho amount ol
money which pasHes through his hands 10 pay
witnesses, membcrs, etc.. mAiea tho place quite
lucrative. There WAS aomo excitement about the
amount Of Ills foos during tho last Congress-
Instead Of giving him 1o cents a I'm milo l
expenses. In my Judgment, tho change was in
The interest Of tue sefgoan'dt;.a.-Arma for, IN
songer'a expenses, whereas now the Borgeant-at.
Arms can make q contract with man to go 10
New Orleans or Texas, and that 1nuat be settled
for under the do1nitlon Of e1ponBos."
QUEEN Tu1N0B IN THE CRYPT.