Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-01-31
TIE STATIONERY Scandal,

The following debate took place in the
Senate on Monday, the 2Gth, giving some
facts in regard to the scandal concerning the
Senate and the stationery for its use:-
Mr.. Morrill, of Vermont. l offer the fol-
lowing resolution, and ask for its present
consideration:
Resolved, That the Committee on Contin-
gent Expenses be instructed to inquire into
the expediency Of excluding all articles in
the stationery room, except paper, pens, ink,
pencils, envelopes and mucilage.
There being no objection, the Senate pro-
ceeded to consider the resolution.
Mr.. Morrill, of VT. Mr.. President, l
should not have introduced this resolution
but for the general scandal that seems to be
circulating in almost every newspaper
throughout the country in relation to the arti-
Giles that are furnished to Senators from the
stationery room; and, finding these charges
Endorsed in paper so respectable as the Bos-
ton Daily Advertiser, am induced to offer
the resolution. For instance, the Daily Ad-
vertiser of Jan. Is contains a long article
from which l will now read some extracts.
After giving list Of the articles as found in
the report of the Secretary of the Senate, it
proceeds to say
Why these expenses augment from year 10
year may be discovered by a careful scrutiny
of the items. Ii is because there is no limit
to the class OF articles that may be purchased
for Senators aud paid for by the government,
and that there is no limit to the expense in
Cured.
Every Senator knows that that statement is
absolutely untrue. There is limit, and has
been limit for many, many years, as to the
articles that can be obtained by Senators. 1t
il fixed by statute. They may go there and
buy scissors, or buy paper, or buy ink, and it
10 charged TO them; and it comes out of the
sum that is allowed annually to each Senator.
Mr.. Window. What is the amount?
Dir. Morrill, of VT. 1t is, for stationery
and for newspapers, Sl25 year.
Mr.. Conkling. What sort of articles does
that paper say that we get?
Mr. Morrill, of Vt. 1t mentions gold
toothpicks, wedding envelopes, eard-cases,
and long list Of articles. will say further
in response TO the Senator from Minnesota,
that il Senators do not take the articles they
take the balance in money that may be found
their due out Of the $l25. Now, desire to
call attention to the fact that the expenses
charged in this long catalogue of items are
for all articles furnished to maintain the en-.
tire Senate wing of the Capitol for the Ser
geant at arms, for the Secretary of the SEN
ate, for the engrossing clerks: AMI yet all
these items are Jumped together and then di-
yided by the number of Senators; and that
is often put forth as the amount which each
Senator takes annually here at the Capitol
for his own private use. For instance, it
says, ITO what use could eighty-two pounds
of sponge be put tor" am surprised that a
paper usually SO well informed AS the Boston
Daily Advertiser should not understand that
large amount of coarse sponge is used for the
purpose of cleaning the marble stairways and
the floors. 1t is mere ordinary scrubbing
article. Then it says:--
The days have gone, however, when it is
deemed disgraceful for Senator to accept
from the governme 1t a few dollars worth OF
horse ear tickets to save the expense Of n
ride to the Capitol, and we cannot hope to
make an impression there by any analysis of
the clerks books.
Every Senator krows that that is an abso-
lutte fabrication made out of whole cloth. No
SeDator ever receives a car ticket. The only
amount that is paid, if anything is paid, for
carriage hire In any way is paid out for the
carrying Of bills from the Capitol TO the
President by the proper committee, to be ex-
amined and signed by the Presidents and |
think that there is a carriage kept for that
purpose. Certainly there ought to be one so
KEPT. /, is possible that that committee have
used horse car tickets; but do not suppose
il to be true tina, in any instance a horse car
ticket has ever been used by Senator.
Mr. Edmunds. They are used by the mes.