Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-01-04
SENATORIAL EXTRAVAGANCE.
The Contingent Expenses Of the
Senate Estimated at
$71,140.

NeNsnayers and SfaIiOnery-EnVeI-
Opes and Postage for the Presiden-
tiaI Campaign Documents at Gov
ernmenf ExPenses-VIsiting Cards
and POeketbOOI<s among the Articles
Furnished Senate Committees.
From the New York Tribune.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 29.-While some
of the Senators and Representative
who are spending the recess Of Con-
gress in Washington are housing about
in the departments and suggesting re-
auctions in the annual estimates, or
inquiring into the expenditure of the
contingent funds. some of those at the
other end of the Avenue are recipro-
eating by overhauling the contingent
accounts of the legislative branch of
the Government to see if little of the
- economy which members preach to the
departments cannot be exercised at the
Capitol. Beginning with the Senate,
they find that the estimates for the
contingent expenses Of that body, eX-
elusive of expenditures for fuel, clerks
and Capitol police, amount to 81, 40.
OF this, the estimate for stationery for
committees and officers of the Senate Is
5000; that Of horses and caTTyalls,
$4,000 folding documents and mate
rails, $1,000; labor, $4,000; furniture
and repairs. $4,000, and for miscella-
neous items. exclusive Of labor, SIC, 900.
OF this $4,000. there was nOminally
spent during the last fiscal year, when
the Senate was in actual session less
than four months, for stationery and
newspapers furnished to Senator's per-
sonally, S9,0I942. or Sl22.21 for each
Senator.
1t would naturally be supposed that
such a sum as this would pay for all of
the stationery and newspapers that
each Senltot desired, and this suppO-
sition Is strengthened 10y the fact that
almost every one committed part Of
his stationery allowance and received
on this account cash varying IN amount
from few cents to $50. But an ex-
animation Of the stationery account Of
The committees shows that great many
articles were furnished to the commit
tees for which Senator'S, IN their official
capacity as members Of those commit
tees, could have no use, and that Of
other articles the amount far exceeded
what could legitimately heused in trans
acting common business. Here are
some of the most striking items in the
two accounts:
Number of envelopes furnished
to Senators on account OF
personal acknowledgements 4S, 900
Number furnished committees. 96,20O
Total. ...... .................... I5,lOO
OF cola for each Senator. If the Gov
ernment paid for an equal number OF
envelopes for each member of the
House, the aggregate number was so
great as TO make It unnecessary for
the Republican Campaign Committee
to have purchased any envelopes for
the documents they sent out Of Wash
ington in the fall of 1872. This single
stem may also help to explain the sur
plus fund which the National Republic
can Committee found in It's hands after
she eIectiOn-the Government paid for
zhe envelopes as well rs for the folding
and postage Of the Presidential cam
paign documents. The envelopes must
have been used IN ybis way or they
were stolen. for not one-half Ct 445, 100
were used for the honest public and
pri vate business Of Il Senators.
OF writing paper there was furnished
H. Senator's for their personal use, 296
reams. and to committees 44O4 reams,
making in ali 1861 reams, or 4,73O
.uuires. This would give to each Sena-
tor about 200 quires Of writing paper.
There were charged TO the Senate
committees 270 pocket-knlTes and l50
pairs of shears and scissors, or two
pocket-knives and one pair Of scissors
for each Senator and committee clerk.
besides 81 knives and 53 pairs of scis-
.sois for distribution among the officers
IF the Senate.
The number Of metallic pens fur
Dished the Senate committees was 81
s360. or 3S2 metallic pens foI each Sen
ator and committee clerk. Besides
these the committees had 30 boxes OF
quill pens, and a number OF gold and
rubber pens, a few thou sands of lead
pencils, and one gold toothpick.
Among other articles furnished the
Senate committees were the following:
l3 visiting card plates engraved.
10 packs printed visiting-cards.
III packs plain visiting-carks.
l2j pocket-boOks.
2l9 mk-stands
Committees have no use for visiting
cayds. or plates engraved toprint them
from. and the honest way for Senators
would be to pay for those they have
out Of their personal stationery allow
aT1re Two hundred and nineteen ink
stands would furnish every Senator
and qersmittee clerk with two and leave
enough A. supply the officers of the
Senate. YhSp all are supplied once
with inkstauds il IS hard to See why an
equal number has to l. bought during
she succeeding year. A5,d Yet the
Government pays every year for from
200 to 500 inkstands for the use of the
Senate committees. What becomes of
siam all? It is becoming the settled
.eohsiction of all those who honestly de-
sire To reduce the expenses Of the Coy
ernment." that while the big Jobs
and steals must be watched and
promptly defeated. the little leaks, both
Al 4 i !. 10,