The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1874-01-09
How T,I.e Money Goes.

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When President Grant, in his last
message to Congress, expressed hope
that the several States of the Union
would provide homes at Washington
for their Senators, it was not known
that the Government was running
huge livery stable for the benefit of
the Cabinet Ministers and their fami-
lies; but it is fact, and the proofs are
being produced. The Senate Judi
ciary Committee, which is investigat-
ing the case of Grants nominee for
Chief Justice, has been put in possess
sion OF the fact that the family Of
Acknowledgement Williams are in
dulging in the use of a fine landaulet,
furnished with money appropriated
from the contingent fund of the De-
partment of Justice. 1t is also leaked
out that this elegant equlpage is
manned by driver and fOOtman in
livery who figure on the payroll of
the same department as messengers!
1t is also fact, as your dispatches
have shown, that several other Cabi-
net officers, their chief assistants and
favOrite clerks, are provided for in a
like liberal manner. The family of
Postmaster-General Creswell are &C
cused of driving behind 81 700 span
of horses recently purchased with
money taken from the contingent
fund of the Post-Office Department,
and, not being a selfish man Mr.. Ores
well is credited with providing teams
and carriages for five of his chief as
sistants. Six carriages, with horses to
match, are credited to the Treasury
Department. Secretary Delano gets
along with only three, it is said. The
War Department with the same num-
Der; but as the head of the latter Blu
reau has recently gone to housekeep-
ing again, it is expected handsome
span of Kentucky thoroughbreds will
have to be paid for out of the cOntin-
gent fund.
Not only are our Ministers and their
families thus handsomely provided for
i'm the way of horses and vehicles, and
drivers and fOOtmen, but The Govern
ment is called upon to furnish food
and shelter for the animals and for the
convenience of those who use the
same. Stables have been leas ed, one
being located OH d Street, near Four
teenth, and the other on Pennsylvania
Avenue, at the foot of Capitol Hill.
Of course the Government would not
be so mean as to cease its beneficial
work at this point. Horses cannot live
without oats and hay, and Cabinet
officers and their families are not the
kind of people who ride in untidy We
hicles. Therefore fodder and grooms
for the animals, and stable-men to
look after the vehicles are carried on
the Government pay-rOlls and paid
for out of the contingent fund.
This abuse, which has grown to the
enormous extent limited at above, is
said to have had its origin within two
years, and to be an invention of the
POst-Office Department. About two
years ago Postmaster CTeswell allowed
the purchase out of the contingent
fund of horse and wagon to convey
the mails of Congressman from the
Capitol to the pOst-Otfice. Very soon
it was found necessary to buy horse
and buggy for the man who delivered
the notices of the nOn-payment of
postage. This was followed by other
purchases of horses and carriages, and
finally a stable was leased for the shell
ter of this property, and man hired
To take care of it. This man cOnvinC-
ed the Postmaster that it would great
Iy facilitate the neatness of the stable
if he were allowed the use of n trOtter
and a light road wagon. His wish
was gratified. Being a far-sighted
man, he suggested to his superior that
the interests Of the Department de-
manded other purchases of horses and
buggies, until, finally, the Postmaster
General found himself riding to his
department each morning in a Gov
eminent vehicle behind good horses
somehow the bereaus discovered the
trick, and the result is the establish
ment of an extensive livery stable,
run by the Government out of the
contingent funds of the Departments.
It is also stated that several of the
Judges of the supreme Court have, as
body servants, persons drawing pay
from the Government and carried on
the rolls as messengers.