Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-01-31
THE STATIONERY SCANDAL.
The Facts Regarding the Gold Tooth
Pick-Fancy Articles for
Purchased with Government Money
and SOt with Personal Funds.
From the New York Tribune

and Not with Personal Funds.
From the New York Tribune.
WASHINGTON, Jan. Ex-senator
Morrill,. of Maine, said In the debate
Yesterday over the proposed new rule
touching the Stationery-rOOm, that he
did not suppose any u who was not
crazy or foolish believed that gold
tootb.picks or any other fancy articles
were kent in the Senate Stationery
room for Senators at the public ex-
nense. This is but one Of many indig-
nant denials of a fact which Senators
can easily verify by the examination of
an Official document prepared by one
of the Senate's own officers. The fol
lowing brief statement Of the facts in
the case will set the matter at rest:
On Dec. l, 1873, the Secretary Of the
Senate submitted his annual report Of
the receipts and expenditures Of the
Senate from July l, 1872, to June 80,
1873. inclusive. That statement con-
sists of several tables, designated as
Compensation and mileage OF Sena-
tors. >, SALARIES Of officers, clerks, mes
senrers. and others receiving an annual
salary in the service of the Senate"
nav+ra salary etc. One of these
+obIes Is headed: "a Detailed State
ment of Disbursements from the Con
tinpeut Fund of the Senate" The
FIRST two subdivisions of this state
mont are of Stationery and News
~Daners' and of Stationery for Com
mittees and Officers" The station
ery and newspaper account covers the
LEGAL allowance whichS Senators received
rTevious to March4 1873, namely Sl25
Cor each Congress. Senators could
dr,w this in any form they chose, and
If they did not take articles amounting
IN voIna to the whole allowance, they
ware nermitted to draw the balance IN
cash. The items Of this account con-
sist mostly In the bills for newspapers
and stationery furnished to the Sena-
tors personally, and paid for by them
out Of their legal allowance, and CON
tains bills for very few fancy articles
If itdid. there would be nothing wrong
in II. as it would make no difference
whether Senators took what was due
them in money or gold tooth-plcks.
The second subdivision of this &C
count, stationery for committees and
officers" foots up just $1,000, which Ii
+ba avact mount appropriated for this
nurpose bv tie act Of May 5, 1872
The articles in this account are not
CHARGED to the personal account o.
Senators at all. but are PAID Tor out o.
the appropriations for committees Il
money was received from any source
for anv of them, it should appear OF
the credit side of the account, winch i
does not. The first item IN this accoun
10 dated Sept. %, 1872, and IS a bIH o
Philip & SoIomons. for knives amount
mo to S239I0. The kitten is d sim
liar bill for knives, amounting L
$4,000. On Nov. %. 1872, the SAM
firm was paid S266.j0for pOrtemOnnaIes
etc This account also contains bill
for engraving card plates and prlntln:
cardE, and for many other fancy artl
cles. On Feb. 4, 1873, Philip Solo
mons were paid 81 for one gold tooth
pick. 9.
Now. if Senators or any one elsepaI'
for these fancy articles they were I'M
properly charged to the appropriate
for stationery for committees and OH
GERS. and il the amount which was pan
for them should be deducted from tn
amount drawn from the Treasury IN
der this appropriation there is balanc
of cash ~unaccounted for. The fact
that these articles were purchased an
Maid for out Of Government money. ]
Senators. officers Of the Senate, an
COMMITTEES clerks did not get then
then the more than $50 packs Of risIi
ing-cards printed from plates, the MOI
chan a dozen plates that were er
grayed. the 500 wedding-cards charge
ne time. the note paper stampe
&c &c ;, ID M" and F." and wit
rams, are stili in possessio
of the proper Ulcer Of the Senate {
have been stolen.