The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-01-06
Hau tina Money Goes.

Below will be found q few OF the
nsnnsll leaks" which Democratic House
of Representatives is expected TO close.
The people are wearying fast OF the usage
which converts . respectable member OF
Congress intssomething nearly allied to
the @bummer," who presumes upon some
imaginary claim to the hospitality OF his
host. no matter how vague and indis-
tinct, to ALI his pockets with every hing
that comes in his way, on the principle
of making the most Of it while he has the
chance. There is general public desire
to have memb ,rs of Congress do as other
people do who need pocket knives, SOAP
combs, cards, scissors and corkscrews-
buy them.
The report of the Clerk Of the House
of REPRESENTATIVES, covering the pay
ments made out OF the contingent fund,
gives a general idea ofthe cost to the tax
payers for the support ofthe lower oranch
of the National Legislature. During the
last fiscal year there was paid on account
of the salaries Of officers, clerks, messen-
gers, ETC., 1920, 99l. 25; those who keep vi
Oil over the hall and corridors, commonly
designated Capitol policemen received
500, 794.88; on account Of carriage 81, 731
was expended. The clerks to the several
committees received $34, $50. 1t requir-
ed $4,000 to fold the documents sent to
members constituencies IN the shape OF
speeches and elaborate reports. For the
fuel S7,958.39 was expended; furniture
50 999; horses and carriages $6,3S7 80;
packing boxes 5000; newspaper and
stationary $44 059.69.
1t will be seen that $2,737 is charged
on account of carriage. The necessity
for this service is to haul from the Capt.
tol to members residences and the post
office public documents. The contract is
made at fifty cents per load, but if a cart
is filed ND with documents tor twenty
members, the contractors regard 1t rs
twenty loads IA load for each), and
are paid accordingly To keep the
clocks of the House in repair and
the winding and regulating OF the
same, one Jacob Kaw, receives month
" salary of twenty-five dollars. This is
independent of repairs, for which sep
arate account is rendered. The report
shows that the Congressional clocks, like
the members sometimes go astray. Inc
furniture OF the House is looked after by
practical man, who is paid a monthly
salary of one hundred and twenty dol
lars. In addition, he looks after the
KEYS and keeps the locks in repair.
When the House brings outside legal
talent to its assistance it is well remu.
nerated. Samuel Shellabarger, an ex-
member from Ohio, who made single
motion in the haJeas corpus case OF
Richard Irwin, the contumacious Pacific
Mail witness, received Sl,OOO-qulte
regal plum for an hours service. 1t re-
auired sixty.three dozen towels TO be
washed each month to keep the men,
hers hands clean, and soap
enough to establish frat class retail
establishment in that line. There are
over dozen charges for "boxes OF cards.
There is nothing to specify whether they
are visiting cards, or painted with the
counterfeit of the naughty monarch, art
full knave, the Lady OF the Lake, other
wise known as the queen of the silent ace,
Under the head of miscellaneous ex-
penses are included cork-screws, pen
knives and scissors. The lowest
priced penknife charged is 81 y,
although the more fastidious Solons pared
their nails and cut tobacco with those
which cos, each % II. The highest price
paid for an inkstand was 81 30. The.
erasers varied IN quality, as did the tai
ent of the members. Some are found at
II cost OF ten cents, while as high rs one
dollar is again charged for the same artl-
Gle. A curious charge is made by a DIS
,rict s.ationer, as follows: "Repsirlng
nanrip fifty cents