The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1876-01-13
How the Money Goes.

The Washington special correspondent Of the
Baltimore 4merican gives the following de-
tails OF the manner in which the peoples
money is spent;
The report of the Clerk of the House Of Re-
representatives., covering the payments made ou5
OF the contingent fund. gives a general idea OF
the cost to the taxpayers for the lower branch
of the National Legislature, During the last
fiscal year there was paid an account Of the
salaries of officers, clerks, messengers etc. $220
99l ,25, those who keep vigil over halls and cor
ridors, commonly designated as Capitol police
men, received 500, l94.SS; on account OF car
tage, 3d. 1877 was e, pended. The clerks to the
several committees received $a4, $50. 1t required
$2a,0Q0 to fold the documents sent to members
constituencies in the shape OF speeches and
elaborate reports. For fuel s7.95s.39 was ex-
pended; furniture $1,000; horses and carriages
SO, 3s7 80; packing boxes $1,000; newspaper
and stationery s44, 05s.69.
1t will be seen that 81, 1877 is charged ON ac-
count OF carriage. The necessity for this SER
vice is to haul from the Capitol to members
residences and the Postoffee public documents.
The contract is made at fifty cents per load,
but ii a cart is filled up with documents for
twenty members, the contractors regard it
as twenty loads IA load for each), and are paid
accordingly. 10 keep the clocks of the House
in repair and the winding and regulating of
the same, one Jacob Kaw receives monthly
salary of twenty five dollars. This is indepen-
dent of repairs. for which a separate account
is rendered, The report shows that the Con-
gressional clocks. like the members, sometimes
go astray. The furniture Of the House is
looked after by u practical man, who is paid a
monthly salary of one hundred and twenty
dollars. 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 remuneratcd. SAITH
uel Shellabarger, an eA-pember from Ohio,
who made single motion in the habeas cor
pus case of Richard Irwin, the contumacous
Pacific Mail witness, received 81, 000-qnte. a
regal plum for an hours service. 1t required
sixty-three tlozen towels to be, washed each
month to keep the members hands clean, and
soap enough to establish frst-class retail es-
Establishment in that line. There are over a.
dozen changes for s'boxes OF cards. 4 There
is nothing to specify whether they are visiting
cards OF painted with the counterfeit OF the
naughty monarch, artful kilave, the Eady of
the Lake, otherwise know as the queen, or the
silent ace. Under tile head Of miscellaneous
expenses are included, corkscreWs, penknives
and scissors, The lowest priced penknife char
ged is $l,22, altho' the more fastidiot,s Solons
pare their nails and cut tobacco witiithose that
cost each 49, II. The highest price for an ink
stand was $4.50 The eritsers varied in quality,
as did the talent of the members. Some are
found at a cost of ten cents, while as high as
one dollar again charged for the same ticle.
A curious charged is made by a District Sta
toner as follows: Repairing pencil fifty
GEMS.
1t is apparent chat articles furnished the
House are well paid for. Many OF the articles
are charged at rates which a dealer would hard
" include in price list to other customers
than his Uncle Samuel. II the Democratic
House really means to return to an economical
basis. it has grand opportunity 10 begin at
home by curtalling the demand made upon that
mysterious fund applicable for any purpose,
contingent fund"