The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-03-10

bottles OF mucllage by the gross, cologne
water by tho gallon, though, to be sure, tho
quantity uscdA might have justified pur-
chase by thqlbarrcl; while on q single day
fourteen dozen glass inkstands were sup
Piled thus giving color to tho idea that
each session is wound up by a playful
smashing of all inkstands not already de-
stroyed The purchase OF half gallon OF
castor oil was required for the Senate on
the day before HAYES was counted in; yet a
little more had TO be got soon after.
On one day we find purchases OF tables,
at 1925 each, $3.50; "a chairs, at sls each,
1892; 2 desks. at SITS each, $3.50; revolving
bookcases, $l9G; 2 hat stands, SOC; ped
estals, $50; 2 lounges, sl30; while linen
covers for the said tables and desks cost $50.
These items went 10 two committees alone.
On the same day another table was supplied
at $225 still another at 500; and yet an
other at $l75.
Cleaning and polishing the desks and
chairs in the Senate chamber, and covering
two tables with CLOTH cost $50. But this,
OF course, did not include cleaning and oil
ing the casters, which cost $25; nor adding
six new casters to chairs, which cost SIS
while vanishing up tho committee room
chairs and desks was, OF course, extra-$427.
But there arc other chairs, and there arc
ratings In corridOrs and polishing these
costs Sl9s. There Ia also n clock case In tho
corridor, a washstand in W. ALMoN WHEEL
Frs room, and some other furniture on
which varnish can be rubbed, and these made
another polishing bill Of $3.50.
Tho general reader is quite prepared to
believe that American Senators while away
their leisure In scraping tho varnish of
their chairs with their knives, and OF their
desks with their boot heels as represented
by early English tourists. But the polishing
item is triile; more striking one is the
repairing Of the Senate's furniture. The
items for this purpose occupy dozens Of
pages; and tho skill with which every indi-
vidual new knob is put In line TO be paid
for. and the driving Of each separate nail
constitutes n job, also with its separate price,
is extraordinary. The conclusion is ire
sistible that Senators find their chief rolaxa-
tion in smashing or defacing furniture.
One is struck also by the dcxterity OF SEN
0tors In breaking locks and their facility in
losing keys. Probably the keys are lost
first, the locks then broken, and the lock-
smith sent for, to conclude. Here is an ex-
ample OF charges running through months
July making ~ new keys s2i; latch and keys
81 50, keys. $3.50
sept 2e-Naking 54brass keys and repairing locks
s27
Oct 1910 100 duplicate keys, $50"
There seem TO have been upward OF 200
locks that needed picking, repairing or re.
placing in single year. while upward OF
500 keys had TO be supplied.
In another line OF expenses we find such
items as these:
To % yards blue broadcloth. at Is yard. tii5 "a
iioi, yards carpet for Committee on Appropriations al
e. IS yard, s57sA TO rugs for seeretArys once
sIs0.n
In the month OF June the Senate was kept
cool by 1900 pounds OF ice, or upward OF
1000 pounds day. Its annual item for
cuspadorcs Is heavy, and the quantity con
sumed great. Some items Of expense seem
cheap by comparison with others Thus
we see: To repairing frame OF painting
Perry's Victory, 80 cents" whereas the
day before the same creditor had charged
81 for painting and repairing couple oi
boxes for fircwood. Still, the cheapest item
In the whole volume, so far as we have
found, is this: To COO Scent postage
stamps, SIS"
If the Senate should hire a polisher at tn,
salary of Supreme Court Chief Justice, and
a locksmith at the salary Of an Associat,
Justice 1t might perhaps effect judlciou'
economy, and so be able 10 AFFORD itsel
higher-priced carpets and more cuspadorcs
and no longer be reduced to the necessity o
sitting at S22j tables in SIS chairs.