Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-11-19
THE SENATE CONTINGENT FUND.
Odd Things Bought With 1.-THE Ac-
Count. from 1879 To 1881.

THE SENATE CONTINGENT FUND.
Odd Things Bought with 1.-THE Ac-
Count. from 1889 To 1851.
PURCHASES OF CRACKERS. CHEESE. WINE. BRANDY
ALMONDS RAIsINs 'sIRUP," UMBRELLAS. TOT
LET SETS. SCARF BOXES, PURSES. PORT MoNAIEs
FINE-TOOTH COMBS AUTOGRAPH ALBUMS. POCKET
KNIVES, OPERA GLASSES, oUININE PILLS, VAS
ELISE, ETC.
The manner in which the appropriations for
contingent expenses Of the various departments
of the government are expended has been at
various times a subject of sharp criticism be-
cause of the misappcation of funds Recently
there has been good deal of sarcasm about the
lemonade and bay rum which figured in the
Treasury department Investigation; and now
the whole matter Of contingent expenses in that
and the other executive departments is to be
gone over by a Senate committee. This has led
to the suggestion in certain quarters that the
Senate might find something to investigate in
connection with the expenditures of its own
contingent fund 1t is conceded that apprOpria-
tons Of money without specifying particularly
for what it is to be used are sometimes neces-
sary. Expenses are always being incurred for
unimportant, Yet necessary, articles, which can
not be accurately estimated for in advance Of
the emergency which makes them necessary.
That there should be some lOOseness in such eX
pendtures is not surprising; but il is hardly just
TO charge, az some do. that such lOOseness at
tends the expenditure of every contingent ap-
preparation.
The FIRST APPROPRIATION FOR CONTINGENT
EXPENSES
. was an item in an appropriation act passed in
September, 1888 The accounts of contingent
expenses of the Senate. commencing as early
rs 1879, contain many items which show that
Senators then. as now. had no scruples against
availing themselves of official perquistes. In
the early days of the republic Senators sub
scribed for all the newspapers they wanted>and
the money to pay for them was taken out of the
contingent fund. Stationery was used without
stint Large quantities of English gilt-edged
paper at - and so per ream figured i'm the
bills. Penkniyes in those days were purchased
by the dozen. and to silver pencil cases. seals,
memOrandums and wafer boxes. there was no
limit. When a committee of Congress called
upon the President of the United States their
hack hire was paid from the contingent money.
SENATORIAL WAKES.
For the congressional funeral of those days
hundreds of yards of black Grape and of white
sarcenet were used in making mourning scarfs.
and gloves were supplied. Some, preferred
white Kid. while Others more practical and with
m eye to the future utility of the funeral hand
covering. took beaver and buckSkin gloves.
Senator Francis MalbORe. of Rhode Island. died
In 1909. His remains were inferred in the Con
gressiOnal cemetery. Among the items of eX-
Penses for his funeral We're the following: 16
pounds of crackers. 53: IL u pounds of cheese.
S2.S1. The committee to audit and control the
expenses of the Senate evidently thought that
though their brethren seemed to be on pleasure
bent they should have had the accompaniment
of frugal mind Therefore they sa@ely or
dered that payment be made for the crackers,
but rejected the Claim for the cheese. This same
committee also had presented to them the fol-
lowing voucher:
gallons best Madeira wine. 500 90
4 gallons Cognac brandy ................ s 90
loPOunds raisinS Observation-Disclosures. 5 90
S45 so
The committee after cogitatiOn came to the
conclusion. perhaps. that the partakers of these
Injuries had had almost too good time of it,
and SO they only allowed for II gallons wine and
Squarts brandy. So" But at the same time
they passed another voucher for IA pounds of
pound cake, 81" and ''12 pounds crackers at
&l.5O."
SENATORIAL "SIRUP."
The following is in the account of the Senate
contingent expenses for 1S09-10: