Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1881-06-30
Soap and Things.
Washington corrsspoussnt Of Cincinnati T. lulr,
June "a.

IwAshingtun C0rrtspon6snt Of Cincinnati Eaquirvr,
June "a.
In this connection the expenditure Of
the Contingent Fund Of the Treasury De
partment will bear even a more critical
analysis than that telegraphed the En-
qinrsr abclt a week ago. In all con
scienc'- " Department should have been
clean. the year 1850, according to the
Custodian : report, there was spent for
the m'f'er of soap alone S3,Sl0.40; and,
in addition, for other sopanaceous mat
ters, there was spent S5l for detergent.
IS for borax, Sl44.S0 for can grease and
$l2 for soap-knives. So much for soap.
For hair-bTushes and combs $424.40 is
charged. Then there is an item of $13
charged for one dozen "Pope's heads"
What in the old scratch this means nobo-
DIV can explain, but it is calculated to
send a cold streak down the yertebral
column of Deacon Cowles. There is
charged S23.32 for l40 yards of white
Jeans. $31. % for 500 extra palm-leaf fans,
$32 so for sixty-five cap-covers for watch
men, $i.25 for whistle-to keep Sher-
mans courage up, perhaps; fifteen plush
tains and tassels, $12.05. For hemming
Ine lONGlS lIC a
charge is made of S21S.75.
The Treasury chairs are not made for
slouches. There is a charge of $40S for
four dozen continental" chairs and $500
for two dozen Congressional" chairs, and
5000 for two dozen Ii. R. screw tools Ia
neat name for cork-screws) Uncle Sam
paid $3.50. In the matter or rugs there
was good taste displayed. For illustra-
tion, note the following charges: Fifty
extra large Wilton rugs, $685.; SIX dozen
wool -bordered rugs, $2S8. For four pad
docks Uncle Sam is mulcted in the mod
est sum of $24. To help to use up the
well-soped department PIT pounds of
sponge was bought at $48S.24. In addi-
ton to over 81 300 spent for Monogram
towels, there was bought 1880 yard of
crash, $2S1.25. For six dozen badge.pins
S5.76 was paid. There are no specifica-
tions, but the badges probably had on
them picture of the Treasury, and were
inscribed, "For President, John Sherman,
of Ohio" --4.
For three hundred engraved brass let
ters $64.30 was paid. To enable some one
to burn the midnight oil, forty-seven gal
Ions of alcohol was bought at cost of
S1O4.S4-this in addition to a bay-rum
charge of $50. One sachel is put down it
81, used for what nobody knows. To help
the Soap Department to clean up better,
there is a charge of sixty-five bushels of
white sand at $13. A second charge of
1908 is recorded for sponge, making over
1000 in all. Conscience.stricken evi-
IDENTIFY, the Custodian, when on the stool
of repentance, bought for $3.50 barrel
of disinfectant. to make things smell
sweeter. To light up he paid $40 for
matches. There is a charge of $22 for
four hundred yards of gilt picture.cQrd.
The aforesaid cord could not now be
found in the Treasury with microscope.
For one dozen walnut step-ladders $7S is
charged; for those plated coolers and en-.
cravings $4O0 was paid, and $55 for four
pairs of vases. 1t may be asked by the
curious, what does the Treasury with
vases? Let us see. Under the charge of
"ice, &c." there is found the following:
Five hundred hyacinthe bulbs, 800; $50
geranium plants, $24.75; $50 hyacinthe
bulbs, $35; 200 assorted plants, $65; 500
t1ower-pots, 81; plants, $3.50; grass-seed,
$3.50.
The horse and carriage department was
not neglected. One charge, dated No
vember 2d, for repairs of harness. foots
up S76.75; four carriage robes, $50; thir-
teen pairs of driving, gloves, $la,25; one
fur carriage robe, $35; six horsAscovdrs,
$62; whips and repairs to harness, sos. 20.
Another carriage robe is charged up at
$35. and six at $4S.50. In view of the re-
markable contingent expenses, it is really
a wonder that Secretary Sherman ever
brought about resumption. Evidently
the Custodian understood how to equal
ize values.