Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-11-14

-MuItftudIn0us "StattOnerys' -
How Modern Sages Keep Pace
with Their FOrefaIhers.
WASHINGTON, November 12.-The appropria-
tions for contingent expenses. as they have
been handled in the Treasury Department,
have been the subject of much criticism.
There has also been good deal of fun gotten
out of the lemonade, bay rum and billiard
cloth which figured in the Treasury investiga-
ton, and now the whole Treasury business is
to be gone over by Senate committee. 1t is
a very open question if the Senate might not
find something to investigate in its own contin-
gent expenses. 1t is a fact that appropriations,
without specifying particularly in every detail
for what the money is to be used. are necessa-
ry. Expenses are always being incurred for
unimportant yet necessary articles, which can
not be accurately estimated and provided for
in detail in advance. But still there is a loose
ness which can be thrown around these ex-
psnditures, and there is no doubt that it accom-
panies every appropriation for contingent
expenses made by Congress, both in the legis-
lative and executive branches OF the govern
ment. The first appropriation for contingent
expenses was an item in the appropriation act
passed in September, 1889. The accounts Of
contingent expenses of the Senate, COM
mencing as early as 1882 contain many items
which show that Senators in those days, as
well as now, like their perquisites. In the
early days of the republic. Senators-the very
fathers of the country-and the subscription
price thereof was paid out of the contingent
FUNDS Stationery they put their hands upon
without limit They used large quantities Of
English gilt-edged paper at SO and $40 per
ream. Not only did they take stationery, but
the records show that our revered forefathers
arsfla os thoir nnc Uf
thing that was contingent" Penknlves in
those days were by the dozen, and silver pencil
cases, seals, memorandums and wafer boxes.
When a committee of Congress called upon
the President of the United States their hack
hire was paid from the contingent money, The
Congressional funeral was a pretty nice little
jaunt Nobody can say that such is not the
case now 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 were
more practical and, with an eye to the future
utility of the funeral hand covering, took
beaver and buckskin gloves.
Senator Francis Malbone, of Rhode Island,
died in l8l9 His remains were Inferred in the
Congressional cemetery. Among the items of
expenses for his funeral were the following:
Sixteen pounds of crackers, 50; liz pounds
of cheese, 50 81. The committee to
ly thought that, though their brethren seemed
to be on pleasure bent, they should have had
the accom- paniment OF frugal mind. There
lore Cncy economically w OIucECu tud1 pay
ment be made for the crackers, but rejected
the claim for the cheese. This same COM
mittee also had presented to them the follow
ing voucher:
gallons best Madeira wine. S26 90
gallons cognac brandy ................ co
IL pounds almonds OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. o.
10 pounds raisins. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. OO
Sl5 50
The committee, after cogitating the matter,
came to the conclusion perhaps that the
partakers of these luxuries had had almost too
good time OF it, and so they only allowed
flor four gallons wine and three quarts
brandy, $22." At the same time. however,
they passed another voucher for fourteen
pounds of pound cake, ST." and twelve
The following is in the account o. the Senate
contingent expenses for 1903: "a gallons syrup,
$1U3s Is gallons syrup, sac; Is gallons syrup,
10 gallons aI,6g sgTup' S4O; % gallons s{THp {da1
1888. What this Syrup was does not
appear. there is tradition among
the older officers of the Senate that it was used
in the concoction of a beverage then known as
''switchel'' This is corroborated by voucher
passed for two quart decanters evidently to
hold the syrup" The items for beverages
of different kinds scattered over the books Of
accounts for conting Mt expenses are curious,
and in the Nineteenth Congress there is one of
$ls6 81 for soda water and syrup" Um-
breilas, congress water, engraved seals, pearl
nail knives and toilet sets were then secured
by renatorS out of the contingent expenses.
In 1852 the following account was passed under
the same convenient head: -. 2. & M. Brown,
board of Governor Kossuth and suite, having 10
parlors and % chambers, @3 persons, S3,5SS.
Champagne, sherry, madeira, portage, cigars,
lemonade, bar bill, washing, medicine, porter
age and messengers hack hire, telegraphs,
sugar, brandy and whisky IN room, porter and
ale. envelopes and tarbeIs bill, amounting in
all to S65S S2 Bill for the carriages engaged
for the Governor and suite $319 50. Total
81, 500 81.
Tlba amount oF tsstationervs, droxv bx aaoo
Senator then averaged about three hundred
dollars per annum. In June. 1850, the funeral
expenses of a deceased Senator footed up
81, ,760, but there is no record OF specified ex-
penditures. Even before that date the follow
ing are few items from the contingent ex
penSes accounts: Gold pens and holders, scarf
boxes, sets of instruments, telescopes, agate
seals. fancy inkstandS, bronze paper weights,
four-bladed silver-tpped knives embossed
paper boxes, buck knives, and, among numer-
GUS items of paper, 2, ,144 500 envelopes. This
shows the way Senators used to gather much
that was good out OF the contingent expenses
There is at this day but very Ii tie difference in
the methods of Senators of the United States.
That such is the case is shown by the r-port of
Senate expenditures from July 1st 1880, to
July 1st, 1881, which was made a few DAYS
before the adjournment of the recens extra
session. 1t is seen by this report that the
majority Of Senators have newspapers fur
nished them at the expense Of the government.
senator Edmunds taxes more papers than any
other Senator. He has evidently g great inter-
est in sports and turf events, for he is fur
nished regularly with the New York CliDDer
Senator Ingalls,, who is a bachelor, has Hdrper's
Young Folks laid upon his desk as it comes
each " eek from the press. A large number of
copies Of the StdtesmQn's Law Book are fur.
nished Senators. ALI manner of things were
good as stationery. There were issued purses
at SO and 81, portemonnaies at from So to S.
painted ivory purses, ivory match boxes. ali
kinds OF card cases, card purses. gentlemens
correspondence cards and ladies' correspond
ence cards. The StGtesmdTls Ldsg bO0E was
in very great demand. Plenty of autograph
albums were given out. The demand for plated
fruit knives was satisfied to the extent Of $22
From the accounts it is evident that every
Senator must have at least two copies of Mark
Twain's scrap-bo k. Enough knives have been
issued to enable every man in the Senate to cut
his way through the world. Scissors to supply
every Senator's family for years were ordered
as stationery" Photograph albums tooth
picks, chamois skins, porcelain pen,wipers,
memorandum books key rings visiting cards
engraving visiting cal ds, diaries, opera glasses,
novels, mourning paper, portfolios, ink-f1llers,
patent pens, fancy 1nk-standa. fancy paper,
etchtng kT1tVes, and hundreds Of other articles
Ct Stationery" range up and down the col
umns of the report in rapid and profuse sue
cesSion
There are curious things too, in the misoel-
laneous items of expenses. The days of snuff
taking cannot be said to be passed by any
MEANS for there stands out in black and white
For one dozen Martinique snuff 49," Perhaps
the days of hogging are not over either as viz:
Another Item.
what could have induced its purchase it would
be hard to tell, is zone quart castor oil l." An
other, "One gallon alcohol and still another
"One pound of glycerine. There certainly
must have been good deal of malaria among
the members Of the Senate. Hundreds upon
hundreds Of one grain and two grain quinine
pills were purchased for the use OF the Senate.
The zone gallon castor oil" occurs more than
once. And then there is bay rum. There was
good deal of fun made out Of the Treasury
bay rum. bay rum" is evidently in con-
siderable demand by Senator'S for It appears
frequently in the columns OF the accounts of
that body, which are struggling and not In the
least compounded. One time the account reads,
Two gallons OF bay rum, So; one demiiohn,
xltO; and the whole is put down as purchased
from Shoemaker Hertzog, well known liquor
dealers and importers, Of this city. Further
on one strikes more Martinique Snuff "for the
use of the Senate. A rather queer purchase
is four bags of salt. Then the APP
ollinaris water in one place footed up
$l35. Even shoe-horns were bought
A pint Of arnica and a bottle of lotion may
have been used for Senatorial rheumatism or
bruises, Cork screws came high, but The SEN
ate mad to have them. They cost seventy five
cents each Common blacking would not do
SO two gross of French blacking were bought
Plenty Of cologne had to be ON hand. One
item under that head alone is for four dozen
German cologne, while the more common
brands Of the perfume were purchaser by the
gallon For assorted brushes $375 so we're ex-
pended. Vaseline in quantity was bought Fine
tooth combs and brushes, other than assorted
ran the whole length of the liat of axnendi-
lures. Flesh brushes, they were boueht In
great number; aud fancy soaps kept well
apGce with them. And then near the end of
the miscellaneous accounts are more Apolli
naris water, quinine. salts, castor oil bay rum
and cork screws, with dash of ammonia
water for the baths. The average Senator
don't seem to have such bad time of it after
all. Potomac.