The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1882-02-16

patriotic standpoint; and therefore
without reference to the ambitions
IF persons, cliques, or factions
There area good many people in this
country who understand what a sick
ly foreign policy we have had dur
ing the last two decades and it is not
unlikely that a majority would be
glad to support a return from the
soft solder of Fish and Evarts to
something like the dignity of Jay,
Webster, Monroe and Buchanap.
Without discussing Mr.. Blaine's
methods or his aims further than
this or taking any interest whatever
in his personal fortunes, ! feel like
applauding the principle of his for
eign policy and v~indicating him from
the misrepresentation of the present
Administration. When Ri. Arthur
dragged to the front an old swallow
tail aristocrat from New Jersey
whose political remains were twenty
feet below the surface and allowed
him to revoke all that the former
Secretary had done he made a great
mistake.
Regularly once a year the items of
expenditure from the Congressional
contingent fund are published in the
New York Herald and a few other
Journals, accompanied by fierce edi-
torial condemnation and ridicule.-
Recently the Herald has been max
ing itself merry over Clerk Adams
account for the last Congress, assum-
ffngtQLegard the purchase of opera
fgasses, knives, and such articles
for members of Congress out of the
contingent fund as a great, Nation
al shame. But really there is moth
ing very bad about it. Every mem
Der is allowed 1925 per year for sta
tionery and newspapers. As q mat.
ter of convenience a stationery room
where members a supply them
selves with everything in this line, is
kept for each House, and every mem
Der has an account there, but no one
can exceed the amount of his allow
ance-$125. Instead of stationery
and newspapers. opera glasses anC
fancy articles are often purchased GU
of this allowance, as they are supplied
at wholesale rates by the clerk, blu
that sum of $125 is as much a par
of the members pay as his salary
. and he can use it as he chooses. ]
at the end of the year there is a bal
ance in his favor with the stationer,
keeper, the member is entitled t
Idraw it in cash. But the account c
, the member with the stationery keep
: er does not represent. by any means
!, his expenditures for stationery an
newspapers. There are very fe'
e members of either House who do nc
r expend more than their allowanc
. every year for newspapers and str
tionery.
: Some Of the testimony lately take
before the Senate committee invest
eating the Treasury contingent fun
5 is said to be unusually interesting
The committee sits with closed door
and there is difficulty in getting tn
: exact facts, but if reports ere CORES
a ex Custodian Pitney has been givin
e testimony right to the point. 1t
G said that he represented letters sigl
h ed by Senator Sherman and Nj
Sherman, ordering him to send Il
! carpenters and upholsterers Their
who have testified that they, thong
n carried on the Treasury rolls, wOrl
ed at the private residence OF Sem
ltor Sherman. IL will be remcmbe
Ted that when Mr.. Sherman %testiie
s before the committee lie said ii
work alleged vas not done on his pr
yate ~resiienc' 1t is also stated tn
MI. Pitney gave o thorough histol
, of the formation of what is known
: the Treasury ring, and of it's oper
} tions, bringing in names that ha'
never before been used in coanectiC
q with the transactions. It is undo
stood that this testimony hasten'
the conclusion at which SecrSta,
ie Folger has arrived, and is the reasc
( why he has decided on such a cor
plete shaking up in his Departmtr
PHoNo.