Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1882-05-22
. CONGRESSIONAL SPREE.
The Yorktown FrOlic which
Beat the Cleveland Funeral
Excursion.
Social to Cincinnati Commercial.


Ssecial to Cincinnati Commercial.
WASHINGTON, May 18.-The House
Appropriation Committee is at work
on the Deficiency Bill. 1t is the
present intention to bring this meas.
ure in after the fight on the Mackey.
0'Connor contested election case.
1t is reported that anime of dyna.
mite has been discovered, which bids
fair to cast the somewhat mysterious
Cleveland excursion bills in the shade
for explosive power, when it is inves
tigated. 1t is an item of $23, 900 To
make up a deficiency for the York
town celebration. Certain members
of the Appropriation Committee have
been making inquiries, and say that
the Commission, under direction of
Senator Johnston, had a steamer on
which a large number of Senators and
members of Congress lived during the
trip. 1t is said that they invited all
their friends to live on the steamer at
government expense for the three
days aud four nights they were
there. The result vas that they
boarded some 500 people in the most
extravagant style possible. A first
class caterer had a carte blanche to
make it as expensive IS possible, and
he fed four or five hundred people
three times a day with the choicest
luxuries of the SEASON.. This was the
smallest part Of the mater, and would
probably be passed over as one OF those
things Congressman indulge in aud
say nothing about, not s~upposing that
the people who pay the bills will ever
hear Of it, It has leaked out, how
ever. that the bills show several thous-
ant dollars for liquors and cigars. An
inquiry into the circumstance, it is re-
ported, has created a furry of u%neasi-
ness among the managers of the affair,
who were trying to get the bill through
1t is said that on the
deck forward, a free bar was
run, and every N got what he called
for, without money and without price.
Nothing was too good for the several
hundred men who made their head.
quarters on board the steamer. The
best brandies, WHISTLES and wines,
lowed night and day like water, i'm
champagne was scarcely fit for
crowd to drink, so fastidious were
hey about their beverages when
] ncle Sam was footing the bills.
the most inordinate scenes were en-
lcted, it is said, on the lower deck,
ln%restrained by the presence of the
aides who occupied the grand saloon
IbOve. 1t is reported that the
hing was kept up till it terminated
n what threatened to be a horror.
The boat started back at five o'clock,
md long after dark, when steaming up
he bay, the vessel rang with the hor-
ible screams of "Murder-murder -
The cries we're those of a man in NOR
al terror or agony, aud came from the
cot Of the broad staircase leading up
o the ladies' saloon. There was a
moments hesitation on the part of the
rcwd who thronged the main state
Dom, and then, to make confusion
worse cOniounded, two ladies fell in a
lead faint. There was a pause in the
evelry. 1t was found the cries of
murder cam from a colored man
Tho was being kicked and beaten by a
7hite man. 1t was az hour before
uiet was restored among the excited
nd frightened people, and ward was
assed around that the fun was over,
or Senator Johnston had ordered
be free bar closed.
1t is this sort of thing that swells
he deficiency to $4,000. 1t is re-
'orted that about half of this amount
) for free whisky, wine, cigars, and
ther luxuries in the Commission
'oat. The French and German Wis
tors, and the Cabinet and President
on other boats. The sensation
# the season is promised when the
ills are called for in the House.