Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1882-03-25

I
James B. Armstrong. Opposition to th
measure Is based on the fact that the heii
were disloyal. Pending action the committe
rose and reported the Albemarle bill, and
was passed.
Recess followed uutil 7:2O D. M, the evenin
session being for the consideration Of The per
sion bills on the private calendar.
Thirty.ssven bills were passed at the even
ing session, and the house adjourned til
Monday.
SHAMELESS STORY.
The Garfield Funeral Cortege Turned int
a Dtsgracefm1 JMnkettn0 Trip 81, 40
for Chantpaigne--4 Sub Committee Au
dts the Bills In Secret.
From the Chicago Tribune.
| WASHINGTON, d. c., March IFS Some as
founding stories are told as to the expenses in
Cured by John G.. Thompson, sargeant-a
arms of the last house of representatives, Il
connection with the funeral ceremonies o
President Garfield. A report has been pub
lished that there was total expenditure o
$1,000 on behalf of the members of the hous
in connection with the funeral; that there wa
one item of 81, ZOO paid for champaign, bran
| dy, whisky, cigars and lunch, $500 of which
were charged to cocktails, and that there were
general indications that at some time during
the absence of the Garfield party from Wash
ington there was shameless orgle. A sub
committee OF the house committee on the ex.
penses Of the Garfield funeral has been Engaged
In auditing the bills, and has decided for the
present to keep the facts secret.
SO far as can be learned from careful inqui-
ry, the circumstances are these The commit.
knn hoe al AI Mt 10 - L.
made public except the fact, which IS mat.
ter of public record already, that the house
adopted the unanimous report of this commit
tee, and paid John G. Thompson, sergeant-at-
arms OF the last house of representatives to
reimburse him for expenses incurred in con-
nection with the funeral, $s,242 The resolu-
ton ordering this payment was adopted upan-
imously on February 4th last, and the sum
was Immediately paid to Mr.. Thompson from
the contingent fund OF the house.
Sergeant-at.Arms Thompson was IN Wash
ington at the same time of the death of Gen
Garfield. The members and senators in til
city requested him to take charge of the cor
cege to Cleveland, assuring him that he should
be reimbursed. Mr.. Thompson,contracted
bills and borrowed money for this purpose to
the ! amount indicated, aid presented
them to the committee to be
audited. BE remained in Washington
own successor was appointed, in order to pay
the bills that he had incurred on that account.
The committee included in its allowance to
him salary for two months at the same rate
which he would have received had he remained
in the Office of sergeant-at-arms. This was
done on the ground that his time was occupied
In settling these accounts.
The items which make up these $4,000 have
not been made public. They were examined
81 Nv, Ia n,,l, r.
special committed. It is doubtful whether all
the members of the whole committee ever saw
the items. There may have been prudential
reasons why it was deemed advisable that as
few members of the committee should know
about the items in detail as possible. The
vouchers have not been presented to the clerk
of the House OF Representatives. who has the
accounting of the contingent fund, nor have
they been forwarded to the treasury depart
mont, nor will they be. They are now in the
custody of the committee, where they are
likely 10 remain unless they shall be called for
by the house, or unless public opinion shall
demand their publication. Among the items
is one for $1,000, to WormleY, the caterer, for
hat is called the lunch. In Wormley's bill
there are charges for champagne, brandy, IL.
quors, and cigars, and it probably is from the
items contained in this bill that the story as
to cocktails originated. There Is no doubt
that there was good deal Of liquor on the
representatives train, THAT 1t was provided by
the late sergeant-at-arms on his own RESPONSE.
bility, and that congress has paid for it. The
persons composing that train were congress
men, or immediate friends of congressman,
aid invited guests. TIE rule upon shis score
was very strict, the representatives of the press
being rigidly excluded, the exclusion extending
even TO the agent of the associated press In
Mr.. Thompson's bill was also included the
hotel expenses at Cleveland of all the men,
bers of congress and invited guests. In it are
also said to be embraced charges made by a
considerable number of members of congress
for expenses to and from the place where they
were at the time of the funeral to Cleveland
and return to their homes.
The vouchers in many instances are signed
by the congressman themselves. The car
riages are charged generally at $40 per trip.
There is large item for the expense of tel
egraphing from Washington to every repre-
sentative and senator. Carriages were pro-
for the funeral in Cleveland. There is con-
sum for Grape for decorating the
capitol building. The cost OF transporting the
Marine band to Cleveland and return is also in
the account. There was an allowance made
for, the cost Of special train from Washington
to- cleveland Tin accordance with the arrange
ment first made by Sergeant-at- Arms Thomp-
soA-Wltn the lOcat agent nere), DUB The Penry-
sylvania railroad authorities, when the bill
reached them for settlement, declined to take
any money. In addition to this $4,000
already paid and TO the large sums of
money which the commiltee has agreed
shaHbe paid to the attending physicians, there
remains outstanding of claims unadjusted
probably some 5000, which are much more le-
ultimate than number of the items included
in the $4,000 already paid So far as can be
learned, the items which the American people
would most heartily approve, and will insist
must be paid, remain still unadjusted, while
the bills which ought never to have been in
CURED, and the contracting of which was
disgrace to the nation, have already been
liquilated, and have been paid without the
knowledge, probably, of many except the
sub committee and the party in interest; and
among the parties in interest are to be includ.
ed the congressman who did not hesitate, as
members OF Gen. Garield's funeral cortege, to
make liberal use of liquors provided at gov
arnment expense. sergeant-at-Arms Thomp-
son was guaranteed reimbursement bv many
senator's and representatives,. He did not con-
suit them as to the providing Of liquors, and
be seems to have been paid for that service
without question.