River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1882-06-01
A Congressional Bill.

HOW THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS WERE sQUAN-
DERED IN DRINKING AND SMOKING.
A mine of dynamite has been dis
covered which bids fair to cast the
som ewhat mysterious Cleveland excur-
sion bills in the shade for explosive
power when it is investigated. 1t is an
item of $2S, 900 to make up deficiency
for the Yorktown celebration. Certain
members of the appropriations COM
mittee have been making inquiries and
queer stories are told. 1t is said that
the commission under direction of
Senator Johnston, had steamer, on
which large number of senators and
mem bers of congress lived during the
trip. 1t is said that they invited all
their friends to live on the steamers at
government expense for the three days
and four nights they were there. The
result was that they boarded some five
hundred people in the most extrava-
CANT style possible. A first-class caterer
had carte blanche to make it as ex-
pensive as possible and he fed four or
five hundred people three times day
with the choicest luxuries of the season.
This was the smallest part of the
matter, and would probably be
passed over as one of those
things congressman indulge in and say
nothing about, not supposing the peo-
pie who pay the bills will ever hear of
it. 1t has leaked out. however, that
the bills show several thousand dollars
for liquors and cigars. An inquiry in
to the circumstance, it is reported. has
Of
the managers of the affair, who were
trying to get the bill through quietly.
1t is said that on the lower deck for
ward free bar was run, and every one
got what he called for without money
and without price. Nothing was too
good for the several hundred men who
made their headquarters on board the
steamer. The best brandies. whiskeys
and wines flowed night and day like
water; imported champagne was scarce
ly fit for the crowd to drink, so fastidi-
Gus were they about their beverages
when Uncle Sam was footing the bills.
The most inordinate scenes were
enacted, it is said, on the lower deck,
unrestrained by the presence of tn e
ladies who occupied the grand saloon
above. 1t is reported that the thing
was kept up till it terminated in what
threatened to be horror.
The boat started back at 5 o'clock,
and along after dark, when steaming |
up the bay, the vessel rang with hor-
rible screams of "Murder-murderl"
The cries were those of man in |
mortal terror or agony, and came
from the foot of the bread staircase |
leading up to the ladies' saloon. TIL ere |
was moments hesitation on the |
part of the crowd thronging the main |
stateroom, and then, to make con-
fusion worse COMPOUNDED, two ladies |
fell in dead faint. There was pause |
in the revelry. 1t was found the cries of
murder came from colored man who |
was being kicked and beaten by white |
man. 1t was an hour before quiet WIS |
restored among the excited and fright |
ened people, and word was passed |
around that the fun was over, for Sena- |
tor Johnston had ordered the free bar
closed.
1t is this sort of thing that swells the |
deficiency to $4,000. 1t is reported |
that about half of this amount is for |
free whisky, wine, cigars, and other
luxuries in the commission boat. The |
French and German visitors and the |
cabinet and president were on other
boats. The sensation of the season is
promised when the bills are called for |
n the house.