The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1882-04-15

Washington Letter.
Congressional Pic-Nics, Fishing Excursions and
Banquets-Increase of Wealth in Congress Con
grcssional Bachinals


Congressional Pic-Nics,. Fishing Excursions and
Banquets-Increase of Wealth in Congress-Con-
grcssional Baehinals.
WASHINGTON, d. c., April II, 1882.
In the springtime some United States Sena-
tors fancies gently turn to thoughts of fishing,
excursions, pic-nicS, anywhere away from the
heavy debates of the upper House. A party
of Senators have Just returned from fishing
excursion of several days in Virginia. To-
morrow Senator Fair, the bachelor Senator
from Nevada with a snug little fortune of S40,-
900, 600, will give a picnic excursion to
number of ladies and gentlemen to the Great
Falls Of the Potomac, twelve miles distant.
Yesterday another millionaire, Congressman
Allen, of Missouri, was driven slowly on his
last excursion in a hearse from the Arlington
Hotel to the railway station. He left for
tune of Sl5. 100000.
The mast has been an unusually mild winter
Mt the capital. but there has been great deal
of sickness among members and senators, and
there is reason for the suspicion that much OF
the i'll health arises from the system wreeklng
dissipation that has become too fatally fashion
able among members and senators during the
last few wears, or since the Senate has become
the .'House of Millionaires. AT no previous
time in the history of the country has there
been so large a number of wealthy members
in Congress. The present Senate contains at
least a score of Senators not one of whom Is
worth less than 100000. The richest man IN
the Senate is. of course, Fair, of Nevada, who
probably possesses as much as all the other
Senators together Next to him in luere Is
David Davis, of Illinois, n widower who Is re-
puted to be the possessor of millions. Ii Is
somewhat difficult to name the Senator whose
fortune ranks third in size, but If Eugene
Hale. of Maine, has received the mantle OF
his father-in-law, Zach. Chandler, with its well
lined pockets his fortune Is nearly as large rs
that Of David Davis. The wife Of Senator
Hale is the only daughter of the late Senator
Zach Chandler. Other very wealthy Sena-
tors are Miller, of California Malone, Of
Virginia, and Sawyer, of Wisconsin; known
to he worth more than million each. Sew
ell, of New Jersey, is q railroad man, and Is
represented very wealthy. Senator John
Sherman. of Ohio, II is said, is worth more
than 81 600, goo. his property consisting largely
of real estate in Washington. Among other
Senators who write their fortune with seven
figures are Cameron, of Pennsylvania DAVIS.
of West Virginia. and Plum, of Kansas. Sen
ators Hill. of Colorado; Brown, OF Georgia 4;
I Groome, of Maryland; Mcpherson, OF New
Jersey. and Pendleion. of Ohio, are all worth
are comfortably fixed, possessing little boards
of from $4,000 to S300,0O0. Among those
who have bat little, comparatively, here be
Z low. that Is not more than 100000 apiece,
are Morrill,, Of Vermont; anthony. of Rhode
/ Island Rollins, Of New Hampshire Jones,
OF Nevada. aud Jones, Of Florida johnson.
Of Virginia Beck, Of Kentucky: Saunders,
Of Nebraska: Allison of Iowa. and Harrison.
Of Indiana.
The House has not ~ MANY wealthy men IN
proportion 10 it. members, bat there are sew.
( eral millionaiFes in this body, and many more
who, before this late day nf colossal fortunes,
would have been considered rich II nlay b.
useless TO moralizc on the influence Of this
great increase Of wealth in Che twa Legislative
bodies OF the United States, and the under
mining aud tHe-sapping tendencies thal the
abuse Of wealth will produce on individuals
aud on states. Bat i Is certainly more prof
table to moralize nov than It viii b. at The
inquest There can be no doahg that the e.
hciencv Of members and senators IS seriously
impaired hy ssomachs ruined. or brains cionded
or crazed from the so-callcd high toned
dissipation in which some Of our improyis,l
statesmen dispoF; their wealth. There Is
scarcely an evening that some wealthy con
gresham does not give a dinner. These din
ners are, 20 speak mildly orgies - giattnny
mud AruwkaunrzE