Daily globe., 1882-10-05
A COSTLY COMMISSION.

What the People Have to Pay to Maintain
the Useless Tariff Commission Luxury
for Few Months.
The New York Sun has taken the trouble
to investigate the expenses of the tariff
commission that has been perambulatine
the country for several months, and
has fcand some specimens OF
almost unexampled extravaganza
The outfit of the commission after the first
few days in Long Branch was a remarkable
one. There were seven boxes of station
cry. Including ivory paper cutters, cut-glass
ink-ssands and paper weights, pyramids of
pins, best steel erasers, copying press.
enough press copy books to last whole
session of congress, sponges. shears, and
all the other paraphernalia of well-stock-
ed stationery establishment. No commits
sion ever started out with such a large as
sortment of useful and useless. but never
theless expensive articles. 1t may shock
the protectionists to learn that the note
paper and envelopes this highly protec-
zionist commission uses are of the best
Euglish manufacture. So vast was the
outfit that not one-third of it can possibly
be used.
The expenses of the tariff commission
at the West End Hotel were in the neigh
borhood of $4,000; per diem of nine com
missioners 36 days at $40, S3,24O; stem
ographer, say $1,000; clerks and messenger
1886; totol $11,176. THIS estimate does
not take into account telegraph service,
postage stamps, stationery, contingent
and railroad and travelling expenses in
reaching the Branch, and short journeys
during the stay there. Nor does it include
the two days vacation of the commission
at New York, when the bill at the Victoria
Hotel amounted to upward of S34O, S114
of which was for the lunch on the tug that
took the commission down the bay. 1t is
safe to say that the testimony of each wit
ness taken at Long Branch cost the Gov
ernment about $3.50.
The clerks had very pleasant time dur
ing the five weeks stay at Long Branch.
There was little actual work to be done.
About two hours and often less constitu-
ted the working day. Rules were laid down
that the employees should be on duty from
9 a. N. until p. m but the clerks were as
independent as the commissioners, and
took great pleasure in ignoring these reg
ulations. They disported in the surf at
the fashionable hours, played billiards,
drank apollinaris at governments expense.
and smoked good cigars.
1T was found necessary, however, to Sc
cure additional clerical help. The secre-
tary had been shown three volumes in
French of the Commercial History of
Venice" He sent them to young woman
proficient in the French language, with in
structions that she translate the marked
pick out anything else bearing on the fact
that Venice attained her highest CONNER
cial eminence by means of protection.
The bill for this work was to
be sent to the secretary, who
would see that it was duly honored.
Then again, an Official record of the
proceedings was to be kept. A huge book
was obtained for the purpose. The work
of writing up this book was not intrusted
to the idle clerks" as one of the commits
sioners called them, but was given by the
secretary to this same young lady. Long
before the commission left Long Branch
bill for sixteen days, at So day was
rendered for this service.
1t was recognized before leaving Long
Branch that something ought to be done
to ''conciliate the press.'' The plan adopt:
in advertising the meetings of the com
mission, President Hayes prepared an
elaborate notice setting forth the objects
of the commission, its methods of taking
testimony, times and places Of meetings,
etc. Secretary Porter drew up
another, trifle shorter, but containing
almost the same points. There was dis
pute as to which should be adopted. Either
would have cost a small fortune published
in the newspapers along the route of
travel.
Col. MacMahon suggested four-line
notice containing the simple announce
ment that the commission would hold ses-
sions at such a place at such time. This
suggestion was adopted. At subsequent
meeting, however, one of the iberal-mind-
ed commissioners, in committee of the
whole, had ffteen-line notice substituted
for this. This was sent ont by Secretary
Porter to the principal newspapers in the
cities to be visited by the commission for
insertion four, six, eight, or ten
times on 'stthe editorial page, if
possible" and with request
for editorial notice s'when consistent" This
advertising must have cost upward of
81 200 up to the present date. It does not
seem to have effected the desired object.
At Indianapolis, where only three witnesses
were heard on the subject of encaustic
tiles, the advertising cost $7s. One jour-
nal charged $43 for "write up constru-
ing the order to mean a reading notice.
This bill accidentally came ikto the hands
of an old newspaper man, who pointed out
the ridiculous nature of this description,
and had the YOU cher changed SO that it
would pass muster at the treasury depart
ment.
Boston was the first objective point after
Long Branch. The Commission-that is,
about a quorum-trayeled thither in spe-
cial car. President Hayes was already
there, and Commissioner Oliver was in
Pittsburg. Three days were spent at the
Hub, and about the usual amouat of evi-
dence was taken. A contract for accom-
modation had been made with the Ven
dome Hotel. When the time for settling
the bill arrived it was found, owing to the
vast quantity of extras, to be more than
double the amount of the contract. 1t was
paid. The commission has peculiar but
perhaps not uncommon method of having
its bills made out. The vouchers
show beautifully on their face.
Everything can be charged to the rooms,
even by the clerks. The hotel reporter