The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1882-03-25
A SHAMELESS STORY.
The Garfield Funeral Cortege Turned
Into q Dtsgraeeful JunketinE Trip.

Into DisEraeeruI Junketing Trip.
From, the Chicago Tribune.
WASHINGTON, d. C., March l7-Some as
founding stories are told as 10 the expenses
incurred BY John G.. Thompson, Sergeant-at-
Arms Of the last House of Representatives, in
connection with the funeral ceremonies of
President Garfield. A report has been pub
Eshed that there was total expenditure Of
81. 600 on behalf of the members Of the House
in connection with the funeral that there was
oneitem of 81 700 paid for champagne, brandy,
whiskey, cigars aud lunch, $500 Of which were
charged to cocktails, and that there were gen
eral indications that at some time during the
absence of the Garfield party from Washington
there was shameless oFgie. A sub-eommit-
tee of the House Committee on the expenses
Of the Garfield funeral has been engaged IN
auditing the bills. and has decided for the
present to keep the facts secret.
So far rs can be learned from careful inquiry,
the circumstances are these: The committee
has decided not to permit anything to be made
public except the fact, which is 3 matter Of
public record already, that the Hoase adopted
the unanimous report Of this committee, aud
paid John G.. Thompson, Sergeant at Arms OF
the last House Of Representative, to REIN
bnrse him for expenses incurred in connection
with the funeral, $S.245. The resolution or
dering this payment was adopted unanimously
on February 4, last, and the sum was imme-
diately paid to Mr.. Thompson from the con
tingent fund Of the House.
Sergeant at arms Thompson was IN Wash
ington at the time Of the death Of Zen. Gar
field. The members aud Senators In the CITY
requested him % take charge of the eOTtege
to Cleveland, assuring him that be should be
reimbursed. Mr.. Thompson contracted bills
aud borrowed money for this purpose TO The
amount indicated, and presented them to the
committee TO he audited. He remained IN
Washington two months after this Congress
met. and his own successor was appointed, IN
order TO pav the bills that be had incurred on
that account. The committee iBciaded in it
allowance to him salary for two months II
the same rate which he wonid have received
had be remained in the oftcc Of Sergeant At
Arms. This Vas done on the gronnd that has
time was occupied in settling these acconnfs.
The items which make ap fhs.se -. 900 have
not been made public. They wcrr examined
and approved by the subcommittee q the
special committee. Ii Is doubtful whether ell
the members Of the whole committee ever saw
the items Taere NAV have been prudential
rrss0as why i vas deemed advisable thsi -
few members q IKE committee shonid knaw
about the items in detail ~ possible. The
u the House Of Representatives, Who has The
accounting OF the contingent fund, nor have
they been forwarded 90 the Treasury Depart
ment. nor will they be. They are aov 10 The
custody Of the committee. vhcrs they are
likely 10 remain unless they shall b. Ralied
for 10 the hOases az nnlsSs pubsse oPinsen
shall demand their publieafissn- Amonx the
items Is one Tor 81 go 20 AorInley, the eateFvr.
Cor what Is called the lunch. In Wertaley's
bin there are charges for ehampagae, brMnds
iiqaoys sad cizars. aud il probably i from the
items eoatained IN this bill thai the siory AZ %
cocktails originated. There u no doaht thai
there was good deal ~ liquor on the Repre-
sentatires' train. that 4 uaS psoyiaed by the
late Serreant-as. Arms on bis own respeasihsi-
its, and that Congress has paid Cor l. The
persons composing that train we're Coagrcss-
men, OF immediate friends u Congressman.
and invited gnessS The Falc upon thss score
wasvcry ssrict, the representatives IT the pEvss
being rigidiy exclaAcd, the exclusioa extend
ing even 10 the agents Of the Associated
Press. la Mr. Thompson bill was also in
Guided the hotel expenses al Cleveland Of ell
the members az Congress and invited guests.
In Il are also said 70 be embraced charges
made By = considerable nams,er of members
Of Congress for expenses 10 and from the place
where they were a. the tune of the funeral 10
CieYeland and retnrn to their homes
The yOaohers IN saAay iRsianpes ARE signed
by the ConErcssmsn themselves. The car.
riages are charged generally a. $40 per fr1p.
There is large item for the expense Of tsle-
graphing from Washington 10 every Represea
tafive and Senator. Carriages we're provided
both for the funeral in Washington aud the
fsnaTal in CleYeiapd. There is eonsidera-
Die sum for Grape for decorating The Capital
building. The cost oftrAnsp0rtinE the Marine
Band 10 Cleveland and retnrn Is also IN the
account There was an allowance made for
the cost Of special train from Washington 10
Cleveland in accordance with the Arrange
nent first made hs Sergeant -at-A Arms Ihomp-
son with the local agent herel, last the Penn
sylvania Railroad authorities, when the bill
reached them for settlement, declined 10 take
any money. In addition 20 this $1,000 al.
ready paid and to the large sums Of money
which the committee has agreed shall be pad
10 the attending physicians, there remains out
standing pf claims uaadiasted probably some
s., GOO, which are much more legitimate than
a number Of the items included Ia the $4,000
already paid. So far as can be learned, the
items which the American people would most
heartily approve. aud viii insist nast he paid,
remain still unadjusted, while the balls which
ought never TO have been incurred, and the
contracting OF which vas a disgrace TO the
nation, have already been hquidated. and have
been paid without the knowledge, probably,
Of many except the subcommittee and the
parties in interest /; and among the parties IN
Interest are to be inclnded the Congressman
who did not hesitate as members Of Gen. Gar
field funeral cortege, 10 make liberal use oil
liquors provided at Government expense.
Sergeant at Arms Thompson was guaranteed
reimbursement by many Senators and Repre-
seutatives. He did not consult them as to the
providing Of liquors, and be seems TO have
been paid for that service without question.
Fran ne .Nesc Fork Sm
WASHINGTON, March 0,-lt seems probable
that the attempt TO suppress the items Of ex-
pense incurred for the Garfield funeral on the
part of the House of Representatives will not
succeed. Two reports, one in lump, another
in items, are likely TO be the consequence.
Claims have been audited amounting to over
5000, while bills to more than an equal
amount are unadjusted. One item Of expense
is 81, 700 for liquors, wines, and lunches at
Wormley's, $500 being for ''whiskey cock
tails alone. Twelve hundred gloves is an
other item, apd authenticated reports are in
circulation that the excursion was more ike
an unlicensed pleasure party than a formal
journey of respect to the late President.
Items for carriage hire are numerous at ex-
tFaordinary rates, and it is indisputable that
members Of Congress, participating as mourn
ers on the train, where Whiskey and cham
pagne flowed freely, afterward handed in item.
lied bills of expenses otherwise incurred II
was most extraordinary funeral coretge. Ii
took the Sergeant alarms two months to
gather the items, and such items probably
aavar hafnra haapd nf