Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1882-06-15

> boys, five days .,............. 90 90
barrels ginger ale. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 81 so
Total. 81, 400 10
Goods returned ......,.......... 800 76
A reporter of The Critic who WAS on the
Excelsior with the regular congress
sional committee, has written an &C
count of that trip, from which it can
be seen how such large items of ex-
pendituye we're consumed. In his ac-
count he says; "The congressional
committee, Senator Johnston, chair
man, with their invited guests, includ-
ing g errors Of several states, army
and navy officials, and a promiscuous
lot Of others (whose presence, by the
way, caused some comment) were
quartered aboard the steamer Excel
sior, where, for five days and nights,
they were fed wined, and lodged at
the cost of the national government
Being an invited guest The Critic re-
porter, who has a most lovely carrying
capacity for wine and such Injuries
when paid for by another fellow, had
ample opportunity for sampling the
vintage and marveling at the inordi-
nate waste of food aud drink. In the
first place.
THE BAR ROOM,
open from dawn until midnight, was
thronged all the time, and two sets OF
bartenders were kept constantly EN-
ployed in cooling off the hot coppers
of the thirsty mob Of invited guests
who were allowed to drink and smok,
and to enjoy all OF the bar privileges
free of cost. 1t was their right, also
when the steamer lay of Yorktown t
go ashore and bring their friends
aboard and fill 'em up Anythin,
from bottle of mineral water to ,
quart bottle Of Mumm's extra dry wa
to be had for the asking, and Henri.
Clay cigars without limit. The bar
tenders,too, were very oblIging. Here,
they would say to an acquaintance ap
plying for smoke, take half a dozel
of these CIays and keep them; you
don't often get chance to smoke sucl
cigars Free SO it was with everything
at the bar for time, and everyone
from stable-boy to congressman, tool
his champagne cocktail in the morning
as an appetizer and pint bottle for a
nightcap. In fact, they literally bat.let
in it. But the great waste, or ut leas
the most reckless method of dispensing
wine and such things, was most con
spicuous
IN THE MAIN SALOON,
where the com mittee and their friends
assembled, and also where their meals
were served. The evening that the
steamer left Washington no refresh
ments were oStainable in the saloon
except on an order from one Of the
committee. The aspect of matters
changed, however, after the first meal.
At that repast wine flowed as freely as
water, and the very much mellowed
members of the committee with lavish
hand distributed wine-cards, signed In
blank, to their most intimate friends,
who, then, could order what they
wanted. The next morning packages
of wine-cards, not signed at all, were
picked up on the saloon floor, and
certain walters were instructed by the
| finders that whoever held such cards
could order what he wanted over his
own name. THE scheme was carried
out for two days, ana would have last
ed, perhaps, for the entire trip, had II
not been discovered that a negro wait
er had been playing the same game,
too, but foolishly signing Senator John
ston's r .me to each card. How he
was caught is not known. He had laid
in large supply of vine and expen'
sive cigars, however, which were
found stored underneath his sleeping
berth. This, of course, brought the
committee up with round turn.
THE INDIGNATION
of the venerable chairman was appall-
ing. An order was issued closing the
bar, and from that time on to get a
drink was wonderful accomplishment
But, it may be observed, thu occurred
| the night the steamer WAS homeward
bound. Senator'S pages and officers
servants, who were assigned ~ sleeping
quarters in the lower hold, below the
| main deck, had their satchels and va
lises well filled with cigars, bottles OF
wine, new packs Of playing cards, or
something else they had smuggled
from the bar, and well k0Swn city
detective was likewise heavily laden
1t was stated on the floor Of the house
few days ago, that the heavy expense
for wine was owing to the fact that il
| was used to entertain the French WISH