The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1885-01-24
OPERA GLASSES, VALENTINES, CARDS
Some of tho Astonishing Items in the Con-
tinsent Account of tho House.

payers. III contains Lne amounts p2lo 10 |
employees of the House, including men,
bers, aad list of all expenses of every
kind at that end of the Capitol. Certain
items OF miscellaneous character are
here given as specimens:
Ga Jan Is, 1854, eleven opera glasses
and half dozen opera glass bags were
purchased at a cost of sl4S.60. On the
same day zone opera glass, 1,71-15 inch,
No. ?, and bag, delivered to Gov. Dawes
(j. Laird), s13 co. is recorded as having
been purchased. Mr.. Dawes is Cover
nor of Nebraska. Mr.. Laird is Repre-
sentative from that State.
On March 20, 1884, six more opera
glasses and an additional pair opera
glasses were purchased.
Ga April % six moro pair opera
glasses were purchased al the same
scale OF prices.
Ga May 81 nine additional pair opera
glasses" were wanted, and consequently
were purchased at the same cost.
On June six par opera glasses in
addition were added to the previous pur-
chases at the same rates.
On June there were seven more opera
glasses needed and paid for out of the
public funds.
Singly and by twos other opera glasses
were bought from timo to time.
Members of Cougaess took fancy to
valentines in quantities, aud they were
paid for out Of the contingent fund.
It is interesting to nots that zone in
fanu's set was bought to supply press
added four manicure SETS
Various sorts of bonds were bought. A
dealer seems to have had a great many
copies Of the ''Statesman's MANUAL to
sell, for scores appear to have been paid
for out of tho contingent fund. So many
statesmen are assembled in the south end
of tie Capitol, that Of course there is
demand Tor this publication. But they
w.re the kind of statesmen who appear
not to have felt the want till it could be
supplied at public cost.
Vic IuStlotI ltIG JuO Ileeu OI DlUllcal
Sights" and made the Treasury supply
him. Another member got fifty-one
volumes of Longfellow's works bound. at
haps he is the same member who got
Biblical Sights He appears to have
needed the latter, however it may have
been about the former. Another men,
Der still took fancy to Il Sport with
I'm and Rad . S10 IT..
ably was on the Committee on Fisheries
Biblical Sights" would have been good
for him, too. One member manifested
ii. devotional spirit by getting, at the
cost Of the country Il prayer and hymn
nal" He may not have been the states
man who ordered 80 dozen army and
navy cards'-a memb Of the Army ard
Navy Poker Club, perhaps.
Plenty Of such items are scattered
through the report. or We ,sters Die
tionary dozens are in the list. A good
many wanted and got expensive editions
OF Bancroft's History The Bread Win
ners" Was also in demand, and the Treas
ury had to stand the cost. "Poetcal
Quotations were called for and supplied.
'fhe demand for works on political econ.
omy was great, aud was always INST by
drawing on the Treasury. Mr.. Buch-
anan's Life was called for occasionally.
If the book was studied as it should be,
the country could afford to pay the cost.
Not only does it appear that every mem
Der had copy of tho american Aim
amaze but some must have had a. least
a dozen copies, or else the Clerk had a
great many left ovcr. One item reads:
One trunk and bag for member 500"
Another: "OGe trunk and two trunk
straps for member. 81 so" Another
still: "One trunk aud cover for member
ST." Under date of June IS, 1884. a
"memher' got three manicure cases.
ono toilet case" one merchandise,
and one chair brush, " all costing $50 %.
Stationery without end was furnished.
aud always of the costllest kind. For
card plates and card printing the demand
was immense and the supply was equal
| to 1t, in every instance at the cost Of the
Treasury. And there were cart loads of
photograph albums, veiy necessary
things in legislation. no doubt.
OF knives and cutlery OF many kinds,
and always the very best, the demand
and supply were enormous. Every men,
Der and every member of his family
must have laid i'll supply for years.
Purses, card cases, and fine things for
ladies', figure extensively in the list. In
short, nearly everything that member,
his family. and good many neighbors
could need. except board aud clothing
was paid for out OF the public fund, and
no enc can be sure that board and cloth
ing were not in certain cases concealed
in entries that bore no other apparent
explanation.
But the worst WAS when members
died The funerals were always regard
less of expense. A member Of Congress-
enormous as the bills arc when he is
alive. is never SO costly as when he is
ouried at public expense. The public is
already pretty we'll informed as to what
Congressional burials usually are. One
would never suppose that they We're fun
erals from some of the items of expendi-
ture. For the funeral of Z. w. NJ.
Aacksy, ''2S sashes at 80: 10 pair cloth
gloves, so cents; "a pair kid gloves, So.
To-ai, $751; Again: For funeral of
Thomas II. IIerndon, / 9 white silk sashss
50; S black silk sashes SO. Total 1879
"Casket. fully ornamented," $3.50; car
ris.es, vault slab" and other expenses.
including the above. $1.110.S5 One
item was for catering livery COATS"
1922 80
lhe appetite displayed at congress
siouaI funerals is exhibited in the bill Of
James Wornley, the caterer: For lunch
and service furnished committee attend
irg funeral of the Hon. D. NJ Haskell,
S202. o." On tbs same occasion there
we've furnished eighteen sashes at
50. s1G2'
The Treasury PAYS for each members
newspapers. 1t is gratifying to note that
q great many have the good sense to Sc
!ect the Sun. 1t is safe to say that those
who did SO had no share in tho foregoing
acts of pilfering from the Treasury.
Some members took religious papers and
some took papers that were decidedly
the reverse OF religious. A costly ter
reStrisl globe was thought to DO nesded
by somebody. Ono member gos an
Imperial Dictionary costing $25.
There is richness in the accounts of
the expenses of Investigating committees
particularly the travelling committees.
1t may even be said that they are al |
most up to the funerals.
SOCIAL INCIDENTS IN WASHINGTON