Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-03-27
SENATE EXTRAVAGANCE.
AZ era or 1ETRENCHMENTA AT
THE ELEyEyNcH HOUR.

flaas laid % Sead FffEeen Gem M 4tees
GA da0hotInG Tours 500 Employees
on tue Senate Nolis 81 an annual Ag-
Eresate Cost Of 395O,OO0-1bs Waste
fuluess aii Laid Bare
AsHINGr0N, March e The Repub-
hc9a Senator's held another SAucus upon
the sherman res2lutton, relating to vaca-
ton olerkships, This morning, but there
were many absentees and the matter was
not brought 20 a vote.
The ctar this evening reviews the ac-
tion of the senate in authorizing num-
Der of committees to sit during the recess
and says:
The raid OF the Senators on the contingent
fund by means OF resolutions ordering various
inquiries and eNpedi ions for the coming ~
res is OF no small proportions. The question
is agitating the Republican majority of the
Senate, aud IN caucus some pretty strong
language has been used to condemn the prac-
tice of getting through 'junketing resolll-
tions." The number of resolutions providing
for recess trips with clerks, stenegraphers,
etc, has gone beyond amy previous session.
One by one these resolutions Weao passed,
until the Senate was confronted with the fact
that it would have TO provide a very
large contingent fund 10 meet the demand upon
IL. Up TO tine present the following committees
have been granted power TO meet during the
recess. and to employ clerks, stenOgraphers
aud other assistants: Agriculture aud For
estry. Education and Labor, Public Buildings
and Grounds, Mississippi River, Naval Az
fairs, Indian Affairs, Transportation Routes
to the Seaboard, the Select Committee on In
ter-State Commerce, Rules, Privileges and
Elections, on steel Producing Works, and the
Printing Committee. This is list of
u, but of thai number 1t can be stated
that it Is usual for the Printing
Committee TO meet during the recess of Con-
gress to open bids, etc, and such meetings do
foil nN
ment. The Committee on Rules also have
some work ON hand which it is conceded must
be done by the next meeting of Congress.
There is 70 be a new revision Of the rules, ETC.,
and another edition of digests to be printed,
hence that committee is to be exempted from
the operations of the sherman repeal.
VERITABLE PLEASURE TRIPS.
Many OF the committees named are au-
thOrlzed to travel about the country in pur-
suit of information. OF this class are the
Committees on Indian Affairs, Naval Affairs,
Transportation Routes, Inter r-StateCommerce,
Steel Producing Works and Education and
Labor. while the Committee ON Agriculture
and Forestry il TO make a tour through tho
Adirondacks. Besides the committees which
have already received authority to do recess
work, resolutions are pending 10 authorize
special committee to visit Alaska, to empower
the Committee on Coast Defenses to visit diff
icrent points and investigate the subject OF
the protection OF our coast, TO authorize the
Committee on Fisheries TO look into the fishe-
ries and to direct the Committee on Claims TO
compile and col ect information. Should the
pending resolutions be adopted, thus increas-
ing the list OF committees having authority
TO compile or investigate and to travel TO nf-
teen. not counting the Printing Committee,
the contingent fund would have TO be
very large To cover the expenses incurred.
The aggregate expense OF all the commit
tees would not probably fall below 100000,
as the trip to Alaska would necessarily be a
costly one.
Speaking of tO-day's caucus Of the Re-
publican Senators, the Star says:
The caucus virtually decided to begin q
thorough system of retrenchment. Another
meeting Will be held Saturday, when steps
looking to a reduction of the number Of Of
dcers and employees VIII be taken. The
building leased from Gen. Benjamin Butler
for committee purposes is to be surrendered
at the end OF the fret year, and some OF the
present committees arc TO be abolished. all
this cannot be accomplished before next win
ter, but SO much as can be done in the
way of retrench uent will be carried out at
once, am committees will be appointed to
make other reductions. 1t has been found
that over 300 persons are on the Senate rolls
drawing annually in the aggregate about
$3.50. 600