The Evening critic., 1885-01-16
QUEER PURCHASES,
How the Contingent Expenses of
the House Are Created.
A PENCHANT FOR PAPERS.
The Kind of Literature Devoured By
the Legislative Solons-Ths Popu-
larity of Farmers Almanacs-Opera-
Glasses Galore and Plush Boxes
In Profuslon.

The report of the contingent expenses of
the House shows number Of curious pur-
ohases during the last session. For in
stance, when the remains of the lato Rep.
Iesentative Haskell, of Kansas, were taken
home the Congressional escort spent moro
than 81 for newspapers with which to
while away the tedium of travel. They
had any number Of lunches and extra
meals They also soothed their nerves
with tho fragrant weed, bill of $l4 for
cigars being paid.
Fruit was also bought to please their
palates. In addition to numerous specified
purchases of the committee going aud COM
ing there is one which for convenience per-
haps is worded this way Expense ac-
count from indianapolis to Washington,
$43.37," Tho way that outlay is worded
would seem to suggest that some members
of the funeral party were thirsty. An I'M
dertaker's firm charged SO for opening and
closing the glass case Of the coffin. num-
Der of clocks were bought. during the ses-
sion. They must have been good ones. The
prices paid were between $50 aud $40, the
latter being most frequently paid.
A terrestrial globe was bought for S75.
but ii is not stated to what use 1t was put.
Perh APPS 1t was purchased because of its be-
ing symbolic of desire on the part of mem
bers of the House to possess the earth. A
Colton's general atlas came into the pos
session Of the House in consideration of the
sum OF $50. AT the funeral Of the late Il.
W. Mackey twelve sashes were bought for
$10S, ten pairs of cotton gloves for s. and
twenty -four pairs of kid gloves for S43.
Similar expenses attended all the Congress
sional funerals. James Wormley got $202
for furnishing lunch at one of tho
funerals.
For one month there were 50 dozen
towels washed for the bathrooms at an ex-
peDse of 500. The charge for laying out
body at Congressional funeral was $40,
Hon. Casey Young's expenses as n member
of the committee that Investigated the Hot
| Springs, outside his transportation there
and back, amounted to 1925. The postage
stamp bill was by no means a small one.
Paym ents for postage.stamps are dotted all
over the list Of contingent expenses En-.
craving plate and cards " generally at 81. 95
Anecdotes of Civil War" Brassey' s
British Navy" and "Social Glasses" are
some of the publications which were bought.
A dozen or so "fishermen's knives" at
| 1918 each, were paid for. Albums, at 81
each, came in; so did three "zigzags" for
| 1913 zigzag. Judging from the prices
paid for them there is very good taste
among Members in the matter of Christmas
cards. Members frequently had their
names engraved on their knives and on
their pencils. One member subscribed for
the Young Ladies' Journal. Many newspa-
pers were subscribed for.
Hon. Ossian Ray seems to be the most
extensive newspaper-reading Member, tax
ing nine or ten publications. As rule
Members take the leading papers In their
States. Mr.. O'Hara, the colored Member
from North Carolina, is evidently an OK
tensive newspaper reader. He takes Har-
| per'S Young People as diversion after the
| New York Tribune or the Chicago Inter-
Ocean. A number of Members evidently en-
| joy fun, for there are subscriptions to the
Washington Hatchet recorded.
There are put Gown orders here and there
for Farmers AlRdndcs. No clock under an
eight-day one was purchased. Thermom'
eters came high-they generally do in the
summer-but the House had to have them.
From S4 to So was paid for them. Diaries
show up very well in the list. Knives OF
all kinds were bought in abundance
SpOrtsmen's cards at SO a dozen, and Army
and Navy cards at $3.50 dozen were paid
for. Autograph books were thick, and
judging from the number of Statesman
Year Books bought it would seem thai
Members Of the House cannot get along
without them.
Dan Cupid got in his work, for in Febru-
airy local stationers did good business il
selling valentines to Members. Opers
glasses there were galore and also plush
bags and boxes. Some statesmen is of q
religious turn of mind for biblical Lights
were bought for $500. An infants sci
was bought for So and purchases Of mani
cure sets at 50 were frequent. Fancy sta
tionery and Easter cards were revealed In
Outdoor sports were not neglected, 70
tennis bats were bought. There were
number OF subscriptions to 81. Nicholas. t
the variety of hair brushes and fancy toile
articles, there is no end.
Several Members got trunks and travel
ing bags. The number of water-cooler
that were purchased would suggest tina
Members of the House are continually dry
The Committee ON Naval Affairs spen
more money for stationery, pens, ETC., thai
for anything else. Its bill was $l53.69. TIL
Committee on Invalid Pensions came mex
with $132.41. The reporters gallery dit
not get left. Here is what they consumed
during the session:
Six reams foolscap paper, SLABS; ream
foolscap paper, SLY; reams letter paper
1852; 3 reams letter paper, 1886 ream
letter paper, $3.42; reams letter paper
$3.1s; IL scratch books, 2lc.; SO scratcl
books $3.50; 169 scratch books, $1344;
tablets paper, SIS; SO tablets paper, 1912
144 large buff tablets paper, $36; 1000 en-
velopes, SLIGO; 1000 envelopes, $l75; 80
envelopes, $l.32; $50 envelopes, 75c.;
bottles ink, $500; 10 dozen penholder
$3.50; ~ large blotters, 96c.; As large blot
tiers, 1886; 2 inkstands, re; Q inkstand
$1.30; 30 dozen pencils, $l9 boxes pens
$216; boxes pens, So; steel eraser 43c
"a newspaper files, $2i; 1 box mucilag,
60c. 2 boxes assorted rubber bands, $l10
1 pair shears, 81 % total Sl0278