New-York tribune., 1886-02-08
MEMBERS WHO WANT MORE CLERKS.
QUEER ITEMS CHARGED IN THE CONTIN-
GENTFUND-THES STATIONERY ACCOUNT

lFROMA A SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF TIE TRIBUNE.
WAsHINGTON, Feb. THE question of pro-
ving clerks for such members of the House
charmen OF committees Is again attracting considerable
attention. Mr. Carleton, tho Democratic member from
Michigan. who has introduced bill the subject. Is
much in earnest. :" hnd much cOrrespOldence." he
said, and many other things requiring attention and
generally regarded part Of the duties OF n
her, that takes up much OF the tme that should he de-
voted to legislative duties, eso | have to employ a
clerk my expense. Few members can afford that
expense" Mr. Cartoons bill proposes reduce tho pres
cntmeage OF members 20 the actnaco OF travel and to
the amoInt saved in that way dafraying in part
the expense OF proyilng additional clerks This hi II.
OF course. is subterfuye. tho two proposi-
tions have relation to each other. There
are fifty committee clerks now employed by
the House. and it woull require 275 to
afford one clerk to each member The paw OF extra
clerks at the rate OF Sj DAY. Secretary Manning
estimates the length OF the present session at 2l2
days hence the proposed extra clerks would cost
for long session $390OOO The entire mileage pay of
the members ia SllO.62f considerable proportion of
the members travel passes and tho actual cost OF
travel is comparatively small. but Under Mr. Caretons
bill the saving woul not amount T. - per cent of the
cost OF the oIra clerks s II it not or the fear
Of the criticism OF the newspapers this proposition for
extra clerks woud be adopted by vote perhaps of four
one.
Tnere unqueStionaby much unairness and Injustice
in the present method Of employing clerks The clerk of
committee Is appointed by its chairman aud pricti
cly his private secretary. In addition he has ele
CANT private desk i'm the committee room, which is
garlel as the room OF the chairman except when the
committee is in session and generally there Is
a messenger also employed for tho committee.
some of The committees thus provided with clerks and
messengers have not yet this session holt meeting.
Members not favored with either clerk cannot
expected to look with conplIcency upon this system
Then. I'm the Senate each member has clerk This
enables Senators like PuG1, C,lqutt, Morgan ana Black
barn n np0y rlliyes, genera ly IN r sons.
at the rate OF El2 week at the public Then
again. m'mbers like Mr. RlnlIll hive not onlY room
with clerk. as'is ant clark AMI at their dis
posal. hut have sons employed tho floor
a. pages at - - n day. While not finding
fault with these thng'. the other democratic
members with less indianc'. such NJ.
Carleton maintn that Il IA Only far that they snould
nave nc least . clerk. Minvo the commttces-tweny
three OF those OF tho House. ling to Mr. Springer
absolutely u1less AN exist only that the Speaker
make provision for mat many more % HI, supporters
Had Mr. CrrieoI been really anxious to save some
thiag toward paying Tor CLERKS ne could have accom-
phcd more by prDppsng te abolition OF the allowance
for stationery. ON tue th'ory thIt members have t.
write letters etc. for tho b,nent of their constituents,
eachmemhers allowed draw Sl2J worth ~ stationery
Inhlton they ar' furnished stationery IN the committee
rooms and ia the House. which s really about ai they
require N. members llk" 'lr X ndil AMI MT lI"i-
man. draw - - coumutitiou for stationery SEN
dor Fair who has not been here yet this session will
hc did last year and - with other memhcrs IN both
houses. 1hls Sl2j VIII pay for all tho clerk
hire good many members need To abolish
altOeethrr wOud IN The House
over Si0o0O which is much more than Mr.. Carrtons
proposed savings would amount To. When an eVamiua
/, made OF the the stationery account,
furnish Il members. q good idea Ot benefits 10
-iiurDt- il npthiue In ihr House Pccuun; such
tens these: K'iu's Etiquctte. 81. Il by 80
phot,.ruphs, %lj History. Of champagne, -; kite,
- 20 the Nns-ir Girs u -; Wee Bnbr~. ~ 80;
Last Rose of summer ~ %; playing c'rd-. Guc:
NJ sc s,or.. al on-srt pencil S35 three pencils.
$40; t"othpick, $40 90; p'arl glove hook - three
ikhrat whistles. SIi 80 pockct necessities at - each
misses Sei-. Sii 90; shaving srt, Sll l;
uock'ti iopks at - each; gloves ian aud h'ndkcr.
chefs $50; leather goods. 500; with variety Of
autograph ahus Eas-. books, udur etc.
The senate stationery account equally Interesting iG
cUng alligator h1e-. magic prucil'. ard such itrms
that 0f repairing Columbia tricycle. Sl7 TO- But the
purchases made ont of the contingent iund aud not
CHARGED the Sntonert account 10 members at
least ,u unr Such it'm> these run through the
counts 800 hr'cgra quiLnc pills. dozen hyRcuique
soap BADGER lthrE brushes. demiInhn- Of hay rum.
.iion- of c"lo:nr. dozen cosmrtiqne. pounds of
Luhius pawirr. dnIen Pinaudz cuu- iccfemc. gal-
castor oil gallons u'"nnl heir brushes at -. q
drZrn bath brushes Appplin tris water. dozen
essence lama ginger. dozen mustang Imminent,
dozen pom LIS wash. uz -lngrr Hlr. quarts nct-
Uf drui,a, These Things ost"nslby FOR the
trbrr- shops. Whrr" members and employees
shaved AZ H. public