Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-04-12

find out As matter Of fact, however the
BARRIERS who operate Just OF the cloak room Of
the lower house charge the usual tariff for
their services, while at their end of the Capitol
the Senators pay nothing at all for tonsorial
attentions, preferring to support the artists
who manipulate razors and scissors about their
august heads out of the contingent fund This
is great economy, rejecting to advantage
upon the wisdom OF the sages who sit at the
feet OF Vice President Morton 1t has been
thought )uaiclous to encourage the habit of
BATHING AMONG CoNGBEssMEN,
and with this end in view baths were made free
for both House and Senate, II being thought
that no member would be likely to resist in
diligence in anything that was gratis. Thus it
happens that members of the lower house even
do not infrequently battle at the Capitol where
tubs are provided and likewise attendants to
rub draw water and offer towels Liberal
members often give tho attendant so cents for
such services. but it is averred that Senators
are usually too dignifed to offer tips Ii there
is anything to be paid the Senate prefers to paw
1t out OF the contingent fund. The House has
also special officer in the person OF a chlrop-
odist, who ministers to the afflicted tootsies Of
Representatives free of charge. They may give
him something if they like.
Each member of Congress has as a per1uisits
Sl25 worth OF stationery. Formerly station
cry included such things mouchoir cases.
opera glasses, clocks brushes and combs &c
dc.. all of which were kept in stock by the big
government stationers' shops at either md of the
Capltol building. In those times Senators and
Representatives were accustomed each year to
lay in their supplies of Christmas presents from
their stationery allowances; but. alas, the priv
ileges of the national legislator are being sadly
cut down year by year. 1t is even proposed
now to take away his power of directing the
appointment OF fourth-class pos.masters in his
district However, he is still entitled yearly to
about
1000 VOLUMES OF PUBLIC BOOKS.
perhaps 600 of them agricultural reports--and
the latter, mt all events, if he is not from an
agricultural district, he can sell and does sell
to a secondhand dealer or fellow member
at the uniform rate of 10 cents apiece Here
is source of income in itself. Also he re-
ceives 5000 small packages of seeds for distri-
button among his constituents. Congress ap-
propriatcs Sl0o, 900 for this purpose each year.
Nor would it do to leave out the point about
mileage. Each member by law gets 10 cents
for every mile travelled in going one round trip
from his home to Washington and back for
each Congress. A California Congressman in
this way receives neat little 5000 extra for
each two years OF service. Congressman sell
dom thought Of paying railway fares until the
interstate commerce law was passed, and even
now. 1t is said, they sometimes travel largely in
the same way, though surreptitiously.
it is supposed In the far west it is
considered a matter Of course that palace
car shall be placed at the disposal of any MEM
Der going east. with servants, provisions. wines
cigars and liberty to invite as many friends to
go along as he desires. Such packing boxes as
congressman care to use are made for them
free of charge in the carpenter shops at the
Capitol--beautifut pine chests with hinges. and
altogether desirable for packing dresses and
family goods of all sorts, though it is under
stood. as a matter of form. that thev are in
tended for storing away papers and documents
PXcluSlyeiy Meals ia N
the House and Senate served to members
at considerably reduced prices. The STAR dis
covered this only the other day when he
prOffered 50-cent check and half-a-dollar for
dinner at one of these eating houses.
Il guess the waiter made mistake" said the
cashier. You're not member, are your
thought not Dinner is 80 cents to a Congress
man, but 10 cents to any one else. Another
quarter, If you please Thanks"
FIFTY PER CENT OFF.
Representative came up to the desk at that
moment and paid so cents for the same feed
precisely. He had beautiful shine on his
boots, which he had just got for nothing in the
barber shop.
The Senate's great hold is the contingent
fund which is made to cover a multitude of
expenses such might be considered rather OF
personal than of public nature-for example
purchases by the quantity of ''pond-lily wash"
qulnne pills street car tickets, snuff. olive oil.
llalldn cosmetic castor OIL. alcOhO., salts of
tartar, hair tonic, brilliantine for senatorial
moustaches, court plaster. &c, &C., adj nfinitum
The published account of the secretary of the
Senate, Gen. McCook for the last fiscal year in
cludes, among nnmberless other similar things.
grocers bin for supplies furnished the Senate
during July, August and part of Septe mber,
1889. This bill, paid by the nation.
contains very many small items which.
summed up, amount to ia pounds-nearly
half ton-of granulated sugar, 40 cases
of apollinaris, % boxes of lemons, s dozen
bottles OF ginger ale, lemon squeezer, and
tin can. What the tir can was for it is inn
possible to say. but the use of the other things
may be family guessed at especially in con-
temptation of supplementary accounts. which
include spoons. strainers and tumbers by the
gross. And mind you, the erocer's bill re-
ferred to only covers seventy days. from July
to September IA An apothecary's bill for
ike period. also paid by the nation. is for S651
worth Of supplies furnished the Senate, items
OF which are dozen combs 80 select mop
sponges. 30 select hand sponges, 3 bath sponges,
fine toilet sponges-no wonder Senators are
ciean-5O0 quinne pills. powder puffs, bot
tie Humphreys specific, kip Of chamois skins.
l dozen cologne, and SO on. But these are only
few OF the thousands OF small senatorial per-
quisltes supplied by amiable tax payers. If
you are after perks" be Senator.
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