The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-03-03
The Congressional Funeral.

Inc OO4RE566AOu6A FUNERAL
The congressional funeral has become one
of the most unsightly skeletons in the con-
gressionaI closet. The custom Of commit
tee Of members Of congress attending the
funeral services OF deceased senator or
representative and the payment of the ex-
penses from the public treasury is an old
one. When instituted it was intended as a
mark Of respect to the memory of the dead
legislator, and nominally has the same sig
nificance to-day. But the "whirligig Of
time" for the want Of something more
definite upon which TO lay the blame,) has
brought it about that the memory Of dead
congressman is more honored in the breach
Of the congressional funeral Custom than in
its observance.
Extravagances Of various kinds have dis
graced the usage, and the tendency Of the
official mourners is too often toward max
ing holiday junket Of a trip taat would
properly be attended by the most decorous
solemnity. Not very long ago. after con-
gressional funeral trip across the continent.
it was noted in the daily press that an extra
car was needed to bring back to Washing
ton the wine bottles emptied on
the journey. These empty bottles were
required as vouchers for the bill
of funeral expenses that was to be paid out
of the public funds.
Not only do the members assigned to do
the official mourning for congress pervert
the privilege, but tTadesmen are won't to
look upon the official funeral as an occasion
for levying enormous profits on whatever
Nhav ha -
example Of this is now before the
House committee on accounts, in
the expense account rendered for the
funeral OF the late Congressman Houk of
Tennessee. In this bill the undertaker's
charge for a coffin more euphoniously
called ''casket" In the bin, Is 81 200, with
an item of $500 for extra trimmings" And
this despite the fact that the finest burial
cases sold TO individuals rarely ever cost
above $3.50, while the ajority of very rich
men are buried In collins costing less than
$500. Besides this extraordinary casket
charge, the bill contains items Of S3I for
photographs and SIC for a stenographer.
What could have been the use Of a short
hand writer at a funeral is not known, unless
it was desired to preserve the funeral SER
mon, and nobody has ever heard of such
sermon being included in the records of
congress-
Nor can it be conjeckured what part in
the preservation of the memory OF Judge
Houk those photographs played. The
mourners may have conceived the idea of
being photographed in a group about the
grave with the purpose Of laying copies of
the picture on the desks OF the members
who did not attend, as evidence that they
had carried out the will of the majority in
good faith, and for the further purpose of
convincing the disburser of the funeral fund
that the funeral called for in the under
takers bill had actually taken place. For
both items congress should refuse to pay.
EfReform in the congressional funeral is
sadly needed. And while the daring spirit
who will propose the reform is about it, he
would do well to suggest some plan of re.
trenchment in the matter Of eulogies upon
deceased members. They are altogether too
expensive In the matter of time, and in con-
gress, as elsewhere, time 10 money. Not
that objection is made to paying fitting
tribute where it is deserved, but there is no
reason why a large percentage of the time
OF each congress should be taken up in eulo.
CYSTIC speeches upon men whose only shadow
Of prominence consists in having occupied
a seat in congress, without having done
anything while in that seat for the good of
their country.