The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-10-29
rHE ExrRAvAeANcE OF THE SEN.
ATE.


The New York SHn's Washington City
letter Of the 10th inst contains some in
teresting statements concerning the United
States senate that will hardly serve to
raise that body in the esteem of the plain
people Of the land. The senators enjoy
far more elegant and luxurious life than
the members of the lower house Of con-
gress. although 5000 year Is what both
the senators and members Of congress re-
eeive. The members of the house get lit
tie else than their salaries, while the sem
ators fare better. They have most luxuri-
Gus barber shop. We quote:
Shaving costs nothing TO senator, and
no senator ever gets shaved anywhere else
white he is In Washington City, or Is
likely to submit himself 10 anything less
than the fun possibilities Of the shop, be-
ginning with q shampoo and ending with
the operation of singing in the latest
London style. The BARRIERS are paid by
the public and rank as skilled iaborers, az
so month. In connection with their
shop Is q more than modern series of bath
rooms that are not excelled for elegance
in any firsi-class hotel. Indeed, the tubs
are said to oe cut out of solid marble, and
the fixtures initiate solid silver. The deli
~
sprays emit we're introduced by Roscoe
Conkling."
A new senator from the West was so
delighted with these bath rooms that he
tried to introduce his wife to some of the
privileges OF this luxurious annex. Some
of the senators stay in Washington City
nearly the whole year around, enjoying
these and other luxuries and necessities
which cost them nothing.
Up to this year in the house OF repre-
sentatives the only clerks that members
have been able TO use have been the COM
mittee clerks, whose services, however.
belonged exclusively TO the chairman of
the committee. This year the Democracy
signalized their accession to power by
voting a clerk 10 each member at pay not
TO exceed 500 = month. This Is bad
enough. but Il is provided that each clerk
must actually work. and that each one
NAV be paid only a. he works, upon the
sworn vouchers of the congressman, but
in the senate every senator enjoys clerk
at 81, 800 year. and these clerks get that
money even IL they never come to Wash
ington City. Several OF the senators have
had their sons appointed clerks. and in
some cases their wives. their sisters, their
daughters, and whatsoever members of
their families could De rung in 10 con
tribute public money 10 the family pot.
One Of these salaried sons Of senator is a
student at Harvard. and never comes 10
Washington City except upon holidays.
The sister of the wife of another senator
has one Of these plGms. senator PETER
has had his son appointed n doorkeeper.
Ex-senator Reagan. OF Texas. xho recsntlv
returned to the simplicity of private life.
carried bis wife on his private pay roll a.
Sc a day"
The senators aim 20 keep this pay roll
secret. but the bulk Of the names upon IL
are those OF close relatives of the senator's.
Each chairman Of the senate keeps from
three 10 four personal attendants on
;his roll They may be saiaried a. mes
seneers. as doorkeepers. as lahorers or as
skilled laborers. The list OF senatorial rel
atives IS known 20 he as long a. the list o.
the senators themselves.
Senator Morgan. % Alabama, once said
Oh the soor Of the senate that things had
sos TO that point whore there were SO
msny employees that senator fell over
them IN making his Way through the cor
/ f'aors. AZ about the same time Senator
Plumb. also speaking on shs senate door,
and animsaYeEtins on the extravagance OF
rs fellows, said he could 60 to Kamsas
and sst mea 60 run The senate posic9lee
Ter 800 year. though ths postofEce cost
TIE ration the interest on rich mans for
suae, aud yee there were 50 many clerks
employed in It that they eOula scarcely
&c, st the boxes.
The senators have had their entire wing
o. ass c~pstoa wired 10 aess and eaAaays