Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-03-25
ample, l,t it be supposed that Senator feels

ample, ~ II Do supposed that o Senator feels
fatigued at the close OF an afternoon session.
He descends to the basement OF the Capitol
and has q warm bath drawn for him In a superb
tub of white marble. IL he prefers he can
make it Turkish bath. for which all the ap-
purtenances are at hand. There are negro at
PENDANTS skilled in massage who viii tbump and
slap him to his hearts content. For all this he
Is not required to pay n cent cerchsnce q
favorite corn has annoyed him during the day.
de summons the official chiropodist, n salaried
expert in government employ. who operates
free OF charge. II he expects to spend the
evening out he may want shave and haircut,
which are readily obtained at the hands of deft-
fingered BARRIERS, likewise in the service OF
Uncle Sam. The hair tonic applied to his
locks, the "brilliantine" for his mustache and
the cologne bestowed upon his countenance
through an atomizer are all purchased out Of
the contingent fund OF the Senate. Finally,
gratuitous shine" is put on his boots by
stipendiary shoeblack.
Among other things which the contingent
fund pays for are castor oil. OF which any Sem
ator can get dose for nothing, quinine pills,
pond lily wash" and courtplaster. These are
but a few of hundreds of such queer things
which are enumerated in the accounts of the
secretary OF the Senate. together with ginger
ole by the case and lemons by the box. as being
required at government expense for the COM
fort OF that august body. The Representatives
at the other end of the Capitol have their bar
Der shop also. but they pay for their shaves and
haircuts. For some reason which has never
been satisfactorily explained, Senator is sup
posed to have need of many more luxuries than
are granted to a member of the House. He is
allowed clerk at 1000 a year, while only
lately for the first time has it been decided that
a Representative may be granted clerk, SO
long as the salary of such an assistant does not
exceed 500 month.
PRIVILEGES THAT HAVE BEEN TAKEN AWAY.
Several useful privileges which Congressman
formerly had they no longer enjoy. They
abused the right Of franking to such an extent,
using it to obtain free transportation for all
sorts of packages and bundles, that it has been
restricted. At present they are only allowed to
frank public documents and official letters
Each Senator or Representative has an annual
allowance OF Sl25 worth OF stationery. This is
drawn upon by requistior for anything that is
wanted from the big statloners' shops at either
end of the Capitol. Until recently these shops
kept such things in stock as penknives opera
glasses. clocks. &C.. the consequence being that
many legislators bought Their Christmas pres
ents at cost prices out of their allowances This
was put stop to finally. Railway passes are
no longer SO readily obtained as before the in
terstate commerce law came into force, but it
is believed that most Congressman get them
just the same.
Congressman are allowed 10 cents for every
mile travelled in going one round trip from
home to Washington and back during each
Congress. member from California would
draw 5000 on his account. In the early DAYS of
the national legislature Senators and Represen-
tatives were paid at the rate of IS for every day
Of actual service. The roll call thus served as a
salary list There being no railways then, in
stead OF 10 cents a mile, one days paw was
drawn for each 20 miles travelled. Twenty miles
was considered fair days journey on horse
back or by stage. Nearly every Congressman
has a book of franks for kilograms, supplied bv
the Western Union Company. Such book
contains 100 detachable stamps and the holder,
when he wants to send message, simply tears
one out and sticks it upon the telegraph blank
These blanks are being used to a considerable
extent at present for kilograms which have re-
latlon to appointments to Offices. The pos
SCISSOR is not supposed to employ them for bust
ness purposes. but only on private matters.
Representatives in Congress used to be al
lowed to draw on their salaries in advance from
the serseant-at-arms of the House. When the
famous Silcott defalcation occurred number
of members we're found to have got money
ahead on their salaries. The sergeant-at-arms
did large business in lending money to mem
bers and shaving their notes at high rate Of
interest He would make loans which were Sc
cured by the members salary and by life in.
surance policy guaranteeing the latters sur
vival. He could only lose in case the member
resigned, which did happen on two or three
occasions. In one instance he lent man $lO,-
CO0-the entire amount of his salary for two
years of service ahead. This sort Of thing was
put q stop to when Silcot.'s theft occurred. and
now no Representative is permitted to draw a
penny in advance. He can only get his S4l6
mouth as it comes due.