The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-11-20

run Il as gott4.snent property, sort OF
object lesson ON government managemens
OF the railways.
When the administration ID defeated at
the middle term elections, as 1t nearly al
ways is--thers have been but two excep-
tions In 90 years--there is always greas
cry that its policy has been condemned by
the people and prophecy that said policy
viii be changed, but tho Oldest politician
cannot remember case when the proph-
coy was fulfilled. The party in power In
ynriably goes straight on, and IL IL changes
at ali il Is only 10 become little more az
gressivo. It's leaders always assume that
the last election was mere freak on the
part Of the people and reason Ike that SIN
ner I'm the old story who was up u tree
when Noah's ark foated by: go on with
your derned old soow This is only q big
freshet anyhow" AS Lincoln grew more
radical after losing the close states In 1869
and Grant more eager for resumption aft
or the Landslide" OF 1874, SO 1t may be
taken for granted that Cleveland will urge
his views more forcibiy next winter than
last.
At the close of each long session there Is
the same outcry that this has been do
nothing congress; that the majority Is in
competent; that expenses have increased
and the general tore Of public life has ae-
clined, and we have the same old house
clerks bill for popular orators 10 make
fun with. The impression Is created that
congressman just wallow in lemonade ana
rosewater. with whisky on the side, and
an army Of servitors. Some Of the bills
rendered for expenses Mt the capitol do look
odd. Thus the wash account indicates
that congress uses about 600 towels per
day, and that SO, 500 10 SO, 900 per year Is
paid for laundry account. Some years ago
1t was proved that the contract was let to
lady OF considerable social standing, and
that she got the work done for half what
she received.
The report also indicates that soap,
sponges, combs, brushes, cologne, bay rum
and scissors are bought in enormous quan
titles The item OF corset laces" always
creates great fun, and the rural orator
points OUT the particular members who
wear them AS "a matter of fact, they are
used for fastening together the successive
numbers OF The Congressional Record and
other publications which members keep
on their desks for ready reference. Pocket
knives are bought sufficient to supply
5000 men. The member can get them at
cost from the stationery clerk, and the
rural constituent calling on his represent
ative usually receives one as n present
Each member is allowed sl25 per year for
stationery, and II he draws less he takes
the cash. Thsre have been many cases
where members used each less than IS
worth and took cash for the remainder
Some never use tho congress paper at oil,
but buy paper with no printed heading.
The cost Of burylng a member is ordi-
nsrily about 81, SEQ, paid for the fare Of the
escort party To his home and back and
their expenses en- route. The burial of Vice
President Hendricks cost the house 81, 437
and the senate IA little over 81, 600. Charges
for meals and personal services for the
nine men on the route 10 and from In
dianapolis amounted 10 SS4 per day. The
story gUas INIT when n TuCTTTntTr from .fne
northwest was hurled several years ago
one OF the escor telecraphed ahead: Meet
us at Detroit depot with four cases cham
payne, gallon best whisky, four boxes
partagOs and 90 pounds Of ice. The corpse
Is doing we'll" These are items for the
rural orator to have fun with, but let
no one imagine that congressman will
worry theraat in this short session. When
IL is considered that our capitol Is by far
the largest legislative building In the
world, 7ol feet inches long, covering four
acres aud containing over 1 600 rooms. the
bill for taking caro- Of it and paying sal
aries Of all the members and employees
seems small. 1t is only 8 cents year for
each citizen Of the MAJ ~ and we love to
think that our lawmal are we'll fixed.
There will be this winter about the usu-
al racket on silver and If Mr. Walker OF
Massachusetts succeeds in getting his
comprehension bill" for a general cur
renoy system before the house the discus
sion thereon will be well worth hearing.
AS to all those able measures from MIR.
Hatch's committee on agriculture and all
those bills for education and labor--bills
drawn with SO much care and the subject
of so many prayers--well, most Of them
have been put to sleep for this congress.
They will appear in the next probably, as
they have In each congress for, 10, these
many years The bankers have recently
met at Baltimore and prepared bill for
congress 10 pas, the chief provision OF
which is that 40 moro bonds are TO be de
posted but each bank issue notes to the
amount of one-balf or three fourths OF its
paid up capital and the government guar
antee said notes. II any man should dream
that this cor "rcss will listen patiently to
such propts ition, that man should take
salts In the morning and consult physi
clan at once.
Senator Morgan win make his usual
effort 10 get favorable consideration for
bis Nicaragua canal bill, the chief feature
of which is that the government guarantee
tina ialnreSt ON lhn coin nany,s hnnds To tho
amount OF SS7, 600, 600 or thercabouts but
otherwise the canal Is TO be a private en
terprse. In other words the company i
TO take no risk OF loss and make as much
as It can. Ii is claimed that by this guar
antce the company will be able TO mnrkCl
per cent bonds at par How long 1t wi
take to bring members from tho farnirl
states to the support Of such measure
that will probably be learned about a.
time wo solve the long standing Conun
drum as TO the assault on Mr. William Pat
terson.
OF course there will bo fC,,d Of tiiie
10 regulate everything and inlStigate O.
srybody. Present appearances indica'
that this ia TO be the hardest winter O.
railroads since 1874, and their enOme
will literally catch them in the gate