The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-03-11
CAPITAL CHAT,
Some Ex-Corgressmen Are
Looking for Work.
\ Pathetic Case-The Force Of Habit
Among statcsmen-whAt IL Goats Uncle
Sam To Publish His Daily Paper-An In
, terestisg Book.

terestisg Book.
WASHINGTON, March e.-[Special. i
Quite number OF ex-oongressmen linger
In the city Many of them are looking for
some employment. In this connection an
interesting and rather pathetic story may
be told. A wealthy resident of Washing
ton was called upon yesterday by one OF
the most prominent ex-members OF con-
gress, "a man who has served In the national
legislature for 20 years. In all that time
his efforts have been put forth for the good
Of his country and his constituents, and he
has scarcely thought of self Though worth
500, 900 upon entering congress, he Is now
very poor man. with scarcely any prop
erty and absolutely without income
President Cleveland offered him an Office
In the far west, which the ex-membor de-
clincd because it would be impossible TO
take his invalid wife with him. and being
tenderly devoted 10 hor neither OF them
could bear tho thought of separation The
purpose OF the ox-statcsman' call upon his
wealthy friend was, il possible, To find
some means of acquiring an income, but
he had no sooner preached the subject
than his thoughts were led away TO tho
needs Of the country. For one hour he
talked OF nothing bat the outlook for leg
islation upon tho financial question. LIc
seemed utterly oblivious TO his own inter
ests" said the wealthy gentleman who
told mo the story, Apparently he had
completely forgotten that there was no
money in his pocket and that his wife and
family were extremely distressed over their
situation. Tho force Of habit acquired
through 30 years OF public service had
Ia a. l. Il
Of his own affairs and all bis energies and
enxlctles woro dire ei toward the good OF
the country. IL was one of the most strik
ing commentaries that 1 have ever seen
upon the nature Of the sorV ices which some
men render their country and Of tho small
recompensc therefor paid them in tho way
Of salaries. There could DO no better GER
tiflcate TO tho honesty Of this man, whose
name would DO recognized throughout tho
country II should mention il, than the in
cident Of which speak"
Tribute to the Fair Sex.
During the closing hours OF tho late con-
grcss there was tremendous rush for seats
in tho galleries of the house and senate.
AT tho night sessions especially was there
a great demand for seats. All classes of
people in the capital rushed TO the big
statehouse on tho bill To enjoy tho OK
traordlnary scenes Of the dying hours.
During the winter most OF tho visitors TO
the capitol have been strangers in the city,
the resident people caring little for the
congressional scenes, but during tho last
few days tho devotees OF society made IL
quite fad 70 go to the senate and house
and watch the proceedings on the floor.
All winter mcmbors Of the house havo been
IA. 10 -
where in the hall. regardless OF the rule
which forbids this practice. 1t had never
occurred TO any ono TO attempt the en-
forcement'of tho rule until tho galleries
We're filled with fashionable ladies, and
then motion was quickly made and
adopted that smoking DO prohibited. This
tribute 10 tho presence Of the fair sex met
with hearty response ON tho part Of men,
bers, and, To the surprise Of all observers,
continued for at least one hour. Sixty
minutes later at least hundred cigars
were going as If nothing had happened. So
strong is the forco Of habit among states
men as well as with less important NOR
tails
Expensive, bat Interesting.
That interesting and sometimes scnsa-
tional daily newspaper, The Congressional
Record, has suspended publication for the
summer. For three years past it las been
going at pretty rapid rate, the queer fea-
ture OF its business being that tho greater
the number Of its editions issued and the
greater the number Of copies in each edi-
tion the moro money il costs its proprie-
tors, the people of tho United States. The
annual report of the public printer, which
has just como from the press shows that
during the fiscal year ending Juno 80 last
The Congressional Record cost tho very
handsome sum of S223, 600 Inasmuoh Gs
this represents about eco daily editions, 1t
may bc readily seen that the luxury OF
verbatim reports OF congress costs the gov
ernment for printing alone about 81 600
day.
For publishing The Record during the
year ending Juno 80, 1894, tho sum of
Sl5S, 900 was paid in wages s37, 600 for
paper and tho surprising sum OF $40, ,620
for compilation of the index. Among tho
curious items of expense incurred by pub
lication of The Record arc: Ice, SS4; 500
pounds or tin, $l07; 1000 pounds of rope,
S7S; three barrels Of flour, sl0. 80; 30S
tons OF coal. 81 ,537. Contrary to tho gen.
eral impression, The Record Is an Illus
trated publication. AT loast the expense
account shows slo3 paid out for 40 illus.
trations Cor that publication.
Costly Publications.
It IS generally known that Uncle Sam
maintains the greatest printing oiiicc In
the world. This institution continues To
grow in magnitude and cost Last year the
total disbursements on the part of the
public printer reached tho enormous sum
of 50, 940, 600, Of which nearly 50, 900, 900
was paid for wages, nearly s600,0 600 for
paper $l2S 900 for engraving and $685.
600 for ink and all other supplies.
One Of tho most interesting books turned
out by tho government press during the
past year is the report on tho introduction
Of domcsticntod reindeer into Alaska. Ii
is work of 200 pages, containing numer-
Gus maps and cngrayings and graphic de.
scriptions and illustrations of tho success
full efforts of tho United States bureau of
education TO supply tho poor natives Of
Alaska with domcsticatod reindeer. In
Norway, Sweden and Lapland tho reindeer