Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1896-03-05

case Vi nedlluy dppStlleS On Sdu VA
rand.
Here is a compilation which shows
how the scandal has been developing,
and in which is found the inspiration
for the PETER bill:
Deaths of representatives. dur
ing the years 1890 to 1894
inclusive numbered. ....... 81
Their obsequies cost the gov
eminent total of. ....... .$26, 1872 81
An average of............... 1875 "a
During the same four years
eleven senator's died. and
the average expense Of their
funeral ceremonies was. ... Asp OF
Total for senate. ...... $40, 1862 %
Total for last two con-
STeSSeS .........',s PIO,IOo %
The first senatorial funeral at which
government expense was incurred was
that of Francis Malbone of Rhode Is
land. Among the items charged to the
contingent fund in connection with the
funeral of Senator Malbone were:
Sixteen pounds of crackers. .....$3 90
Eleven and quarter pounds of
Cu6tS6 ..,'.'... .''''''' = o.
1t appears from the record that the
committee to audit and control the con-
tingent expenses allowed the item for
crackers but rejected the bill for cheese.
Senator PETER had his attention
called to the COMPASSIONATE funeral scan
DIAL when he, as chairman of the COM
mittee, was called upon to look over
and approve the bills for the funeral of
his colleague, Senator Plumb, He cut
down one charge of $500 to $3.50. But
even after the scrutiny which the sena-
tor gave the items the total was
$3,082.75 This was more than $1,000
less than the average for the last ten
senatorial funerals, but 1t was equal
to the estimated value Of an average
American farm" as Senator PETER puts
it. In the funeral expenses of Senator
Plumb, paid by the senate, it appears
that after paying $500 for casket and
$50 for embalming the body in Wash
ington, the committee employed an
other undertaken at Kansas to re-em-
balm the body and to attend it two
days. for which $3.50 was paid. The
sashes bought for the twelve members
of the committee to wear cost $46.4S.
It appears that after reaching Emporia
the members of the committee scattered
in various directions to their homes,
and then put in individual bills for
what they spent in getting back to
Washington by various roundabout
ways. "Commissary supplies en- route"
for those twelve gentlemen cost $159.41.
"Commissary supplies" cover null
titude of expensive habits. In the old
contingent expense accounts OF con-
gressional funerals were found wine,
brandy, cOgnac, almonds, raisins,
syrup, soda water and so on. These
items never appear now. "Commissary
supplies" sounds better. When con-
gress footed the bill for the nations
hospitality to Louis Kossuth, the Hun
garian patriot, one item in the official
expense account was:
Champagne, sherry, madeira,
postage, cigars, lemonade, bar
bill, washing, medicine, post
Office stamps, porterage, and
messengers, hack hire paid at
different times, kilograms, SUI
gar, brandy and whisky in
room, porter and ale, envel-
opes, barber's bill. Aluminium. $65S.S2
Brandy and whisky we're called
brandy and whisky" in those days,
and not "commissary supplies"
One curious discovery, resulting from
Senator PETERS industrious investiga-
ton is the fact that distance usually
has little to do with the cost Of a con-
gressional funeral. Senator Plumb was
buried at Emporia, Kan, and Senator
Kenna at Charleston, w. Va. Emporia
is more than 1000 miles west Of
Charleston. Senator Kenna's funeral
cost SS4.75 more than Senator Plumb's.
"Commissary supplies, meals and
lunches" for the Kenna funeral cost |
1882. 4S-about three times the cost Of
the same for the trip from Washington
to Emporia. Charleston, w. Va, is
eleven hours ride from Washington.
Besides this $432.4S for "commissary |
supplies, meals and lunches" on the
Kenna funeral trip, there was a charge
Of s76.5 for room and board while at
Charleston. A Washington undertaken
went on the trip and received $l5 for
his funeral services, while the Charles
ton undertaken got $50 more for his
funeral expenses. The two items al
ready mentioned for "commissary sup
plies" and for room and board" aggre-
eating over $500, do not include $29.75
for breakfast at an eating station en-
route. The car which carried the body
Of Senator Kenna was draped at a cost
If $55.
Besides, undertakers, florists and ho-
.elkeepers all perform their work and I
make their charges on the same grand