The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-03-28
PETER AND THE BARRIERS.
Senator PETER Takes Up the Official
RazDr Handler in tho Role OF
Economist.

Senator PETER Takes Up the Official
Razor Handler in Ghe Role of
EcOnOmKsf.
WASHINGTON, March est has been
some time since Senator PETER scored
the senate on its extravagant funeral
customs, and, although he failed to Sc
cure the passage of his bill, he neverthe-
less attracted national attention to the
absurdities of the custom that has grown
up of providing elaborate and costly
junkets every time a member of the
upper house adiourns from this sphere.
When the miscellaneous bill came on
for discussion, in one of the paragraphs
Mr. PETER discovered "skilled laborer at
$1,000" He wanted to know what kind
of work this individual performed.
Mr. Cullom, who was in charge OF the
bill, could not exactly tell him. The man,
he said, had been in the service of the
senate for twenty odd years and worked
somewhere down in the basement.
THAT does not answer my question"
persisted Mr.. PETER. lis it not fact
that this man is barberb"
Mr.. CulIom did not know the exact
duty in which the man was engaged, and
so Mr.. PETER objected to the amend
ment At this point, Mr.. Chandler, once
Mr. PETERS companion in the field of
economy, came to the front and protest
against Mr. PETERS objection.
suppose, this man is a barber" he
said. docs it not require skill to shave
the other senator5-not the senator from
Kansas or myself. If this barber is do
ing this work, does it not require skill in
handling a razor upon the faces of the
senators?"
Not in my case" said Mr.. PETER,
whose flowing chin adornment has prac-
ticalIy become the trade mark of the
Populist party.
"Tne senator wants to know whether
the provision means the employment of
a skillful barber to shave the other sena-
tors of this body" retorted Mr., Chandler.
II think it does'
"My object" said Mr.. PETER, "is to get
rid of the BARRIERS in the senate"
81 will ask the SENATOR" continued Mr.
Chandler, "if it is fair, because he and l
do not need barber, that we should not
be willing other senators should have
the little luxury of this skilled laborer.
/ want some large measure of reform,
and am willing that some small meas
ure of reform shall be made. But, of
course, if the senator insists upon having
a vote of the senate on striking out this
provision, we will have it; but think we
had better seize, on reflection, the $1O,-
900 and fasten it QUITO the committee, for
otherwise there is danger, if it is not
done now. that before the bill is disposed
of they will withdraw that economy"
"What I object to-" Mr.. PETER said, lis
that senators employ BARRIERS To do their
arbering work for them at the expense
of the people of the country. 1t Is time
that public attention should be called to
this and a great many other items of ex-
penditure which are not only unnecessary
but are viciously extravagant. and it is
time that halt be called somewhere. If
We go through this bill we will find
great many different items that ought to
be stricken out, and SO far as l can keep
up with them 1 propose to ask that they
be stricken OFT not only in reference to
laborers and BARRIERS, but in due time for
senators themselves, so that we shall
show a disposition to economic in the
for ourselves as well as in
larger transactions.
With this Mr.. PETER discontinued his
assault for the day, and the barber was
spared from the slaughter.