The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-07-04

TO James Z kO2. ~
To Cyrus ]. Rhode sol. 81
AL the above-named persons arc Members OF
the House and Senate, and. with the execution
OF scyfsrt, who wHs Chairman Of the committee,
and Becker. 1t will DO observed that their per
sonal EXPENSE. sleeping bcrths, car fare, tclc-
graph and telephone services wero within n
~ the committee. spent about $40 moro. and
Becker. being n resident of Philadelphia. in
personal expenses incurred. WINS about S1i2
below his colleagues; Next come these items:
TO George c: Baker for services rendered as
personal attendance while in attendance upon
tho committee the sum of eight hundred and
ITO Charles +. Ettla for services rendered as
secretary OF the committee, and for car fare
sleeping berths and personal expenses the sum
Of eight hundred and two dollars.
For services Of and expenses necessarily in
Cured by tho scrgeant-at.arms in serving sub
pRnns mileage In serving subpoanas attendance
upon committee including tho payment Of fees
and mileage to witnesses the sum OF one thous-
and eight hundred and two dollars and eighty
"Fo expenses necessarily incurred by the
committee In hotel bills the sum OF two thous-
md four hundred and eighty-ive dollars and
The balance OF the total is made M of 1896. IT
for railroad, fare for witnesses. and s., 10 for
q stenORrapher.
This wonderful committee held seven sessions
a total OF eight days hotel expenses. and as
two OF the members reside in Philadelphia it
secretary.. stenographer. and doorkeeper. to
board at the hotel. Ten persons at eight days
each are the same az eighty persons for one day,
and at the hotel where the committee put up.
the rate being 81 a day. would seem 10 make n
total Of $500. But ms tho hotel expenses. as set
forth in that inscrutable act OF Assembly. and
not by the bill of the hotel pror-ictor-for there
was no such hill-call for a total OF 50. 1876. IL. it
would seem that each member paid $3l. O6 n day.
I might in Justice to that art OF Assembly,
Senate file No. 626. session OF 1897. observe that
the hotel expense of p n day does not include
wine or cigars; therefore it would seem that
each. member got away with $27. O6 1880 worth
Of wine. cigars. &c, a day.
In regard TO the 1902 for car fare. telegraph
and telephone services. and personal OK
penses. v no inkling Of their nature having been
disclosed in the act. or any other paper. docu-
ment, or memorandum. ] would say that I am
reliably n advised that each member has n free
railroad pass and telegraph frank. and that the
telephone service nj the pcnitcntinry. where tho
investigation was held. Is FREQ. and that therc-
fore tho only expense for car fare was two troll
ley fares q day of . cents cach-lO cents u day
for eight days. a total OF 90 cents. leaving over
] n day for personal expenses"
With S27.O6 1880 a day for vino and cigars
and $l0O a day for personal expenses what
q jolly time that committee had for eight days!
Is 1t to he wondered Mt that their report covered
only fourteen pages OF typewriter matter. or
that IL has received the sevcrest condemnation
of every newspaper in Pennsylvania. Fourteen
pages OF typcwrittcn matter at n cost OF over
q 600 o mage is n high price to nay for the most
unsightlv piece Of embarrassing ever done by n
legislative committee. But. then. what II thcro
had been one hundred pagcsf j. w. +.