The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-07-25
A FEW INCIDENTALS.


What it Costs Connecticut to Keep it
Lawmakers Supplied With Pocke
Knives and Fountain Pens.
Hartford, Conn, July 2O.-The long
looked-for bill for pocket knives, foun
tain pens, pocket-books albums, etc.
for senators and representatives has a
last been filed with the controller ant
paid, under an order of the legislature
The senate's bill is 81, 6S9.29, an average
of $70.3S for each senator The house
bill is $2,353.71, an average of 1894 for
each representative. 1t is is difficult tc
realize why there should be this differ
ence, but the house had no photograph
albums. The senate had twenty-seven
of these The house had only one and
one-half fountain pens a member, while
| the senate had six. The house, too, had
| only about two and one-half knives for
| each representative. while the senate is
charged with enough to furnish each
senator nine, and the average price Is
$2.S7, against $1.27 in the house. But
the house had six dozen knife cases, a
total of six dollars, while the senate
had none of these luxuries. The as
founding fact is clear however, that
the house had two oak desks with
chairs charged at lightweight dollars,
the total. And the senate had one with
chair, charged at siXty-eight dollars,
The lamp and shade, fifteen dollars"
probably went with it. None of these
desks are now in the possession of the
state, 1t is understood that 1t is an un-
written law that the clerks take them
from their outside public office when
they go away. Thus as one person is
successfully assistant clerk of the SEN
ate and clerk of the house, he receives
three oak desks with chairs These, be-
sides his extras on the senate and house
contingent account, as well as his own,
sets him up in business in excellent
shape. Besides all this the senate and
house stationery account, the clerk of
the senate had $1,000 for contingencies,
and the clerk of the house nearly the
same.
The Swan fountain pens furnished
the senate averaged $3.77 each, or a to-
tai of $347.30. Besides these nine gold
pens and holders We're furnished at a
cost of $3.50; average, $2.79. The two
hundred and fifteen pocket knives-two
hundred and fifteen between twenty
four men!-cost S61S.64. The twenty
seven photograph albums in which the
senate preserved each others photo
graphs cost five dollars each, or $135.
The pocket books and markings" pre-
sumably the senator's names, num-
bered ten-only one-half one apiece;
these didn't go around for some reason
at value of thirty-nine dollars. The
senate consumed $685. of postage
Two big volumes of Cueh
ing's parliamentary law had to be OBJ
tanned at twelve dollars the two, and |
three CONNECTICUT Civil Officers" con-
tanning legal instructions, We're bought |
for $1350. Where are these valuable
books now? There are number of
letter files, bill files, letter cases and
markings erasfng rubbers at Is ten
cents the piece, one portfolio at $3.50,
and Websters dictionary (what
size?) at $1.50. Several postal scales
glass paper-weights, library inkstands
at $685. writing tablets, and ivory pa
at sixty cents each. There
Is $11.50 worth of binding and annota-
ting public acts, Notwithstanding that
his work was done by wholesale by
favorite at several hundred
1ollars-a high rate. Waste paper
baskets are included, although the con-
roller had pretty well prepared the
senate chamber in this regard before
he distinguished men took their seats.
The house had 372 Swan fountain
pens costing S915.25, yet there are only
'52 representatives, and in addition one
sold pen and holder at $2.75. 1t had
06 pocket-knves, at cost of $775.42,
seventeen pocket-books with markings
It $65.75, three civil Officers" at $780,
md $3.50 of postage stamps. Three
arge volumes of Cushing's parliament
airy law seemed to be needed by some
,ody. These cost the state eighteen
dollars. And, Notwithstanding this ex-
enditure, five Roberts Rules of Or
er'' were provided at three dollars.
"pocket records" whatever
hey are, are charged at 5000 The :
sual bill-books, letter cases, ink, mu- :
ilage, etc, appear in large number. Tt ,
ught to be remembered that the clerk
AS, besides all this, contingent ex- !,
ense" account of his own.-Springf1eld
republican.