Evening journal., 1900-03-23
senatorial PerqulsItes.

NNt'@t ~ fNioASos
Although the salary Of United
States Senator Is not large. II is Inst
$4,000 a year more than is given to
members Of the British House OF
Lords. But in addition to this, the SEN
ators take IN money every way they
turn. their perQuistes being simply
enormous As TO these the newly
cords facts that are amusing or dis
prepared report OF the secretary re.
graceful according to the point OF
view. 1t shows for instance. that
local drug firm received In the last fis-
cal year more than $l70O for medl
clnes and toilet articles. These were
supplied TO the Senator'S for their indi-
vidual use. and paid for out OF the
generous pocket OF Uncle Sam. No
small item of this expenditure was
1000 doses of bromO seltzer and bro-
mo caffeine. Three dozens of caffeine
powders four cases OF lithia water.
two bottles of bromO llthia and $2.70
worth II llthia tablets further con-
tributed to keep the senatorial system
In good repair. Twelve pounds OF
soda mint tablets We're purchased TO
remove that dark brown taster and
the eNtravagant sum of so cents was
exchanged for tahules for Indigestion.
TO each Senator there are four en-
ployes, In various capacities. The
smaller body OF Congress has come to
cost Uncle Sam twice as much per
member per annum as the House.
Almost all Of the sixty messengers re-
celve Sl.4f0 a year each. whereas the
old blind chaplain Is considered to be
worth only 5000. Laborers In the
folding room get $1,000. and those
who run the elevators enjoy still more
$1,000. The man IN charge OF tile
stationery room draws $2.lO2 40 annu-
ally: his assistants $1.SOO and 1000.
respectively. The little pages who
wait upon Senators get SO month,
the postmaster of the senate 50, 500 an-
nually fremen S1.005. and the uphol.
sterer and locksmlth S1.44O.
The largest portion of expense in
Cured each year for toilet articles IL
demanded by the Senate barber shops
and bathrooms. Each member Of this
distinguished body Is barberlzed graf
is as many times a day as he wishes.
In conjunction are all the appurtenan-
ces to Turkish and Russian baths.
Skilled masseurs are always IN readl-
ness TO hasten the course OF slothful
blood.
During one hot week In June the
Senate paid S136 for lemons for lemo-
made, and shortly afterwards returned
no less than 3T0O empty bottles
which had contained llthia water.
But the taxpayer should not grow
long-faed at such a modest rate Of
revelry as this. considering the fact
that fifteen years ago nearly every
eommittee-room at the Senate end OF
the Capitol had its provision Of liquors
purchased by the chairman or by a
member with a reputation as n con.
noisseur.
But In order to still further lubrl-
cate this distinguished body, chairmen
OF committees have at their personal
disposal a clerkship for each commit.
tee at n salary OF $1,000 or $1,000. n
messenger at from 81 .44O up. and or.
dinary members have the appointment
Of a clerk at $1,000 per annum. Il
will not be forgotten that tile hours OF
work per day Of these public servants
are few and the days work per year
are fewer still. or course senators
have railroad mileage. and those who
have passes can put It in their pock-
cts.
Alas and alack. few indeed can serve
their country by being a senator.