The Negro world., 1900-03-24


does the appropriation
called the contingent fund of the
senate.
Out of that fund the sergeant.at-
arms of the senate paysZfor. wine,
whisky. apollinaris water, cigars, cabs,
carriages, funerals and all sorts of
things which do not go into the daily
public records, but which are #neces-
sarily shown in the annual reports of
the secretary of the senate.
The sergeant-atarms is the eNecu-
tive officer of the senate, and II is his
duty TO anticipate and minister to the
wants of the American house of
lords, The secretary is the disbursing
officer of the senate, and il is his duty
TO keep an accurate account of all
moneys disbursed by him. Conse-
quently, when the annual report of
the secretary is compiled and pub
lished. all of these things are dis
closed. But, as matter of fact, not
one man out of ten thousand ever
reads the report. Newspaper men are
too busy to sean it closely. Therefore
der the cover of 1.-The contingent fund
of the senate" remains hidden from
the knowledge of the people.
The annual reports for the past
ten years show that comparatively lit
tie money has been expended for in
toXicating liquors. But out of this
fund thousands of dozens of lemons,
and many crosses of mineral water
are bought So that, when the senate
is in session during the spring and
summer months. there is always a
large bowl of lemonade constantly
available in each of the senate cloak
rooms. Also. pitchers of lemonade are
prepared for all of the committee
rooms. Plain people employed by the
senate are able to exist ON plain
water, but their fellow citizens who
nre called senators must have lux
uries. of which lemonade is only an
| illustration. They have quinine, soap,
cologne. pocket knives. manicure sets,
and almost everything conceivable of
| that nature for which the senators
ought to pay out of their own pockets.
In the house of representatives
there is also contingent fund, but
the fund is generally used for legiti-
mate purposes, in the nature of actual
contingent expenses which cannot be
| foreseen when the general appropria.
| tion bills are prepared and adopted.
| The only abuse of the contingent fund
! of the house tor, the most notable uneD
| is in the disbursement of extraordi-
nary sums of money for the expenses
of the funerals of representatives who
die during their terms of office. This
subject is brought to the attention OF
the writer at this time, and conse-
quently to the attention of the read
ing public. because of the sudden
death of Congressman Chickering. of
New York, and the noble action of his
widow.
| Congressman Chickering had been a
member of the national house of rep
resentatiyes for seven years when his
dead body was found on the pavement
in New York city. in front of his no
tel. 1t is generally supposed that he
fell out Of the window of his bedroom
or that he leaped forth TO death. He
had been in poor health for more than
year. and was known To be exceed.
ingly depressed concerning his physi-
cal condition. However, be that as ii
may, the manner of his death, or its
cause. need not be discussed here and
now. The subsequent action of his
wife is the subject to which attention
is being invited
Immediately after the public an
nouncement of the death of the con.