The Independent. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1895-1905, 1900-03-21
WHAT OUR SENATORS COST.
Uncle Sans Millionairos' Cub an Ex-
pensive Luxury for Taxpayers.

ne Uniteu OtaIeS SENATE mas
bcen popularity dubbed "The Mil.
lionaires' Club"
1t is the cheapest club in the
world for the poor man to join. Its
perquisites, daily increasing, are too
enormous for reckoning. The newly
prepared report of the secretary OF
this dignified body reveals some
amusing facts. 1t shows, for in
stance, that local drug firm receiv-
ed in the last fiscal year more than
S1700 for medicines and toilet arti-
Giles. These were supplied to the
Senators for their individual use,
and paid for out of the generous
pocket of Uncle Sam. No small
item OF this expenditure was one
thousand doses OF bromo seltzer and
brono caffeine. Three dozens OF
caffeine powders, four cases OF lithia
water, two bottles OF bromo lithia
and So 70 worth OF lithia tablets fur.
Their contributed to keep the Sent
torial syt tenn in good repair. Twelve
pounds OF soda mint tablets we're
purchased for the alienation Of
"that dark brown taste" and the ex.
travagant sum of eighty cents was
exchanged for tabules for indiges-
ton.
To each Senator there are four
employees, 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 receive $l44O year each,
whereas the old blind chaplain is
considered to be worth only $500
Yet he is dependent upon some one
to lead him daily to and from the
Capitol. Lahorers in the folding
room get $1,000, and those who run
the elevators enjoy still more. $1,000.
The man in charge of the stationery
room draws $2lO2 so annually; his
assistants $500 and $1,000 respective
ly. The little pages who wait upon
Senators get $75 month. the post
master OF the Senate $2250 annually,
firemen $l095. and the upholsterer
and locksmith $l440.
By far the greatest proportion of
expense incurred each year for toilet
articles is demanded by the Senate
barber shops and bathrooms. 1t is
not generally known that each men,
Der OF this distinguished body is
barbarized gratis as many times
day as he wishes. In conjunction
are all the appurtenances to Turkish
and Russian baths. Skilled masseurs
are always in readiness to hasten
the course OF slothful blood.
During one hot week in June the
Senate paid $136 for lemons for
lemonade, and shortly afterward re.
turned no less than 300 empty bot
ties which had contained lithia wa
ter. But the taxpayer should not
grow long faced at such modest
rate of revelry as this, considering
the fact that fifteen years ago nearly
every committee room at the Senate
end OF the Crpitol had its provision
of liquors purchased by the chair
man or by member with reputa.
ton as connoisseur,
The Senator's salary OF $4,000 a
year is perhaps nothing to brag Of.
Yet it is just $4,000 more than is given
to members of the British House OF
Lords for their parliamentary. du.
ties. To this add $l25 allowed for
each year for newspapers and sta
tionery, only about $50 of which
need be spent. Further add an al
lowance for railroad mileage given
at the beginning and end OF each
session, and which need not be ex-
pended by those who hold passes.
While seated at bis desk Sena-
tor need only clap his hands to sum
mon as many pages as necessary TO
order his lunch, deliver his note or
fetch him books. stalionarv OR a