The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1900-02-24
VOL. XXXV.--NO. 1S.
MEDICINES FOR THE SENATE.
These and Toilet Articles Cost Large
Sums.

Sums.
Washington Letter in Philadelphia Times.
The United States Senate has been pop
ularly dubbed ''The Millionaires' Club. "
Ii is the cheapest club in the world for
poor man to join. Its perquisites, daily
increasing, are too numerous for reckoning.
Nevertheless, its extravaganza cannot be
brought to the door of any particular party,
administration or Congress. The Senate
is a perpetual body; its perquisites have
been of perpetual growth since the birth
the nation.
The newly prepared report of the seere-
tary of this dignifed body reveals some
amusing facts 1t shows, for instance,
that a local drug firm received in the last
fiscal year more than 81, 700 for medi-
cines and toilet articles These were sup
Piled to the senators for their Individual
use and paid for out of the generous pocket
of Uncle Sam. At the rate of 5000 per
head each senator should have kept clean
" and healthy during the few months en-
ployed at the Capitol No small item OF
this expenditure was one thousand doses
of bromo-seltzer and bromo- caffeine. The
reading public, of course, is too charitable
to regard such purchase as at all sugges-
tive of lax morals But these figures are fish
in the nets of the Prohibitionist spies now
said to be shadowing the powers that be. )"
Three dozens of caffeine powders, four
cases of lithia water, two bottles of bromo
lithia and 81. 20 worth of lithia tablets
further contributed to keeping the sena-
torial system in good repair.
Fourteen thousand quinine pills, or 163
for each senator, made a small item for
city where malaria and grippe are notori-
ouslv rampant. Add two pounds of cough
lozenges, one pound of chloride of potash
and two bottles of ''gargling oil. =
But this was not the end of Uncle
Sam generosity in warding off senatorial
colds. 1t has long been his custom to send
members of the upper house snugly home
in hired carriages whenever it rains, halls
or SHOWS. An undertaken is usually ia
vored with the contract During the biz
zard of last winter s132 was spent thus in
one day. The total bill for extra carriage
| hire during the year was S46l.
The funeral of the late Senator Morrill,
cost the government SO, 205.79 OF this,
| the railroads received over 50, 900, the
undertaken 500, local quartet choir,
/ $40, a decorator S125, while $3.50 was
paid for Grape, ribbon, gloves and regalia.
Five thousand dollars in addition was pre-
scented to the heirs of this senator, and, in
/ the same year, an equal amount was
/ voted to heirs of two former senators who
had died
BY far the greatest proportion of ex-
pense incurred each year for toilet articles
is demanded by the Senate barber shops
aud bathrooms. 1t is not general known
1 that each member OF this distinguished body
is barberized gratis as many times day
as he selects
The stationery room of the Senate is
likewise an institution of great economy,
medium through which no end of necessi-
ties can be purchased at cost price. Over
/ 81, 100 was exchanged through this room
for card cases, purses and poeketbooks
during the last year. Seven hundred and
fifty six knives and numerous cases of cut
lery were bought in the same manner, not
TO mention dozen manicures.
For the Vice Presidents room were
bought during the same twelyemonth the
following items \ silver inkstand, s 900;
an antique mahogany desk to set under it,
| 1926, mahogany library tables, $3.50;
| Davenport sofa, $3.50; two royal Sennah
rugs, S212; two pairs Brussels point lace
curtains, $500; Neapolitan silk velvet por-
there, $40; one clock, $500; one silk
velour slurnber robe, made to order
s45 80.
During the hot weeks in june the Sen
ate paid 1886 for lemons for lemonade,
aud shortly afterwards returned no less
than >, 200 empty bottles which had con
tanned Hthia water
Regardless of the enormous salaries paid
to It's employees the Senate, during the last
fiscal year, presented them with $4,000
extra-au amount equal to the annual
wages Of the President This Is entered
as one month pay to officers and EN-
ploves of the Senate, under the deficiency
bill. Such a gift is voted sometimes
during almost every Congress, and in view
of the fact that the last was doubtless the
busiest in many years the allowance of a
paltry $50, 600 was more than justified by
precedent