The independent., 1907-03-07

What is the reason for this alarm
ingly extravagant rate OF living at the
nations capital. which is rapidly maxi
ing 1t impossible for poor men to have
any part in this government? 1t Is
that constantly increasing number
of vastly wealthy men are entering
public life and living at startling ex-
pense The simplicity of the old-time
living has wholly disappeared. This
regime of almost Roman luxury and
splendor iegae with Secretary Whit
ney when he became a member Of
President Cleveland's cabinet / re-
member very well the numerous ac-
counts in the public press Of the mag
nificence of his public entertainments,
and numberless conversations with
public men who were here in those
days amply confirm what the news
papers then printed
This riot Of the millions was in
creased when Calvin S. Brice became a
senator from Ohio and took the famous
corcoran mansion facing Lafayette
square. directly across from the White
house Since then this high rate of
living has been maintained and even
elevated by the eyer-swelling numbers
Of multi mllionaires in senate, con-
gress and cabinet. 1t is said that Vice
President Morton kept up the pace"
set by Whitney and Brlce. And Vice
President Hobart lived magnificently
and was sumptuous in his generous
and beautiful hospitality. Thirty
thousand dollars a year is very ordi-
nary outlay for the maintenance OF
one OF these establishments. Forty
thousand dollars is by no means rare
There are some who spend as high as
SEQ 900 annually ! was told by one in
dividua that his expenses are $4,000
every year; and in that establishment
there is only husband and wife-no
children
This means, of course, an almost un-
interrupted series of sumptuous and
elegant entertainments dinners
dances. receptions. theatre parties, and
what not Gradually--no! rapidly
the result Of all this has been to cause
extremely wealthy people not in public
life but devoted to society" to build
palatial winter homes in Washington
and make the nations capital the scene
of costly gayety. In the train of these
deyotees Of pleasure stream Of fairly
rich people has set in toward Wash
ington-people who do not want to
build homes but who are quite willing
TO rent apartments and pay price
for them which, to the public man
depending upon his salary, is abso-
lutely prohibitive.
Think now, in contrast, Of the cost
Of living in Webster's time and even
down to the period of Sumner and
Conkling. Senator Conkling, con-
cededly one of the greatest men in
American public life, lived at Worm
ley's"-a small, od-fashioned hotel
conducted by a colored man. His liv-
ing expenses were not more than $25
week-at any rate, he could have
gotten along on that amount very well.
Thaadous Stevens, the famous Com
moner" from Pennsylvania and abso-
lutte dictator of the house for several
sessions. lived in small frame house
on "B" street southeast-a none too
pleasant quarter of the city
John A. Logan lived at Mrs. Rine's
boarding house. Twelfth street. be-
tween H" and New York avenue.
table board being SIS month for
each person.
Lot NJ Morrell, chairman of the
house committee on appropriations
lived at boarding house on Fourth
street between ID" and "E" streets
an tAiftIifcAV Iifl vi
the city, with very modest charges.
In 1860 Senator Sumner lived az Mrs
Cammaek's boarding house. For years |
senator Wade, OF Ohio. lived at Mrs. |
Hyatt's boarding house. While Sena-
tor William i. Fessenden lived at !
Mrs. chipman's boarding house-a /
very humble hostelry
Sometimes several senators dubbed
and lived at a singh. modest board /
ng house. For example. IN 1866 Sena-
Tor Doollttle. of Wisconsin, senator
'owan, ~ Pennsylvania. Senators
F'oote and Colimar of Vermont. all 1
lyed at Mrs cafter's boarding house
IN "a" street northeast
In the time OF elias. calhoun. aud +
Webster, the living expenses were 4
wen mere modest Common neceaai. i
icH today wrr~ luxuFles then. The \
'eale " living from thu humhlest Aov.
.rnmcnt employe a. the greatest sena-
or Was only fraction ol what the 4
lmne class ~ perAnna N either exs
.t4