The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-01-05
Why IL Costs So Much.
CITIZEN

About once a year somebody goes into the
records and figures up how much of the people $
money United States senators and congressman
spend private business, business 50 nearly
private that its public nature cannot be discov-
cred. These figures are always somewhat start
ling and show that many of the law makers bleed
Uncle sam TO the limit. But publicity does no
good and the lawmakers continue to freeze on
10 all they can get. The cost of maintaining the
Senate for the fiscal year of 1910 has just been
made public. The amount is s2012.37452 This
Is pretty formidable sum and runs away above
the total salary OF senators and clerks and office
employees. Some of the cost items are very
interesting and shed all the light necessary on
the subject to show why the total bin is so large
END also show that there are mighty few Things
on which the people don't pay the freight
For instance, IL cost the American people $1,000
to keep Vice President Shermau's atGomobile
charged to the government. The salary of the
chauffeur also paid by the people. Not only
that but the people paid for the chauaeur's auto
mobile clothes and paid his railroad fare back
and forth between Washington and Utica, \. Y,
the vice presidents home
Senator GUggenheim, of Colorado many times
a millionaire made the government pay for his
daily papers and his kilograms. Senator Lori
lner communicated good many times with a
man named Browne at Ottawa. Ill, and the
government paid the telegraph tolls. Lee O'Neiil
Brown, who was charged with having had a
! hand In the bribery which resulted in Lortmer =
election to the Senate, but NOT convicted. lives at
Ottawa, a rather interesting coincidence. Sena-
tor Lorimer also did considerable telegraphing
70 the Chicago beef barons and the people paid
the bill.
Another good spender Is Senator Tom Carter,
Of Montana. He escorted the members Of the
irrigation committee trip TO the West 10
Investigate irrigation projects The party trav-
eled like kings. using private diners. drawing
rooms. and tipping the pcrters and attendants
everywhere with lavish hand. using the peo-
pefs money OF course
For automobile side trips Senator Carter paid
handsomely. For a two days trip in three auto
mobiles from Casper, Wyo.. TO Pathfinder Dam
on September !, 1910. the Montana senator spent
$3.50 for transportation alone. Leaving their lux
ariousiy appointed cars siding at Seattle
on August 70. Senators Carter Warren and Payn-
ter. with their employees" number stated
I made themselves comfortable in the hlg hotels
Although knows Of any irrigation pro-
ieCts Seattle, the party managed to spend
$i25,30 for board and lodging alone in two days
Senator Carter have been good spender
Fees and porterage' and "inctdentals. for which
vouchers were obtained. into thou
sand dollars
Among other things the people paid for for the
OF the senators the following: Eight
8tzeI faty scissors, ems dozen manicure scissors
dozen cork screws. and bath brushes Tn
der another head come: &c boxes of lemons
barrels granulated sugar and 80 cases White
Rock water splints Then 1000 2-grain
qunne pills soda mint tablets olive oil. castor
oil. giycerne,> Colgate extract rose. nail brushes
1000 quinine pills, Seidltz powders. vase
line, listerne. and 600 calomel tablets Raleigh
Times,