The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1912-06-12

Senators Come High
| II costs the government about $13,-
coo annually on the average to keep
=, senator going. For instance, take
The case of Senator Penrose. Mr..
lenrose is a modest man and his
wants are few, but when the govern
ment has paid him his annual salary
Of $500; 5000 mileage: $4,000 for
his committee clerk; $1440 to his
n. .essenger: $1,S00 for a stenographer:
$1,000 for sending out million
speeches annually which is only a
modest record for the senator 5000
for stationery. and other incidental
items-one can readily see that there
is not much left out of $4,000 bill
If indeed there be any bills OF such
denomination.
Williams Charges Graft
The case of Senator Penrose is no
different from other senators-in fact
some of them are allowed more money
ior clerk hire, etc. All of which
caused Senator John Sharp Williams,
Of Mississippi to arise in his place in
the senate the other day and unload
MS views upon the luxuries of the
senate. Mr.. Williams turned loose
lis oratory when the senate took up
an amendment proposing an appro-
priation of $4,000 for the rent of a
warehouse for the storage of public
documents of the senate
We paid something like two and a
Lalf millions of dollars for Offices for
ldnety-two men, replied Mr.. Will
llams. 1t is an enormous building,
covering whole square. capacious,
and the rooms are numerous; and now
I" nave to confess that in spite of
That expenditure the senate is com
relied to find for agencies rooms else
v here seems to be rather humiliating.
end that is especially the case when
one takes into account the manner in
which a part of the senate office
Is now occupied"
Senator Warren explained that il !
was the intention to store the docu- +.
ments in the first floor of the Office
building. But one senator after an
other asked for two three or foar
rooms: and consequently the space in
the first floor has been taken up with 4
senator's offices.
Notwithstanding interiected Sen
stor Williams. the fact that we have |
he most magnificent office building I
n the world-Venice in all her wealth |
md Rome in all her glory never had |
'nything approaching livery large
ma with every convenience We are
sill compelled to rent outside build
ngs.''
Senator Williams then turned his
TO the equipment Of the
.ew office building, literally charging
he senate with grating"
About half Of one flooe Of the off
&c building, he remarked ''is flled
18th utterly useless bath arrange
cents. There Is not a senator here
mo wants the public TO believe that +.
q does the washing of his person at
ublic expense. II seems TO be alb
nrd and foolish. There is not a
enator here who saves $40 a year
ut of all OF that. Big graft is wick
d, little graft is stupid. 1t merely
ives The demagogues. ii merely gives
le mnckrakers--"
An excuse TO rake" suggested ,
enator Smith. of Georgia. L
xcuse To Rake
An excuse to rake. as my friend I
ON Georgia SAYS continued Mr.
'illiams. "lt gives the populist dem
sogue a chance to get IN everywhere \
nd point TO a lot of little bits Of
iings that amount to nothing. We {
not get any benefit from it, nev
went into those magnificent and
lried bath arrangements there but
zee in my life. and then went in
'incpally 10 see how it was carried
!. Every senator has his bath at
S own home.
There is no use having the United
ates government bathe us. or. worse
C. pay men whose raisan d'etre on q
e roll is to battle us anu Tho do not
il. II You Will get rid of that you III
u have place TO store these books.
d you will not have to spend So 600
this warehouse rental 1t strikes
; as being worse than merely very III
ong. because il is so foolish A II
nder in politics is sometimes worse
IN a crime. A very great man said
Il; and he was right Another very III
at man said that more empires had
m toppled over by freshness and
manners of flunkeys than by bad
IS. There are little bits of things
{ nag. Tourists come here and go y