Jasper County Democrat, Volume 14, Number 74, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 December 1911 — PERQUISITES ARE BEING ABOLISHED [ARTICLE]

PERQUISITES ARE BEING ABOLISHED

Many Recent Assaults on Com* fort* of Senators. FREE BARBERING IS ATTACKER ii ■ ' Senator Kenyon of lowa Introduces Bill to Compel Senators to Pay for Baths, Hair Cuts and Shaves -!-l«n’t lt‘ Awful! Washington, Dec. 22.—The perquisites of senators are gradually being cut off. The latest assault on the senatorial comforts was made by Senator Kenyon, a Progressive Republican from lowa. In a bill, introduced by him he propcses to require senators hereafter to pay for shaves and hair cuts and other tonsorial attention. Heretofore these privileges were extended to senators free. The bill also abolishes the free baths, and provides that hereafter members of the senate shall pay for such service. The senator from lowa estimates that he will save $20,000 a year to the government by requiring senators to pay for baths and. barber shop service. The senate baths have accessories for free massage and these too will disappear if the bil lis passed, but the senator from lowa does not stop with these economies In another bill submitted he proposes to reduce the allowance for mileage from 20 to 10 cents a mile. Since the newspapers of the country began to call attention to some of the expenditures set out In the annual report of the secretary of the senate for the luxury and comfort of senators there has been an unmistakable tendency toward reform. For example last summer the usual supply of appollinaris lemonade was absent. Inquiry elicited the fact that the committee on rules had abolished this comfort for economy. Later the pharmacy maintained by the sergeant-at-arms had reduced its stock.

Another disappointment confronted some of the other senators In the stationery room when they tried to follow the annual custom of laying in Christmas presents. The stationery room has carried a complete line of leather goods, including handbags, pocketbooks, card ‘ cases, ink stands and many articles. appropriate for presents. Supplies are offered at actual cost, but nobody is permitted to buy except senators and clerks and officers of the senate, but the economists have abolished that privilege and this year senators, like other long suffering mortals, are hunting for bargains in the downtown shops.