{"newspaper_name": "American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper.", "edition": "01", "page": "p2", "byline": ""}
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NUMBER One. No persons upon earth un-
derstand how to take care of number one better
than members of Congress- They will ''cavil
upon hair" where pension is to be granted
to one who has fought the battles of his coun-
try, or who has a just claim against govern
ment; but they have no qualms of conscience
when the vote is to be of personal benefit to
themselves. They are prompt in passing acts
to pay their own compensation; and let public
creditors suffer as they may, members take par
ticular care to look well to number one. In
dependent Of the two thousand and odd dollars
which each member will pocket during the pre-
sent session of Congress, there are no mean
perquistes in the shape of books, knives, &C.
1t is becoming quite snug berth, and we are
not surprised that there are so MANY persons
anxious to serve the dear people as their repre-
sentatives, whilst such valuable pickings can
be had from the public crib. We protest
against the practice which prevails of voting
away the public money to supply books for the
individual use Of members. There is a public
library for the use of Congress, and that should
content members without their appropriating
books as their own property; especially as it has
been stated that they Immediately sell them to
the booksellers. 1t is a little business, but a
public grievance, and should thereforebe reme-
died. 1t is SAID, that the same set of books has
been repeatedly paid for by Congress, members
to whom they have been voted preferring to
take half price in cash from the booksellers


An enquiry should be instituted into this mat
ter, and the abuse should be abolished.