What they cost us

The House's expenditure budget for 1925 is interesting to look through. It shows, for example, what the postal franchise that our deputies have granted themselves costs us. The credit for "postal communications" is increased from 56,000 francs to 665,000, an increase of 609,000 francs. Let us add that the credit for office supplies (letter paper) is increased from 310,000 to 350,000 francs, as a result, says the rapporteur, of "the increasing intensification of parliamentary activity". A nice periphrasis to say that deputies have been writing many more letters since they have had the franchise!
Would you like some other figures forecast for 1925? Heating, 420,000 francs; lighting, 260,000 francs; the maintenance and renewal of furniture, 305,000 francs; the clothing of ushers and service personnel, 210,000 francs. As for the library, it has only a poor credit of 40,000 francs.
Finally, let us note, in the chapter of the medical service, an increase in credit of 2,400 francs, "coming, says the report, in large part, from the increase in the price of simple baths allocated monthly to the small staff". That is the least!