The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-01-15
CoNGREssMEN,s PAIRS.
How the Pairing-Of Arrangement 10 Eff
fected-The CoIor-Llne praWp.

HOW the Pairing-Oh Arrangement L. Ell
fected-The CoIor-Llne Drawn.
Washington Letter in Philadelphia Telegraph.
Next TO getting his pet measure through. the
most important thing TO the mind of member
OF Congress is to get pair when he wants IL.
When Jimmie" OBrien, of New York, was
elected to one term in the House. be came there
on the first Monday in December of the first ses-
sion. took his oath of Office, told the Sergeantat-
Arms where to send his monthly checks, and got
a pair" 1t is not known that he ever again
appeared in the House.
Joseph Pulitzer is the only man who emu
lated this example, and he did appear II tae
legislative halls and IN the committee-rooms
three four times during his term -
Mr.. Aiken, of South Carolina, was pared
during all Of his last term of Congress- out ne
was i'll. and never appeared to take hls oaon;
He died at about the close of his congressional
term.
The question Of "pairs" has puzzled both par
ties in Congress-. There used to be two com
mittess on pairs" in the House. They were
rot announced by the Speaker at the beginning
of the session, nor did they appear on
record among the standing or select
the caucuses, one from each party
When a member going away, or for any
reason wanted to neglect his duty, he notified
one of these committees to get him pair, and
went Members of these committees were Sc
lected for their sauvity and good humor. Their
services were of a confidential and diplomatic
character.
Some members who are always at their post
of duty don't like to pair" to accommodate a
colleague who wants to wander In pursuit OF
pleasure. Sometimes these 'stayers" are gruf,
and send word to their transitory brothers that
they had better stay and attend to their busi-
ness
Mr. Bland, of silver associations is one of
those who always may be found at his desk dur
ing the session, and he is not apt to be too
commodating to his associates vino are mat
tentive.
The committee on "pairs" ceased to exist dur
ing the Forty-eighth Congress. Two popular
young members had been appointed to that
duty for the Democrats. One of them was
from Pennsylvania The other was Southern
man. One day, just before an important vots
was taken. the Southern man walked up to thu
deputy Sergeant at arms in an unsteady and
dazed condition with the ''pair" book under his
arm. He bad been paired himself for about
a week, and was not yet recovered His eyes
were still red and his tongue thick
as he balanced himself before the deputy.
He laid the book the table and
went away. In the book were the names
of twenty Democrats who wanted to be
"paired." None of them had been cared for,
and the vote was coming When the book
given to Mr.. Post and the circumstance ex
planned he refused to have anything to do with
it. He said he did not propose to play private
secretary to any member, and from that mo
ment he refused to serve on the committee
No other member could be got to take hold of it
after that, and many lost tneir votes on that
occasion.
The deputy had to hold the book. and has had
to attend to pairs since; He is now called by
original genius.
:'Dont you know" he said to me the other
day, lit is the hardest work / ever did. Look
ing up votes at a ward election is not circum-
stance to it. In a single day l have been called
upon to find pairs for two-thirds of the mem
bers Why, this session already, just three
days before the holiday recess. | paired eighty
members in one day. 1t keeps me busy just be-
fore political vote. Some members don't like
to lose their votes, and some get mad when L
ask them. You might not think it, but our own
men-the Democrats-are the most unaccOmmo-
dating. When Democrat wants to away,
all have to do is to ask most any Republican
see to pair with him, and it's done. The Re-
publicans always kind and accommodating.
It is not easy the other way; most of the
Democrats are reluctant about returning these
favors.
''Some of the Southern men," he continued,
"are mighty particular with whom they pair.
"a Virginia member went home for week
last session. leaving word to be cared for. and
he was paired with colored member When
he got the Record and saw the announcement Of
the pair be fairly foamed at the mouth. For
year and half he never spoke to Before
that we had been very friendly, but afterwards
he would pass me face to face and not speak
He would look me right in the eye with scorn
and indignation. Finally of the members
explained that had nothing to do with the
matter; that l was away when the pair
made Then he would speak to me, but
were never as friendly again."