Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-03-15

Nator passing by the SGT.-AT-ARMS HOLMES.
door. In this bank there is done a
business of about s1.65O. 900 per wear
All the members draw their money through
TINS ofhce and the sergeant-at-arms handles
that much money In the course Of a twelve
month. The office is in the room formerly
1t is divided off by a high wire screen. in front
OF which are the bracket writing desks and
racks holding blank checks usual in banks Be-
hind the screen, at the little circular-topped
tellers window, with glass door, let down SO
as to leave a crack large enough only to hand
out thin package of bills, stand the cashier
and paying teller. At their elbows is an i'm
mense iron safe, whose doors. flung open in the
day time, disclose the compartments in which
the money is kept. A large amount of money
Is not usually kept there, for the reason that
but months pay for all the members is drawn
from the treasury usually at one time and
comparatively few members are in the habit of
letting their pay go long uncollected. Mr.. Sill
colts strange disappearance caught few men,
bers with accumulated accounts there one or two
for even whole year ;but very few members now
allow their accounts to accumulate. When the
monthly pay of the members falls due this
office looks like the office of the disbursine
clerk in one OF the departments. Members are
assembled in groups drawing out their cash,
and sometimes, perhaps their landladies are
waiting in the corridors to share in the result
OF this financial transaction. The members
who do not need their monthly allowance as it
comes due to meet their running expenses are
few.
THE sANCTUM.
The members transaction with the sergeant
alarms office is usually though the teiier's
window, but back of the inclosure for the
money is another wire Enclosure where is the
desk of the sergeant-at-arms Within this in
closure Is a fireplace where CLOVIS a comforta-
Bile log in winter time and there is room for
half a dozen or more members to sit about and
talk. Here Ill times gone by good fellows
among the members have sat and told stories
while the business dragged in the House.
Here shrewd politicians have sat in conference
and talked OF matters entirely private. It is by
the courtesy OF the sergeant-at-arms that any
one IL admitted to this sanctum, but that officer
usually has many friends and he is seldom
alone. The sergeant-at-arms himself does not
handle the money much, but has a cashier who
is responsible to him--as Sicott was to Lee
dom-aEd he in turn is responsible to the
House. As custodian Of the funds the sergeant
alarms gives bonds in $4,000 He requires
similar bond from his cashier and a bond of
S25 900 from the paying teller.
The defalcation of Silcott has not brought
about any change in the system of handling
the finances of the House. The members still
sign their receipts before they get their pay
and draw from the sergeant-at-arms by check.
either for the full amount due them at once or
little at time as they need it.
OTHER DUTIES.
Besides being guardian Of the dignity and
decorum OF the House the sergeant-at-arms is
sort OF general United States marshal. He
issues subp9nas and secures the attendance of
witnesses before committees. When special
committees go travelling for purposes OF inves-
ngation or on a ''junket" as ia sometimes
| said, the sergeant-at-arms or his representative
goes along as purse bearer, settles all the bills,
keeps them supplied with witnesses and other
things and makes himself useful generally
When these excursions are taken during recess
the sergeant-at-arms himself usually goes. He
has 10 take charge Of all congressional funerals
also. In one thing only 10 the sergeant-at-arms
OF less importance than che other officers of
the House. He has hardly any patronage to
dispense to the hungry constituents Of the
members. He has but seven employees under
him. The most important of these are the
cashier and the deputy sergeant-at-arms Tho
deputy is usually the one who acts in the
House, intimidsting indscorous members with
the mace.
''PAIRs" AND ABsESrxEs
The deputy has also assumed the duty Of
la ahsaut hara I. na;rad - .,,.1