The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1890-06-01
TIE BOYS OF CONGRESS.
THE PAGES AT THE capitol AND
WHAT THEY HAVE TO DO.
rr:cocIous Youths WI" H""w "'e"'
n.a, About Poiitics-Their Pay and Their
p.r,,,i.i,cs Tripping" In Large Figures.
PAGES who Have Risen.

The pages Of the senate and house are
sort of undersiudy to the statesmen.
Each has some senator or member whom
he admircs and initiates, and it is not be
yond the range OF his ambition that ne
may some day occupy seat in congress
himself They have a sort OF fellow
feeling for Senator German and other
statesmen who have risen from n seat on
the steps by the vice presidents desk TO
n chair in the legislative body. All the
naccs are statesmen in their way ana
are up in politics. Their fate Is depend
ont upon the welfare Of their members
and they rise and fall with their party.
In Republican senate the boys are all
Republicans, and in the house they come
and 70 as the maiorities shift.
The senate pages have more secure
tenure and hold themselves to be OF
little more importance than the boys
who wait on the representatives. But
the latter profess contempt for class OF
Young individuals who don't take the
chances of politics at every election, and
pride themselves upon their own close
alliance to their partys vicissltudes.
They look upon the knee breeched at
taches of the senate as old fogics without
knowledge Of wire pulling. They are
themselves au fat on all matters polltl-
cal
They are the "legs" ofthc congressman,
but they have heads Of their own thai
are crowded with schemes to their full
CAPACITY. They are not usually well up
in book learning, but are well up on
affairs of state. They enter public life
at the mature age of 10 or Il years, upon
a salary of $3.50 day and such per-
ouisites as fall into their hands, and, if
their political fortunes are good remain
in service until they are no longer boys.
Then they go out into the world to be
come politicians, drummers, railroad
presidents or congressman, or else take
downward turn. They usually enter the
field of politics, rs they are familiar with
all lis branches. They are fully equipped
for the position Of senator or representa-.
tive. but deficient in almost all other use
full knowledge.
The average page Of II or - years OLD
counts in his wardrobe beaver hat, a
pair of knee brooches, cigar case, a
Lord Chumlcy oycrcoat and horn
handled cane. Many of these have a
brilliant career during their tender years
and have gone through all excuses Of
mature manhood before they are old
enough to vote at any well regulated
election.
On the house side there are thirty
pages, fifteen who sit on the right Of the
speaker to wait on the Democrats and
fifteen on the other side to respond TO the
call of the Republicans. They are under
the command of two chief pages, who
have been promoted from the ranks, and
a one armed captain, who is chief in
command.
The chief page of the senate side Is
almost as old rs the senate itself and IS
custodian Of the snuff box and all the
antiquities and "reminiscences Of that
body; while the pages who are under
command of Capt Bassett are usually
very small boys.
When senator claps his hands half a
dozen small boys rush out from different
directions, coming to collision in the
center aisle, and the one who sustains
the shock and picks himself up quickest
holds the secret conference with the SEN
ator and then with pompous air starts
OFF on a private mission-to the document
room for a bill or 70 the library for a
book
1t takes almost as much political in
! Auence to be n senate page in congress
as to get q foreign mission. The usual
age is from 10to1j, and very few remain
after they are 49,
Some Of them, after outgrowing thell
positions, have done well in the world
but many have acquired dissipated hab
its which have ended their career disas'
trously at an early age. Familiar con
spicuous examples Of success are those
of Senator German, cX-Reprcscntativt
Scott. of Erie, and the late Representa-
tive Townshend, of Illinois, who became
eminent in public life. Others have beer
quite as successful in business or profes
sional life, though not as well known.
Pages usually make considerable none!
and make it easily, and they spend i
with freedom. Besides their salario'
they turn a good many honest dollars
They complain in these days that they
have not the opportunities they used L
have for making extra money. Ricl
and liberal members often pay then
large sums for small services. In thu
house each page las to file the record
for ten members.
This is part of the duty for which tho
are paid hy the government, but eaci
member. at the end Of the session, usual
ly gives the page who tends TO his fill
from s. to $40. If q member sends
page of to buy theatre ticket or maxi
some small purchase lac often gives hin
a s. or SO bill and lets him keep th
change of tie transaction. Some of TN
rich representatives, and senator's are il
the habit Of making presents of none,
10 tic pages at Christmas time and =
the end of the session.
THE AUTOGRAPH BUSINESS.
The autograph business used to be yer.
profitable. Every morning the page
would go around from member to mem
Der as they reached the hall and solici
their signatures in big autograph books
A book containing all the names wa
worth from s. to SO TO the page VIII
had it. They found a ready sale TO
; these books as fast as they could fiji
them, and it dill not take long to get al
the signatures. Ono OF the regular dutie
of member was to sign his name abou
thirty times each morning. An auto
r graph book is seldom seen in either tn
e house or senate now. The fact is tina
} there are not now rs many chances 10
the pages to make money as there use
TO be. The new member is the gam'
hunted by the page.
On his first appearance in congress tin
member is liberal, if he ever intends Il
, be so at all The yong men rush to wal