The sun., 1890-01-25
The Paragon of Assistant Doorkeepers

the authorities at Castle Garden.
The Paragon OF Assistant Doorkeepers
We possess q precious copy of the code ol
ethics and etiquette Issued on Jan. 4, 1890
from the Government Printing Oflce at
Washington for the guidance Of the Messen-
gers and Doorkeepers employed around the
Hall of Representatives. The type and typo
graphical style identify this document be-
yond the possibility OF mistake as o product
Of the Government presses; but it was not
intended as public document, and probably
only q limited edition was printed.
Mr.. JOHN O. HoUK is the principal assist
ant and executive officer of Mr.. CHARLES
w. ADAMS. Commander-in-C Chief Of the
noble band who guard the swinging doors
Of the Legislative chamber, and yenk sleepy
Africans of the benches In the gallery. Mr..
HoUK Is the author Of the remarkable essay
on the art OF keeping doors which has now
been printed In the official type that some-
times carries the weight OF q Presidents
Message or OF a Secretary OF the Treasury's
annual report. We begin our quotations
from Assistant Doorkeeper HoUK's stirring
reminder to his subordinates that they are
under oath to keep door faithfully and well:
IT beg respectfully to remind you that we-the ON
ployssS-took oath well and faithfully discharge
dutiea
III We know duties and fail endsavor seAlousiy
to diacharEe them We not only disloya 70 Chief
who IL held strictly accountable for our oioia
duot-but We reoreant TO our oath and should bo
dtshonorabiy diBmiBseh b..
"HUe do not soon learn our duss with regard 10 the
privieSssot OF the Hall should bo discharged for In
capacity"
With earnestness eloquenoe, and subtle.
yet gentle irony, the principal Assistant
Doorkeeper urges the lesser Assistant Door
keepers not to swing the doors for people
who have no right to enter even IL he.
HouK himself, should beg them to violate
their solemn oaths:
when Rule "a phich epey person not tAsretn
aaAsSd Is IN force there bo no unWritten rule by
which admit the privileges Of the Hail persons
nokprovided for In that rule.
"As 4 bsliSV0 we have discretion in the matter
but arS bound By the letter OF the rule and hon
Orably eShdO Its strict enforcement We should tn
Rand not nT not TO see) violation of the rule
"Aost Of uS may think-oertainy do-that the rule
Shoud be enlarged 90 40 70 include certain other
but that safest for US that Wo lot %
the House do the enlArginR.
~ will add that your authority doors and your
obligation to enforce the rule a. great AZ mlne.
III at any time In yonr presence 30 far forget my
duty 10 attempt violate Rule "a and believe
you viii have the manhood to prevent the attempt
from being successful
~ have no right to ask you to admit any person
against the ruls II should 90 ask It is your duty to
T0fnsO 20 10 do"
Next comes beautiful passage In which
Mf. HouK asserts his own untarnished man.
hood and lays down certain moral principles
for the benefit Of his subordinates:
"Tho Doorksspsr neither conferred nor did accent
implied that was part OF my duties ITO act as
spy and sneakipRiy bear tales against you Mr. ADAMS
hAs higher conception of the duties of his assistant
and does not expect such action my part shall
deal with you gentleman should deal with an.
other. and not attempt backbite any one of you
Democrat o. Republican
"fhere Is but little difference between thief and a
baekbtsr-one steals purse the other your rspu
tation.
'n Ihavs any complaint to mako will nrst come to
you Inc man. and II then fail promptly to i'm
prove matters will lay the trouble with your know
sdga before tho Doorkssper."
In regard TO the more practical and social
aspects OF the business OF BOOKKEEPING, AS
sistant Doorkeeper HoUK's intellectual
grasp Is equally comprehensive and his
moral attitude equally fine;
"I will have no orders TO Rvs-the wore 10 obnox
ious to me-but will suggest that It will be a part Of
your dutiss Immediately to become personally 40. |
quAintsd with the Chairman members and clerk OF the
committee TO which you may be assigned &c
-HavinR had special cause to believe you are all |
courteous gentlemen have doubt as to your conduct
toward those with whom you will in contact In |
the discharge Of your duties which, too often di
cult and WoFrisoms
believe you will faithfully help me enforce the rule
without Huch help am poWerleSS-and feel sure We
VIII Be loyal TO each other loyal chief there
by do much to make his administration succesa
lIhAn beg you nrst TO learn your dues thoroughly.
and then sense and honor win order you TO take
the next stop"
II these injunctions are Loyalty obeyed, the |
humblest Territorial Delegate, the obscurest |
member OF the Committee on Ventilation |
and Acoustics, may be sure OF civil treat |
ment at the swinging doors. This Is as 1t |
should be under Government founded on |
democratic principles; and 1t is peculiarly |
gratifying that Mr.. HoUK's last thought be- |
fore laying aside his able pen should be |
prompted by kindly feelings toward the |
newspaper press Of the United States. The |
ddactic proclamation to the doorkeepers |
ends as follows:
B"Afsw more wordG ~we should be Kind and obliginG
70 every person. and break rule for no one however
high and influential
But volunteer suggest that tho House of Repre-
SsntAliyss IL not Star Chamber controlled by and for
the few
ut belongs to ana Is regulated by and for the people
Of the United stAtoG who daily demand information |
concerning their great mAehinG
And In 0rder 70 get that information. they keep
washlnRt0a by subscribing for ana supporting the |
newspapers Of the SouhtFy. corps Of eOErsSponden
with 6A0m W VIA otssa ~ AASOoiAtsd
-hS tdsA = thal every c0aFtoly We sxtsAd 10 the \
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