Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-01-20
after paving his two amanuenses depends.
Oh course, upon tho length of the session.
THE COMMITTEES

after paying his two amanuenses depends.
Oh course, upon tho length of the session.
THE COMMITTEES.
There ere aleo two regular stenogra-
pliers employed by the House 10 report the
proceedings OF House committees. These
Bet sach SA,5D0 year. out OF which they
pay Tor assistance la TRANSFERRING. and like
the Others what they make per wear de-
ponds upon the length OF the session and
tho amount OF work the committees call
upon them to do. Stenographers, males
and females, are 20 be found In ali the de-
partments. Only few of them receive
thoir appointments as stenographers. how
ever. the law providing In express
terms Tor the appointment of eteno-
gronhers or " confidential clerks only
20 Caolnet officers and some bureau chiefs.
the great majority Of the stenographers
.neing appointed as copyists" or clerks"
their duties, however, when they get to
work Ia the departments, being those Of
S,enographer and typewriter. However
expert astenographer may be, il is neces-
sary Tor him or her 20 pass the civil-seryiee
examination, not only IN stenography, but
hTst OF all TO take the "cOpyist" or
clerk" examination The papers are
then sent TO Washington. and the copyist
or clerk papers examined first. If these
are found satisfactory the papers Of the
candidate in the supplemental examine
ton in stenography," as the commission
Is aleo satisfactory his or her name is put
on the eligible list" Of candidates for
appointments, 20 be forwarded, if his State
has not her full quota in the departments
20 the chief clerk of any of the depart
ments when appointments are 10 be made.
The PROBATIONARY PrR1oD.
Males aad females get the sane pay.
usually when first appointed from 1870 to
: 900 a year for the first six months, or
probationary period" at the end of
which If the appointee's work, etc., has
been satisfactory, the appointment is made
permanent and the prospects for promo
tion are good. IL the work. &c, of the
party for the six months was not salts
factory he OF she is discharged, or, as the
newspapers making the announcement put
it. resigns" Although rapid writing is
necessary to pass a good examination
when the stenographer gets TO work IN the
department he finds that speed is not so
great a requisite es absolute accuracy, few
pen corrections or insertions being made by
the chief. The stenographer con generally
have the use Of whatever typewrting-
machine be is most familiar with. the Re-
mington. Hammond. and the caligraph all
being used in tho departments. The de-
partment clerk or stenOgrapher is seldom
oyerworked. tie gets TO the Office at "a.
NJ, has a half hour at noon for lunch,
leaves off work at 4 7. NJ, is allowed q
months leave of absence every year on full
pay; is also allowed months sick-leaye
on full pay, and can take book every
week out Of the excellent library, contain
ing the best works of fiction, history, sci
ence, &c, with which each department is
provided for the use of its employees.
AMAEUENsIs.
Most senators and members of Congress
EMPLOY stenographic amanuensis. whom
they pay out Of their own pockets, TO assist
in their correspondence. The amanUenses
Is sometimes graduate of one of the city
business colleges and sometimes o con9tit-
uent of the senator or member come to the
city to get employment, on whom he calls
as soon as he arrives in Washington. He
goes to the Capitol or the residence Of the
senator or member two or three times a
week. takes dictGtions a couple of hours or
so, goes off and writes the letters out on
the typewriter. and then takes them to his
employer for his signature. He gets about
$25 q month for doing all this, and If he
can secure the dictations of several patrons
he can make it pay, while Congress Is IN
Washington anyhow.
Each of the prominent hotels has one or
more stenOgrapers and typewriters for the
accommodation OF its guests. These have
desk room in the Office or reading-ro0m
and charge so much folio Zone hundred
words). Stenographers are also employed
in the offices OF lawyers, patent attorneys,
pension agents, real estate agents, and
other businessmen at more or less remu-
neratiye salaries. Nj.