Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-11-27
SOME SENATE SPOTS
Which VIII Be Eagerly Sought for
Under the Reorganization.
POSITIONS THAT PAY FAIRLY
And rsve Very Desirable Honon and
PerquiSites Attached
A SCRAMBLE FOR THE CHAPLLINCY


clerks over their future. There is no
doubt that almost all of them will have to
60 next March The last reorganization of
the Senate was ten years ago. At that
time the chief clerk, Mr.. Shober, Was the
acting Secretary of the Senate. There was
q deadlock over the reorganization Of the
Senate which lasted through the special
session called after the Inauguration of
President Garfield. After the deadlock
was broken L. G. Washington was pre-
sented to the Senate by the Democratic
caucus for the vacant position of Secretary
in opposition to the Republican caucus
nominee, 4. G. McCook. Colonel Wash
inggon stands to-day as the last caucus
nominee OF the Democrats in the Senate
lUr the position OF Secretary.
The place went TO General McCook un-
sought He had been number of Congress
rom New York, but had been defeated for
denomination. lie was we'll known to the
members OF the Senate and very popular
with them. The nominee of the caucus for
the Secretarvship was George q. Gorham,
who had held the position under the preced-
ing Republican regime. Gorham, how
ever, had made himself very obnoxious to
several OF the members of the Senate,
among them Mr. Hoar, and these gentle
men said positively that they would not
vote for II N The Republican majority
was verv small and their votes would have
elected the caucus name of the Demo
cTats: Sc Mr.. Gorham's name was aban-
doued and in the extremity Senator War
ner Miller suggested the name of General
Anson G. McCook and it WAS agreed upon.
Quite Desirable Position.
The salary is S., 396, and in addition to
this there Is an allowance for carriage hire
OF nearly S40O annually, which is one of the
pcTCaisites OF the position. The Secretary
has good deal OF patronage to distribute,
but that is not really within its gift 1t all
goes to the friends OF Senators and their
political proteges. The desirability of the
office oi Secretary lies in its dignity, its
handsome pay and in the fact that it does
not involve very great amount of labor.
Al the last session of Congress the Office
of Chic Executive Clerk of the Senate was
abolished, the office OF Reading Clerk was
created and the Chief Clerk was made an
apoointee Of the Secretary of the Senate.
Before that the Chief Clerks Office had
been elective. 1t is possible that the Dem
ccrGts will revert 10 the old order of things
Il they 10 not the new Secretary of the
Senate will have to appoint Chief Clerk,
d E.ading Clerk, a Journal Clerk, an as
sislaut Journal Clerk, a Legislative Clerk
and u other clerks, whose salaries range
from -. 100 to 81 592.
There Is very little doubt that all of the
present employees of the Senate, with the
possible exception OF four, will have to
make way Tor Democrats. There are three
Democrats now in the Secretary's office.
One of them is Colonel C. c. Morrow, of
Missouri, an executive clerk; another is
Henry Ii. Giltry, the principal legislative
clerk, and the third is Jere Williams, the
Fl clerk. Mir. Giltry may have to go in
ri:ae, FIR he registers from Oregon, and the
TWO Senators from that State are Bepub-
liccn. Mr.. Morrow and Mr.. Williams have
done good party service and they will
DOUBTLESS remain.
Another Very Nice Niche.
Next to the Office of Secretary that of
SarEeaat-at- Arms is considered desirable.
The salary is 81. 500 year, and there is
or ct deal Of patronage to distribute. The
next salary IN size is that of the Assistant
DoarEeeper, Captain Isaac Bassett.
Strange as II may seem, he receives more
money than is paid to any one OF the
skilled clerks about the Senate not cI-
cepung the Chief Clerk of the Senate
Chamber. the Financial Clerk or the clerk
Of tie Apnr0 priations Committee, each OF
whom rece ives IS, ,090. The Superintendent
OF the Document Room, Amzi Smith, who
Is one o. Inc OlueSL ell hflloNSS Ol lH6 Sen-
axe and, from mis- familiarity with the busi-
ness OF his Office one of the most valuable,
draws S. 900 a wear. The excessive salary
Daid @ Captain Bassett is in recognition of
his long term OF service. He has been in
rhe employ of the Senate more than 90
years. and his name is the onlv one men,
Iioled in the annual appropriation bill.
HIS daughter married the former Secretary
OF tie Senate, George {. GOrham.
rr-I - H., al, = L.
mi.tee clerks, with the possible exception
q Nh. Clesves, the clerk of the Appro-
priatiOns Committee. The Democratic
House of Representatives continued the
clerk OF the Appropriations Committee who
was left over from the Republican House
because of his familiarity with the business
which that committee has to handle. Likely
Nj. Cleaves will share the same pleasant
ale Many of the committee clerks will
lose nothing by the change, for the Senators
wIo are chairmen of the committees in
which they are now serving will continue
10 EMPLOY them as private secretaries at Sc
q dav Each Senator is allowed to employ
s. secretary during the session at this rate
Some few of the present committee clerks
are Democrats, because a few minor COM
mittees are always given 10 the minority,
and q few chairmanNhips OF these lesser
committees will be given to Republicans
undrr the new administration. Unfortu-
natelv, the men who are going out are the
skilled clerks OF the most important COM
nitt. es, like the Committee on Military
Affairs, Committee on Finance and the
PcstoIice Committee.
= Scramble for the Chaplaincy
There will be a dignified but lively scram-
BIZ for the post OF Chaplain of the Senate.
J. paws 5000 year and the only duty of the
Chaplain is to deliver fve-minute PRAYER
at the opening of the session five or six
mornings in the week, and, perhaps, st an
interval of four or five years to conduct a
funeral service in the Senate Chamber The
Senators are not at all anxious. to get the
worth ot their money in saving grace, and
have been known to importune the Chan
lam very strongly to cut his prayer, short.
Dr. Butler the present Chaplain of the
Senate. obtained his election in an amusing
way. He was the candidate of Senator
Conger, of Michigan. He was not consid-
cred . formidable candidate, and when Mr..
Conrer went around the Senate quietly
asking Senators to vote for DR.. Butler Gas
a commitment" each one who was asked
thinking that his vote would make very
little difference, did as Mr. Conger requested.
and when the vuIes were counted up it was
found that Dr.. Butler had 4 majority of all
OF them.
Dr. Butler has not been a popular Chap
Lain and he is one officer who will not be
ve-v sincerely mourned. His PRAYERS have
lacked that vivid interest bordering Cd SEN
gationalism which is often characteristic of
the uravers Of the blind Chaplain OF the
House, DR.. Milourn, and he has tendency
nr Rnrier's les Jpan,h |