New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-03-08
THE pPryATE SECRETARIES.

The massage in the closing hours OF Congress
Of the bill providing that every Representative
and delegate may employ at Government eA-
pensc private secretary at salary OF "io'
a month opens way into the public service
and \ great career into which the ambitious
youth of the country will no doubt mock III
large numbers. To be private secretary 10
member of Congress is not in itself very great
thing though a higher ambition than that
which is sometimes observed to animate COL
lego student to he chief clerk 10 i'rso
brindle dog. But it introduces young man 10
great opportunities. Particularly II he has
taste for political life, has carried torch IN
nrocession and can write his name wlthout
running his tongue out. IL is that SORT OF
vounc man whom the country invites into It's
service at the expense of 500 month"; or an
aggregate of S333,300 per annum, IN the eA-
notation that he will make the most Oh MS
onportunities, learn to lean beth elbows on
bar and talk politics with fiuency ana energ!
and eventually become himself member OF
Congress with private secretary OF his own.
Constant association with lawmakers will have
tho same effect it has at Albany, where a GER
tain term of service as member Of the Assembly
lplu 10 nc mo tIuiNaitho Va q" >O''~~ -
study and sufficient qualification for member
shin of the bar Intimate and confidential re-
lafions with statesmen will at the same time
III him to manage a caucus or boss ward, ana
the privileges Of the floor Of tho House OF
Representatives which are accorded private
secretaries will enable him To learn the amen
itics of debate and how TO chew tobacco and
smoke in good society. In the cloakrooms also
he NAV make a choice collection oil high
Favored anecdotes and learn occasionally new
Cuss word.
Great advantages will be enjoyed by the
rriyatc secretaries. Each one may constitute
himself an avenue of approach sort OF ante
room to his chief, which will he not only
great convenience 10 the latter. but will furnish
speculative opportunities for both not by any
means to be despised Being equal in number
10 the membership OF the House, they can
fleet an organization of their own and IN many
WAYS influence observation-disclosures for good, OF
course BY their official positions they will be
a "Third House, without mourning the dis
rcpnte of being a " Lobby" The population OF
Washington will receive a permanent addition
of 3O3 souls by this bill, and the amount oil
currency in circulation among boarding house
and saloon keepers will be increased TO the
extent of S333,3OO during the Lila
Congress. And no one who has ever
observed the impressive dignity, the
sense of responsibility, consciousness OF
power and well fitting clothes Of the average
private secretary will need to be told that this
accession to Washington society will elevate
its tone and raise the standard Of its intel
Icctual quality For though they are not
obliged under the law 10 pass civil service
examination, no one who knows the character
of our statesmen can doubt that every member
of Congress will constitute himself Civil Ser
vice Commission and subject all applicants foi
the position Of private secretary to the most
rigid examination before appointmcnt-perhaps
in reading. writing and arithmetic, but at any
rate in practical politics and mixed drinks.
No functions are prescribed for them by law,
but we presume that every member of Con-
gress has enough business to occupy the time
of at least one private secretary and even il
he has not, it will be a great comfort to him to
have some young man always on hand and
under pay to help him support the Constitu-
ton OF the United States" Even if none OF
the new secretaries do anything else, it will be
an inspiring spectacle well worth S333,300 a
year to see 3O3 bright and promising young
men supporting the Constitution at 500 n
month.