The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-12-24
CLERKS FOR ALL.
Representative Now Anxious
Senators for Places for RelnfiXes


WASHINGTON, Dec. 23.-The final ac-
ceptance by the House of Representatives
of the Senate amendment TO the urgency
deficiency bill. providing for the payment
OF salaries of the Senate per diem clerks
for the recess of the Fifty first Congress,
probably marks the close of a contest be-
tween the two branches of Congress which
dates back to the time far beyond the en-
ployment of these clerks Cor this work,
ard has been an interesting page of his
tory OF the two houses. 1t began when, in
1885, upon a motion OF Senator Butler. the
Senate voted to employ private secretaries
to Senators who were chairmen of COM
mittees. Previous TO that time neither SEN
ators nor members who were not chair
men OF committees were permitted TO hire
clerks for their assistance in conducting
the routine OF their official duties unless
they paid them out OF their own pockets,
and, although the need OF such assist
ance had been frequently commented upon
in both houses, neither body found itself
willing TO vote the necessary aid until the
Forty-eighth Congress. when the Senate
took the initiative. The House did not fol-
low suit for ten years. nor did ii accept
the innovation in a kindly spirit, and at
once began a war upon the clerks, which
has continued until the present term IL
has uniformly, except at session of
the Fifty-first Congress. refused TO in
clude in the legislative bill any appropria-
ton for the clerks of the Senator's. The
Senate never failed TO amend the bill as
to provide for the pay of the clerks. but
the amendment was very seldom accepted
by the House without vigorous comment
and more or less parleying with the Sem
ate. The clerks were only paid for the
time that Congress was in session, and II
was after the long session of the Fifty
first Congress- in 1890. when there were
only two months time left between the
close of the one session and the opening
of the next that the Senator's finding q
great deal of accumulated business on their
hands, resolved to retain the services of
the clerks during the recess.
The House objected and the action OF
the Senate in the matter had the effect
of giving a stimulus TO the conflict which
the House had shown some disposition TO
drop by providing for session pay in that
Congress, without waiting for the. action
OF the Senate. Every year since the Sen
ate has put the item on some appropr1a-
ton bill sent over from the House, ana II
has been just regularly rejected by the
House until the present session, with the
Senate refusing absolutely 10 back down.
that the House had right to interfere
with the Senate's management of its af-
fairs, and to this view the House apparent
ly yielded assent, after struggle which
| has continued for a decade AT the expense
of much time of both Senators and men,
speeches and of delay in legislation
Probably the reason for the surrender Of
| the. House is found in the fact that that
| In employing clerks for individual men,
bers worthy of imitation, and now en-
ploys such clerks itself. This change in
the House was not made until the close
| of the last Congress. but since 1t took place
| IL has been noticeable that the House has
shown itself more literally inclined to
admitted by. majority OF the members
| that the business of Senators and members
| is such that II Is almost impossible to
conduct IL without assistance. and the war
seems to have reached n final termination