The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1894-11-22
pLUMS OF PATRONAGE.
BENEFITS THAT ACCRUE TO THE
PARTY WHICH ORGANIZES
THE SENATE.
Salaries of the Substantial Sort-Over
Two Hundred and Fifty Posi-
tons at the Disposal
of Senators.

Washington, Nov. 1S.-To "organiZe the
Senate" is more than an honor. 1t means
the distribution of large amount of patron
age and the welding Of great deal Of
power Therefore, it is matter Of great
Importance politically and 1t Is no marvel
that the power to effect an organization
should be sought by both of the parties with
great eagerness. OF course, the main OBJ
feet of the majority in either house Of con-
gress Is to secure enough votes to insure the
passage of bills proposed by the party, To
that end legislatures are carried and Sena-
tors are elected to congress. But as an incl
dent to this is the matter Of the ability to
elect the various officers Of the Senate, to
choose the members of the great machine
that works almost unseen, but which costs
Il great sum of money annually. The annual
salaries of the Senators aggregate $4,000,
while the majority in control of the Senate
may distribute patronage worth $360,9l2
each year. This sum is divided among 255
people of all grades of work and remunera-
ton, making an average Of $1431.
PLEASING TO PICK FROM.
The patronage ranges all the way from
the secretary of the Senate, who gets more
than Senator $685. down to laborers at
500 month. 1t includes clerks to COM
mittces, pages, messengers, watchmen,
clerks, mail carriers, folders, fremen and
engineers and all branches of service. 1t
is generally distributed as follows calcu-
lating on the basis of the last congress-
In the secretary's office, $5O,112; as clerks
to committees, controlled by the members
Of the majority, SILL 30; in the office of
the sergeant.at arms $72,O64 in the post
office, SIS, 1SS; in the document and folding
rooms, $50, 154 in the stationery room, $13,-
294; at the Maltby building and on miscel.
laneous rolls, $65,S70.
The choicest places are these: Secretary,
at 1896; chief clerk, at $4,000; financial
clerk, ut $4,000; sergeant-at-arms, at $500;
clerk to the committee on appropriations,
nrly .,lN
$2592; reading clerk, $2400; superintendent
Of the document room, $1,000; assistant door
keeper of the Senate, $1,000.
AMI SMITH AND CAPTAIN BASSETT.
The two last named places are not con-
sdered to be at the disposal of anybody,
for they are now filled by incumbents who
are regarded as fixtures. AMI Smith, in
the document room, is considered as one of
the most useful servants of the government.
He has been in this place for many years
and of great service to all who have bust
ness with this department. lie Is not only
paid a large salary and Kept in office from
congress to congress, but he is annually
named in the appropriation bills for an ex-
ira sum. Captain Bassett is, as he has been
for years, the assistant doorkeeper OF the
Senate and he shares the good fortune of
AMI Smith. being also named. for an extra
sum- The clerk of the committee on ap-
preparations. Mr.. Cleaves, is thought to be
so valuable man in that place that he has
not been disturbed by the Democratic admin
istration of the Senate and will doubtless
remain at the post in case of an overturning
of the force after next March.
OTHER PLACES PROBABLY EXEMPT.
There are, in addition to these places, sew
eral that are in some way regarded as eX-
from the general rule Gkout the
division of the spells. But they usually hold
minor positions. The rule is for the ma.
iOrity to name all the important people and
for the chairmen of the various committees
TO choose their own clerks. This places
vast amount of patronage in the hands of
the majority, for the best of the plums are
controlled by the committees In the eSti-
mate of the aggregate given above the
committees now headed by mens5ers of the
minority are not included. Some of the
laborers and messengers are chosen by
members of the minority. They are often