Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-11-23

| ''manag gers" and the latter discuss the
minor details. By the time the campaign
| is over and the successful candidate put
into office by the votes of the Representa-
| tive, the patronage is pretty well allotted
among the various delegations, and the
official has only to carry out the pledges
| made by his managers.
| The clerk of the House does not nave
| the largest amount of patronage at his dis
| posal, but the respective offices in his de-
| partment command the most attractive sal
| aries. He himself draws 5000 year and
| Is required to give bond of $4,000 His
| is position of some honor and more re-
| sponsibilty. His personal duties are light,
however, confined to a general supervision
| of the work of others, but he has to stand
| sponsor for the proper fulfillment of that
| work. He retains office until his successor
| is elected. and in the absence of the
| Speaker, unless the contingency has been
previously provided for. calls the House to
| order and proposes the selection of
| Speaker ad interim. The clerk of the last
House, democrat, will convene the next
| House and preside until a temporary pre-
| siding officer is named.
The clerk has forty-three employees under
him; commanding aggregate salaries of
ST. ,30S a year. His riSht-hand man, the
chief clerk, draws $500 per annum. The
clerk appoints the journal clerk and
| assistant, who keep the official record of
the proceedings of the House; two reading
| clerks, who, of late years. have been Sc
| lected by competitive examinations, fndi-
eating their ability to read to the satisfac-
| ton of the House; a tally clerk, who keeps
| track Of the yea and nay votes, together
| with number of minor officials. There is
one salary of $1,000, four of $500 each,
seven at $1,000 each, four at $500 each,
| seven at 81. 900, two at $l,44O, two at $1,000,
and ten at s72o. He also appoints a
| penter, who earns about $500 at piece
| work.
The candidates for clerk of the House
| are ex-Representatives Henderson of Him
| dis and Mcdowell of Pennsylvania, no
| other aspirants having as yet announced
| themselves.
| The SerScant-at-Arms.
| The sergeant-at-arms gets salary of
| $4,000, and is now compelled to furnish
| bord of $4,000. His most important duty is
| to take charge of the disbursement OF the
| salaries of the members, their mileage and
other perquisites. He Is supposed to be re-
| sronsble for the good order in the House. to
| preserve the peace among would-be belliger-
| ents, to prevent fights on the floor and to ar
| rest absentees and bring them before the bar
| of the House when ordered to do so. The
| unpleasant features of his position are com
| penSated for upon occasions of congreSSion-
| ell junkets and funeral excursions. He is
| supposed to be acquainted with the best
| brands of champagneS and judge of good
| cigars, for, rule. the men who accom-
| pany funeral junkets are critical in their
| tastes. He comes into intimate personal re-
| lations with the members but as he is pre-
| sumed to be a gentleman, he forgets half
|
| geant-at-arms dspenses one salary of So, 600,
| two of $1,000, one of 81 500 one of 81, 200, one
| of S120 and one of $3.50. He also appoints
| ne-third of the Capitol police force, con-
| ssting of eight privates at $1,000, one lieu
| tenant at 81 600 and two watchmen at 81 900.
| The candidates for sergeant-at-arms are Mr..
| Thomas II. Mckee of Indiana and Mr.. B. F..
| Russell of Missouri.
| Office of Doorkcepcr.
| The doorkecper OF the House is paid the
| smallest salary of all the elective officers,
| except the postmaster and chaplain, but
dispenses the largest amount of patronage.
| He draws $500 year, and is not required
| to give bond. His duties are defined by
bis title. He guards the doors to the floor
| and the galleries, appoints elevator men,
| pages and folders. Under him there are
| five positions at 5000 each, one at $500,
| three at s., 800, one at 81 400, one at S1,31I
! sixteen at 81, 200, nine at $1,000, fifteen at
| $500, five a $40, twenty-five at $720, ten at
5000. and thrty-three pages at $50 per month
| during the session.
| The candidates for doorkeeper are Mr..