Semi-weekly independent. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1895-1897, 1895-12-04

SC@ contest over the re-
ZC%77NI organization of the
t/ME !, IN House at the begin
EHfsI :HM ming of each new
@-fh1e5.: 4S.,,Sssal session of Congress
ITIII,iaslAn c TnSn ' nf admins lG a
5:;ss q s5 E; 7s:5 :;:i
@--lEl<4G by the out going in
~ yurTrrHHTF- cunbents to be filled
lHlllN" tFEFFF-TrT5--- BY representatives of
s e sss T 1 dss1 %%af
with The offices of the sergeant-at-arms,
clerk. doorkeepers, and postmaster rem
.sler the contest for the elective positions
interesting. inasmuch as the representa-
ives taking part in the campaign expect
ID bcnefit by the result in providing for
heir customers The majority of the
positions included in the list of patronage
SIT the disposal OF the newly elected of
ticals command lucrative salaries, and
zach Representative has Il following of
lager constituents anxious To ill the
office and drew the emOlument therefor.
The clerk of the House does not have
disposal, but the respective offices in his
department command the most attractive
salaries. He himself draws $1,000 year
and is required to give bond of $4,000.
Ills is position of some honor and more
responsibility. The clerk has fOrty-three
employees under him. commanding aggre-
gate salaries of T1,30S Il year. His
right-hand man. the chief clerk. draws
5000 per annum. The clerk appoints
he journal clerk and an assistant. who
keep the official record of the proceedings
Of the House; two reading clerks. who,
of late years, have been selected by COM
petItive examinations, indicating their
ability TO read To the satisfaction of the
House; n tally clerk, who keeps track of
-fhe Yea and nay votes. together with Il
number of minor officials. There is one
salary of $1,000, four of $500 each,
seven at $1,000 each. four a L 81 800 each,
seven at $1,000, two at 81. 400, two at
$1,1tD. and ten at $120. He also appoints
carpenter, who earns about 5000 at
piece work.
The sergeant-at-arms gets a salary Of
$1,000, and is now compelled to furnish
Eond Of $4,000 His most important
duty is to take charge of the disbursement
OF the salaries of the members. their mile
age and other perquisites. He is sup
posed 10 be responsible for the good or
der in the House. to preserve the peace
among would-be belligerents. to prevent
sights on the floor and To arrest absentees
md bring them before the bar of the
House when ordered 10 do so. The ser
ccant-at-arms dispenses one salary of So
900 two of $1,000, one of 81 800. one of
81 ,2e0, one of 500, and one of $500 He
,ala9 appoints One-third of the Capitol
police, consisting of eight privates at
S1.200, one lieutenant at 81 600, and
TWO watchmen at 81 900.
+ The doorkeeper of the House is paid
: ne smallest salary of all the elective Of
..ieers. except the postmaster and chap
9ain, but dispenses the largest amount of
patronage. He draws $500 year, and
y not required TO give q bond. His duties
are defined by his title. He guards the
loors TO the floor and the galleries. ap-
points elevator men, pages and folders.
Under him there are five positions at
5000 each, one at 81. 500 three at ST.
.J0s, one at 81 400. one at S1.314, sixteen
1t 81 200, nine at 1000, fifteen at 5000.
ave al SSf0 twenty-five at $40. ten at
$500 and thrty-three pages at $50 per
month during TIE session.
The postmaster attends to receiving and
delivering the mail of the members and
teo forM arding the public documents sent
ont from the Capitol His salary is 81
800 and he is not required 10 give bond.
There are no sinecures in his office. for
very man has to work hard. The post
master appoints one clerk at s., 900, ten at
81 .2to, one at 1920 and eight men during
1the session at 800 n month each.
The chaplain of the House draws 5000
per year. in session and out, and has an
easy berth. He is supposed to open the
House with prayer, and is not blamed if
re makes it short. Sometimes the chap
lain pays pastoral calls among the men,
beers of his flock during business hours,
Lingering after the House has assembled
20 chat with members. He never aims ut
his congregation in his prayer, although
n times of turbulence and great public
excitement in the House he may try to
invoke the spirit OF peace and n blessing
Of wisdom upon the public councils. 1t is
usual to elect minister Of the District
of Columbia with regular salary, for
the emolument of the place is not large.
The Speaker OF the House has a bit of
patronage at his own disposal. He is
allowed one clerk at $3.50, one at ST.
80. one at 81 GOO and "A messenger at ST.
900 in addition to his regular salary of
5000 as member for the added duties
of the speakership.
The Senate Officers.
The patronage Of the Senate is much
less than that of the House, but the po-
sifions are usually more secure. Some of
the employees have been in their present
positions for many years. "Old Man"
Bassett, as he is called, has been in the
service of the Senate little over sixty
years. and there is but one Senator, Mr..
Morrill,, who has been continuously in
the Senate during the term of employment
of Mr. Nixon, the financial clerk, though
ne is still young man. The Senate does
not like repeated changes. There are
out three elective officers-the secretary,
the sergeant farms, and the chaplain.
The patronage, except committee clerk
ships, comes under the secretary and the
-sergeant-at-arms. The chaplain gets
small pay and has no employees under
him.
The sergeant alarms has the appoint