The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1895-12-05

W thV OutkOllk II
~ rms~HuUFr culnbents to be- filled
>IlHulg". w7Ffr.S by representatives of
9M11iS|; ed PHD!P'' To ,s s:;'y FIN ii%' %'s in:
l<RRV patronage connected
with the offices of the sergeant-at7arms.
clerk, doorkeepers. and postmaster rem
Ter the contest for the elective positions
Interesting. inasmuch as the representa-
,iycs taking part III the campaign expect
10 benefit by the result in providing for
their customers. The majority Of the
positions included in the list of patronage
at the disposal of the newly elected of
lcials command lucrative salaries. aud
each Representative has Il following of
eager constituents anxious 10 fill the
,tiicc and drew the cmolumcnt therefor.
The clerk of the House does not have
the largest amount of patronage at his
disposal. but the respective Offices in his
department command the most attractive
salaries. He himself draws 81 5000 Il year
and is required to give Il bond of $4,000.
His is Il position of some honor and more
responsibility. The clerk has forty-three
employees under him, commanding aggre-
gate salaries of $11,3OS a year. His
right hand man. the chief clerk. draws
$500 per annum. The clerk appoints
the journal clerk and an assistant. who
keep the official record of the proceedings
Of the House; w reading clerks. who.
of late years. have been selected by com
petitive examinations. indicating their
ability 10 read to the satisfaction Of the
House: a tally clerk. who keeps track of
the yea and nay votes. together with a
number of minor officials. There is one
salary of $4,000. four of $500 each,
seven at $1,000 each. four at $500 each.
seven at 81 1000. two at $1.40O. two at
Sl.2U. and ten at $12O. He also appoints
a carpenter. who earns about $500 at
piece work.
The sergeant-at-arms gets a salary Vt
$4,000. and is now compelled to furnish a
bond of $4,000. His most important
duty is TO fake 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
lights on the floor and to arrest absentees
and bring them before the bar Of ,the
House when ordered to do 50. The Ser
reant-at-arms dispenses one salary Of So
900. two Of $1,000, one of $3.50. II of
Sl.2OO. one of $72O, and one Of $3.50. He
also appoints one-tlird or the Capitol
police, consisting Of eight privates at
S1.2OO. one lieutenant ut $1,000. and
TWO watchmen at y 1000.
The doOrkeeper of the House is paid
The smallest salary of all the elective Of
hcers. except the postmaster and chap
lain. but dispenses the largest amount of
patronage. He draws x3. 900 Il year. and
is not required to give Il bond. His duties
are defined by his title. He guards the
doors To the floor and the galleries. APP
points elevator men. pages and folders.
| nder him there are five positions at
S2lWO each. one at 81 800. three At ST.
800. one at 81. HOO, one at 81 1914. sixteen
al $500. nine ut $1,000. fifteen AT $500.
five ut $50. twenty-five Ut SI2O. ten at
Aa0 and thirty-three pages at 500 per
month during the session.
The postmaster attends to receiving and
delivering the mail of the members and
TO forwarding the public documents sent
out from the Capitol. His salary is 81
,W0 and he is not required To give bond.
There are no sinecurcs in his office. for
every man has to work hard. The post
master appoints one clerk at $1,000. ten at
MOO, one at S12O and eight men during
The session ut 500 Il month each.
In" chaplain of the House draws $500
per year. in session and out. and has an
easy berth. He is supposed 10 open the
House with prayer. and is not blamed II
he makes it short. Sometimes the chap
lam pays pastoral calls among the uI"m-
h"rS of his flock during business hours.
lingering after the House has assembled
10 char with members. He never aims nj
ms congregation in his prayer although
III lines of turbulence and great public
excitement in the louise II" may try To
invoke the spirit of peace and Il blessing
"t wisdom upon the public councils. II Is
usual to elect Il minister of the District
"i Columbia with Il regular salary. for
mo "%molumcnt of the place is not large.
The Speaker of the House has Il bit of
Patronage at his own disposal. lie Is
allowed one clerk at $3.50. one III S.
-'"'' one 1T 81 600 and Il messenger AT ST.
'"". The Speaker himself receives 3d.
MO in addition To- his regular salary OF
o.OO as II 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-
Si.ions are usually more secure. ON of
The employees have been in their present
for many years. "Old Man
Bassett, as he is called has been in the
service of the Senate Il 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 Il young man. The Senate does
not like reneated chuuges. There are