The evening times., 1896-01-16
Mr.. GO6KBS' POSITIONS
He Draws Two Salaries From
the Government.
HOW THE THING is WORKED
One Place Is Held In the Name of C.
L. Combs, Appointed From the Dis
trict, and the Other as c. c. Co0m bs,
From Missouri-Both Pay SO, 900 II
Year-His Son Also Senate Page.

1t was announced1ft-fhe opening of th'
present Congress that reform in the way ol
economy OF House ekbenses would be one OF
the watchwords Of tSe>RepubIicans coming
into control again., Mr.. Dingley, espe
cially, was earnest in proclaiming that al
mere hangers-on with Cotbing TO do might
look out for place TO full.
In keeping with 'these promises, when
,, about fifty cases of, resolutions for special
employees were presehteaIast week Iroi:. enc
Corninittee ON Accounts, only three got
through A sharp fight was made, wound
up by Mr.. Walker. oil Massachusetts, with a
criticism OF the readfnsi clerk, anu gen
eral assault on the combine" ending with
an indignant shout, Noble business" )" that
brought down the house.
In the course OF the debate IL was de-
Veiopeu that one man had made himself
quite indispensable TO certain Repubi.cans
or the last House. Most OF the minority in
mat BODY We're Reelected. Many OF them
nave ebeen here FOR many years. There were
enough OF them to make a successful figDt
FOR their man, although he has always been
a Democrat.
IL was {. w. Coombs of Manitou, No.,
who was retained on the pay roll at 81 800
q year as assistant special messenger To
successor. Mr.. COombs came here twenty
years ago to place that it is said was
specially prepared for him. His business
was 10 go ABOUT 10 the departments and
else where To collect material for members
In ma king up their speeches; also, to secure
extra books and other things by exchanges
and the like for members to send to their
constituents and thereby keep up their
popularity.
~ n
More than one man has been 10 rgely aided
in securing continuous reflections by Mr..
Coombs efficiency in this line. 1T is said
that among the men who spoke in his
favor the other day We're several Repub-
licans whom he had helped out OF a close
pacelas November. Among his champions
Were Mr.. Henderson OF Iowa, Mr.. Cannon OF
Illinois and Mr.. johnson OF Indiana. To
these and other old members he has be-
come necessity.
or course, lie has no special acquain tance
with the scores OF new members who make
up themaJority or the present House. Under
the present conditions there is small ne
Ccssity for him to know them or look after
their wants. He can devote his time 10
the small number who have so long relied
ON him with such satisfaction.
But Mr.. Coombs' efficiency Is not confined
=
md has children and grandchildren. He |
las transmitted to them the peculiar quar- |
ties by which, in spite OF his politics, he |
5 nrld IN "A couIfortiDc place IN the House. |
He has a son. Charles {. Coombs, who is |
Employed at the Senate as clerk to Senator |
Vests committee and is known as Senator
Vests private secretary. In this capacity |
le drew all last year s., 200. At the same |
line SO indispcnsa BILE are his services TO
ha hl he is m ba
surgeon Generals Office at 81 400. For
oinr reason his name appears in the Blue
Book IN one office as Chas. {. CoomDs and
n the other c. C. Combs.
In one place he is native and an ap- /
'ointec OF this District. in another he is
ppointed fFonE the Eighth Missouri dis
riot. His neighbors.soy however, that he
5 the same identical individual in both
ases. Pay Officer feitffian, for the Sur
eon Generals Office. said Chas. e.
combs WIS clerk in that office. but he
ever knew of him as Senator Vests pri-
ate secretary.
HIS son A;PAGE
But not only is Mr.. c. C. Coombs so neces
airy to the operation Of this government
hat he must do the wosk of two men. but
ven his sou is forced Into the government
ervice. He is a Senate page at ST2O
ear. This makes for the family ST 500
ius $4,000 plus S1.40t plus S72O-in all
6 20 year. 4
Mr.. C. c. Coombs has sdone well with bis
Icome aud owns handsome residence al
o. 1874 Massachusetts, avenue northeast,
'hich he has built ont Of his savings.
A Times reporter last night called at
[r. Coombs' residence 10 learn il there was |
ny mistake as to the Identity of the gen. |
eman whose name is printed In the Off
al register US c. C.. Combs with the other
ho appears as Charles c. Coombs. His
IN, who came to the door, said his father
as clerk In the Surgeon Generals Office,
nd also clerk to Senator Vests committee.
e didn't know whether his brother was a
age in the Senate or not. He called his
other to find out.
Mrs. Coombs said the brother was a page l
the Senate, and explained that it seemed I
ir they should be allowed TO earn all the
oney they could as hong as they did the
ork. She did all the typewriting and 1
herself and employed help =
,out the house that would not otherwise
needed. There was no ilegality in her
sband occupying two positions she was
re, because that point had been lookedup.
Mr.. Coombs came in from a neighbors
bile she was explaining these facts, and, |
reply to question, answered coidly
| u