Evening star., 1897-03-13

| SA~&1 gress Although the
present special ses-
sion of the Senate is in reality a part of
the new Congress the full corps of pages
serving the last Senate will be retained
! until both houses convene on the 18th OF
this month-next Monday. There are six
teen pages regularly employed fnathe Sen
ate. each of whom draws a per diem salary
! Of $2.5O. Their terms extend from the first
day Of the convening of each session to its
close. and they are paid for Sundays and
holidays. whether they work then or not.
The Senate pages are appointed by the
sergeant-at-arms, through senatorial in
fuence. They are not selected according
to any geographical apportionment. Ac-
cording to the rules of the chamber these
boys can only serve in their official capaci-
ties between the youthful ages of twelve
and sixteen. AS a result of the present
system of appointment, the pages form a
perpetual body, like the one they serve
At the beginning Of each Congress half Of
the experienced ones remain to set the
newcomers good examples, at least that is
the theory.
Well Organized.
Although the congressional page has
never been accused of being unsophisti-
Gated. forces are brought to bear upon his
moral development as well as that of his
mind and physique. Especially is this true
IN the Senate. where the lads are younger
and smaller than the pages of the House
III Senate page is known to smoke. to
use pfo1ane language, Or to indulge in ex-
IRENE m1sbehavior unbecoming to a re-
l,ned lad he Is subjected to discipline
sometimes he loses his position through
misbehavior. though few cases of dismls-
sal nave occurred lately Many of the
senate pages attend night school here in
me winter They are advised to devote
thelr spare moments to their books and
are encouraged to ask questions to their
Iearts content during working hours. Be
iore tney have served many weeks they
..ase acquired fair knowledge of parlia-
mentary procedure. When given money
matters to attend to they are reuujrad IN
Keep stric; account of all lucre passing
.hreush .hr their hands. The arithmetic of
fact fact the eeoanns oanns Is carefully audited In
iI lzed as strictly and carefully as a well reg
ulated school. e
ny the chance visitor in the gallery their
duties are never appreciated Ona who
sees them move about at the beck and cali
OF senators Is apt to get the imDressi,n
.ua' uhey ale mere messenger boys Not
sn..s,n 81 iney are concise editions of a Con-
ei.sSiohai directory. guide book library
catalogue and-in season-hase hall scaro
an pound under one cover They must
~. .ne various roles Of the diplomat. conf
than on e'erk, TX detective. financier and worse
rograpny. More than often thev must
o.oer the senatorial repast, a complex nm
th ahsstakiEg Tor any youth. At other times
60. st ACT as buffers between bored
senator's and tfreless lobbyists
me nrst few weeks Of the new napes.
e VIII lndeed be busy ones They
lnuss m 81 not only become acquainted with ali
OF the senators. but with the pre. 70 80 -. a.
OF the representatives. They mug L..
wnlcn or the several libraries in the Can't.
~, eoatalns certain book called for by a
sn1 snna.1r N the middle of an important
speech. They must be ab,o to osno.
stranger to any of the numerous com,,,t
zee rooms In either wing These are hmt
rev OF the abilities which will he renn;rsd
.nousn eronos not lacking in necessary chap
the most part on their honors Ther- 80
empioyed under the direction Of men who
uo not come and go with Coneresses hu.
of Ts rs,oe*Io etpef'enee IN the servic. and hope
OF retention on good behavior give them
heartier interest in their work and an
nance their discipline N et
The Man In Charre
me senate pages are under the cb.rg.
Vi Mr. A. h. Stewart. who succeeded tho
veteran isaac Bassett as assistant door
Keeper Before Mr.. Bassetts death Mr
stewart had active charge of the papes so
ms duties are by no means new Like Mr.
nassett' ne was once a page himself. and
has therefore worked himself IN tbrou.h
she ranks. Appearances indicate that he
has the confidence and respect of all of he
youthful subordinates Although the san.
ate generally convenes at noon each work
ing Day. the pages must report in the
chamDer at y. as regularly as though in
school. and excuses must be given for .h-
sences The first duty, according to the
routine. Is the distribution OF calendars
Dllis and other legislative Documents
among the senatorial desks. and the plac-
ing OF the new Congressional Record unon
each senator's file. One page is detailed
TO examine all pens left on the outside Of
desks and to renew them with clean points.
Another must see that every inkwell is
brfm full. Others must straighten ont the
sets OF laws furnished each member and
see that everything Is in order. II ia
strictly against the rules to open a desk.
however Between their duties the whole
1orce Is required to keep an eye on the
CLOAK rooms and other adjuncts of the
chamber closed to the visiting public.
Recess and Work.
From 10 to 1890 Is recess In this half
hour the little fellows get exercise outside,
sometimes in a game Of ball, but more Of
ten In foot race with the Capitol police.
who are opposed to ball games. BY tho
time the morning recess has come to An
end many senators have arrived at their
desks. and these make plenty of business
FOR the pages. When the chaplain mounts
the rostrum to deliver the opening nraver
front desks. faces the divine and stands
with bowed head until the solemn occasion
Is over Then the work begins in earnest.
The corps of pages is divided into two sec.
tions. one for the republican and the other
for the democratic side. While not en-
gagged on senatorial errands they must sit
In their appropriate places on the lowest OF
the steps leading to the Vice Presidents
chair. When the Senate is not in session.
as on Saturdays. only a half of the corps
are required to report for duty. They are
needed to wait upon such senators as NAV
choose to come to the chamber and work
at their desks. On Sundays and legal holt
days no attendance Is required. After the
Senate has adjourned all desks must be
cleared of. All documents to be saved
must be placed out of the reach of janitors.
A few pages are retained as long as any
senators remain to work. These are usual
ly lads who are kept in for some mis-
chief. Resides those en- the floor of the
chamber the Senate employs a telephone
page and four mounted riding pages"
The mounted pages deliver messages to Of
fcials in the various departments or go
on errands to senator's homes.
In the House.
In the House much the same system pre-
walls. except that the boys are called by
push-buttons instead Of by hand clap