West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1897-01-21


In the first place, Dawson gets the
SecretUry Of State, the very best
thing In the whole business, and
there never has been any doubt Of
it. Ia fact, 1t was settled early in
the campaign. 1t is saId that this
Office pays from So 900 to $40. coo
per year In fees mostly. as the
regular salary is but $1,000 per
year. However, it is claimed that
the Secretary always has to "divvy
IN" with the Governor on this
Office and give him about 81 900 a
year out Of the proeeeds--or, in
other words, that the Governor
''sorter" farms it out. Whether
this bargain and sale is.true or not,
it is impossible to tell, as it would
be serious violation of the law,
and OF course neither of the prin-
cipals are going to give it away,
and no one else knows for sure
anything abont it. Mr.. Dawson
will not take charge OF his office
till i'm March, but in the meantime
he will be busy all the same, as he
has the Legislature OF his hands
now and will have more to do with
running it than any member, not
excepting the Speaker of the House
and the President Of the Senate.
He was appointed an assistant to
the Clerk of the House, without
pay, which gives him splendid
opportunity to get in his work Of
general supervision, and, In fact,
some one of experience and ability
is needed to keep things straight.
Frank M. Thomas is an assistant
to the Clerk of the Senate at a
salary Of Sc per day. He Is located
here now in charge of the General
Office of the Home Life Insurance
Company as State Manager, and
has elegant quarters on Capitol
Street. Thomas got his appoint
ment as u reward for political work
in the last campaign. Preston has
another appointment in the Senate,
that of Arthur Wotring, son of ID.
NJ. WotFing, of Kingwood, who is
one of the Pages at salary of 81
per day. Mr.. Dawson secured this
appointment and has telegraphed
young Wotring to come on ut once.
In the House, Preston gets at
least two appointments. that of w.
Is. ParkhuTst as Journal Clerk ut "A
salary of Sc per day, and VIM. Reed
Crane, of Terra Alta, as a Com
mittee Clerk at salary Of 81 per
day. Both of them have been here
fer a week, but have had nothing
to do as yet. In fact, their APP
pointments have not been an
nounced officially, bat it will be
done at the session to day. a. Jud
son Elliott. of Terra Alta, has been
here week also, AZ he came down
with Crane and expected to get
something, but is left out In the
deal. He wanted 9 elerkship in
the Secretary of States office, but
Dawson had given them all ont
lsng ago to rroteges of the big poll.
tlcians and party leaders. Then
Jud has been expecting commit.
tee clerkship, but will hardly get
1T. as Preston has already gotten so
much that there is big kick from
other counties. Then Dawson tele-
graphed Elliott not to come. as
there was no show for him, but he
came anyhow.
There Is another old Prestonite
aud Kingwood boy mere. who | am
afraid will get left, although he
needs something and l would like
to see him get plum, while the
tree is being shaken, but he won t
scramble for 1T and is not on the
slate now, and unless the House
decides to have two or three add
tional clerks, he rs not in it.. Ire.
fer to Duncan McRa, who lives in
Wheeling, and did good work for
the Republican Committee during
the late campaign. OF course they
paid him for it at the time, az the
work was mostly clerical and in
the office, but they also promised
him a place in the Legislature and
he came down here expecting it
o"AS1 OuO HiS prospectus are slim
now. lie has just left my room to
go aud see Dawson and Elliott
again, as they have beou with the
Speaker for some time helping him
grind out the grist Of clerks and
committees, which Is to be reported
TO the House session to-day. Mr..
Hanen, the Speaker, told me awhile
ago that he would have the list OF
clerks and pages ready to report,
but only the more important of the
committees, the judiciary aud FL
nance, in order that they could get
to work Immediately.
1t is probable that an extra ses4
sion will be called soon as the regu-
lar session is over co close up busi.
ness that will hardly get through
the present session. Then the new
Governors appointments are to be
acted on, and it is the general opin.
ION among the leaders that the best
thing to do, will be to take a recess
for day or two at the end of this
session, which will be February %,
and then convene in extra sessiou