The Worthington advance., 1900-04-20
MUCH TIME W ASTED.
New Congressman Do Considerable
Unnecessary Running Around.
Don't Know where to- Look for Ia-
1ognation-Professie Private
Secretaries Indispensable @@
to Success.


says Congressman Brund-
idge, of Arkansas. "Any good and ef-
flcient man ought~to make at least a
hundred dollars a week at it, and an
industrious man of capability might
make even double that amount.
"When l first came here received
letters from my constituents asking
me to see this, that and the other
member of the cabinet for them. For
example, a prominent political friend
of mine would want q commission in
the army for his son. would 60 to
the Office of the secretary of war, and
find other senators and representa-
tives ahead of me. I would wait an
hour or more for my turn, and finally
60 away without having a chance to
talk to the secretary. Then would
be obliged to go again and again. In
asmuch as had to see other members
of the cabinet on other missions for
my people, 1 found it to be practically
impossible for me to get around and
attend to congressional business at
the capital.
"Finally a young man came to me
for employment. He had letters
showing that he had been private sec.
retary to Senator Blackburn, of Ken.
lucky, for IL years. 1 told him that
I had brought private secretary
here with me from my district, and
that could not employ him. But ]
told him that could occasionally give
him some letters to write for me. On
the very first occasion. while I was
debating letters to the young man,
stated to one of my constituents that
I had been five times to see the Sec
retary of war about his matter, that
I had been disappointed every time;
but promised to continue to do my
best.
'The young man suggested that
let him look the matter up for me-
telling me that need not see the Sec
retary of war at all; but that Ger.
tain obscure chief of division would
know all about it. I gave him that
letter and number of others, and he
did in half day what I had been
trying to do for more than week
The difference was that the young
man knew by experience what to do
and I lacked the experience, and
hence was laundering along.
Il learned that the members of the
cabinet, when called on for informa-
ton on various subjects, send for
their suboroinates and get the in.
formation from them. I learned that
it is easier for private secretary who
is familiar with the executive depart.
ments to 60 directly to the obscure
men who actually handle the official
papers, and it saves so much time
"Any good man of well-established
reputation might get to be private
secretary to four or more congress.
men and attend to all of their depart
mental business, and receive from
each congressman the sum of $1OO per
month, which every congressman is
allowed for (. private secretary, there.
by making good income, and doing
ents great deal of good. There is
room here in Washington for the busi.
ness of professional private secre.
tary."
This is new idea of a new con.
gressman, but it is not new idea to
the writer. The trouble is that every
congressman feels that he must bring
some man here as his private secre.
tary, some man who has rendered and
can render political service at home
All of the congressman entertain this
idea. and hence they bring men here