Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-05-24

states share of the patronage of the House.
AS in the Senate. members actually select
them They retain their positions as long
as their influence remains in power or until
the House changes its political complexion
They are organized into two divisions, one
for each side of the House Each division
Is directed by chief page and two over
seers
The routine Of the House pages serving
upon the floor is similar to that prescribed
for those of the Senate side. They report
at $50 am, or a half hour later than those
of the north wing of the Capitol. They
answer roll call at 10 and remain about the
House. on their respective sides, until II As,
when they take their places upon benches
at the rear of the chamber, in close prox-
unity to tables bearing call disks con-
meeting electrically with members desks.
An older page each side is detailed to
watch these silent signals and to call out
the numbers of members desks as electric
buttons thereon pressed.
Two-thirds of the House pages attend
night school and several are studying law
at the universities of the capital.
Tipping Allowed in House.
The tipping system is permitted openly
In the House, where pages average from
S1-50 to So a week in such revenue Where
as in former times they received as high
as $50 apiece for autograph albums similar
to those collected in the Senate, such SOU
venirs of the lower house now sell for about
1 cent per signature, and no member can
be approached for his autograph during
session. During each annual wind-up of
Congress House pages generally realize
from SIS to $40 apiece for collections of
legislative records, bought by members
The House pages have two base ball Mines
one representing the republican and the
other the democratic sides Of the floor.
These meet in combat on holidays and
great is the enthusiasm of partisans of the
contending sides. House pages meet also
in mock sessions, occupying the floor for
such sport and adhering with surprising
precision to parliamentary rules. Overseer
j. ii. HOllingSwOrth acts as their speaker,
and the usual program is a burlesque upon
the serious sessions of their elders. At
recent session a page approached the
Speakers chair, and. after gaining recogni-
ton. held out a dollar note. MIR. Speaker"
said he, Il wish to introduce the following
bill 1t is customary at such unofficial
sessions for pages to pass legislation ap-
propriating fabulous salaries and allow
ances for their corps.
Strange as it may seem. Senate and House
pages never mingle. Those of the former
body endeavor to reflect its greater dignity
upon those who run errands for represen-
tatives.
In the Supreme Court of the United States.
which occupies the central section of the
Capitol, there are three pages. who draw
$50 month in salary. Two of these are
youngsters in knckerbOckerS. The other is
a youth in pantaloons.
The Office of congressional page has been
vestibule to many brilliant ca
reers. Arthur P. German entered the
Senate as a member after serving an
apprenticeship doing its chores. General j.
NJ. Wilson, eX-chef of engineers L. S. A,
commenced public life as Senate page. A
House pageship was the first step in the
career of George A. Wise, representative
from the Forty-eighth to the Fifty-third
Congresses. Stuart Robson, the actor was a
House page in the Thirtieth and Thirty
first Congresses When recently here he
issued theater passes to all Of the present
House pages.
JOHN ELFRETH WATKINS, JR.