Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-20
CLARK FOR SPEAKER
Feeling in Missouri Delega-
ton Favorable to Him.
WILL BE EMPTY HONOR
MINOR POSITIONS IN THE HOUSE
NOT TO BE CHANGED.
Patronage at the Command of These
Officials - Pennsylvania and the
Clerkship-The Only Ex-Speaker.


Clerkship-The Only Ex-speaker.
The democrats of the Missouri delegation
in the next Congress will probably present
Represent tive Champ Clark for the demo-
cratic caucus nomination for Speaker. Rep
resentative De Almond has been the can
didate of the delegation in the past three
congresses, and 1t has been understood that
his selection would again be urged. Mr..
De Almond, however, seems Indifferent to
the honor this time-at least he shows a
Discrimination to again seek the delegations
support and Mr.. Clark will probably be
put forward. The members of the delega-
ton al recent meeting at the Capitol dis
cussed the situation, but formal action
was not taken. owing to the absence Of
three Of the Mssourians who have gone
home for the holiday recess. A member
said there was every reason to believe that
Mr.. Clark would receive the united support
of the delegation.
Am )rg the Missouri representatives. friends
it is known that since he was first elected
to the House he has entertained an ambl-
ton to be Speaker. AS the republicans
have controlled the house il the past four
congresses there has been no opportunity
for him to make contest. -Four years
ago he was urged by his friends to seek
the democratic nomination, and decided TO
do so, but later gave way to Mr.. De
Almond, who had the support of a major
ity of the Missouri delegation. The nomi-
nation of the minority will be an empty
honor so far as the speakership is con-
cerned, but it will be eargerly sought for
the reason that it will carry with 1t the
democratic leadership on the floor. Mr..
Richardson, who has been the choice of the
democrats in the past three congresses will
again be a candidate.
Minor House officers.
The fact that Representative Cannon OF
Illinois will have no opposition for Speaker
has cleared the way for reelection of the
other officials of the House of Representa-
tiyes, as it is now understood that none Of
them Will have opposition in the republican
caucus next December The candidacy OF
Representative John Dalzell of Pittsburg
for the speakership and the report that
Representative Mercer of Omaha, who was
defeated for reelection, would be an as
prant for the clerkship made the prospects
of jor Alexander Mcdowell seem doubt
full for time, but the withdrawal of Mr..
Dalzell and Mr.. MERGERS announcement
that he would not stand for the clerkship
seems to make the reelection of Major Nc
Dowell certain. Major Mcdowell is very
popular among members of the House who
have been reelected, and it Is generally
recognized that he has made a very eff
he served as member of the House as
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES from Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania and the Clerkship.
In discussing the organization Of the next
House with a Star reporter today mem
Der called attention to the fact that Penn
sylvania has had the clerkship uninterrupt-
eddy since 1889 under both republican and
democratic rule and, in fact. has held it
r,;,,
1851, when John W. Forney was elected.
During his term in the clerks Office Mr..
Forney presided over the House during the
great struggle for the speakership in 1866,
contest which LASTED more than two
months and was only ended on the one hun
dred and thirty third ballot by the adop-
ton of rule making plurality instead Of
a majority sufficient to elect and resulting
In the selecting Of N. P. Banks of Massa-
chusetts as speaker. He was again chosen
clerk in 1859. and held that office until 1861,
when he was made clerk Of the Senate. In
1858 Edward Mcpherson Of Gettysburg was
elected clerk and held the position for
twelve years. his term of service being the
longest since the formation Of the govern
ment. Mr.. Mcpherson was elected in 1881
and again in 1889, during the first term Of
the late Thomas B. Reed as Speaker. He
was succeeded In 1891 by another Pennsyl-
vanian. James Kerr. who was clerk until
1895, when he in turn gave place to Major
Mcdowell The latter was reelected in
1897. 1899 and 1901. Should he succeed him
self in 1903 he will have attained a term Of
service in the clerks office second only to
that of Mr.. Mcpherson.
The Official Patronage.
The clerkship of the House pays salary
of s., 600 a year. which Is $500 more than
the sergeant-at-arms receives and 81, 500
more than the salary Of the doorkeeper.
The large patronage that goes with the two
last named positions however, makes up to
an extent for the difference In salaries, for
while the clerk has fifty-one minor posi-
tons to fill the sergeant alarms has fifty
nine and the doorkeeper one hundred and
ninety-one. The employees under the clerk
are reading clerks, the chief clerk, disburs-
ing clerks. file clerks and enrolling clerks.
Under the doorkeeper are the pages, fold
ers, doorkeepers and messengers. The po-
ncemen and a force of clerks are the only
employees under the sergeant-at-arms The
present doorkeeper Is Frank B. Lyon Of
New York. who was elected at the last ses-
sion to fill the vacancy caused by the death
of w. J. Glenn, and Henry Casson Of Wis
consin is sergeant-at-arms. The other po-
sitions in the House organization are post
master which pays $500 and chaplain, the
salary Of which is $500. In the present
House Joseph C. McElroy of Ohio is post
master and Henry Couden Of Michigan is
chaplain.
The Only Ex-Speaker.
Colonel Henry Hall, the well-known Penn
sylvania politician, today recalled some in
teresting facts in connection with the re-
tirement from public life Of Galusha A
Grow, the only ex-Speaker in the House.
Mr.. Grows service in the House began
fifty-one years ago upon the assembling of
the Thirty second Congress on December
l. 1851" said Colonel Hall. I'm that House
there were Thaddeus Stevens of Pennsyl-
vania, Joshua r. Giddings of Ohio John C.
Breckenridge of Kentucky, Alexander H.
Stephens and Robert Toombs Of Georgia,
Richard Yates of Illinois, Horace Mann of
Massachusetts. Thomas A. Hendricks of
Indiana Preston King of New York, An
drew Johnson and Isham G. Harris Of Ten
nessee, and many others who played promi-
nent parts in the nations affairs. The Sen
ate numbered among its members such