The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1905-03-06
CLAGUE TOOCARfFUL
FOR HOUSE CLERKS
State Promised Spectacle of
Political Job Holders Ten.
dering designations

Several clerks of the house and sem
ate are on the eve of establishing
precedent in Minnesota politics by re-
signing their places.
A. G. Greeley, clerk Of the house
committee on municipal legislation,
will tender his resignation today and
Fork w. E. Verify of Wadena, keeper
of the senate committee rooms, has
announced his intention of resigning
as soon as he can complete certain
business arrangements. Several other
clerks have within the last few days
declared that they would return to
their homes rather than submit TO
the dictatorial tone that, it is said, has
characterized the administration of
house and senate.
For clerks to quit the session before
it has completed its work is a new
thing in Minnesota legislative affairs.
But the policy that has characterized
the management of the third house"
is said to be extremely distasteful to
men of ordinary independence.
cIague Sets the Pace
Speaker Clague has set the pace for
Lieut.. Gov. Jones in the senate, and
while the house has only a percentage.
of the number of clerks employed in
the senate, strict rules have been i'm
posed for the government of the clerks
of both houses.
Every clerk to secure his position
has necessarily been a man of some
prominence in his legislative district.
But IL is said that scant courtesy has
been extended to the clerks once they
are on the legislative pay rolls. The
compensation in many Instances has
been less in the house for the same
service than ever paid by the state
before, and, when coupled with the re-
duction in the pay there has. been
disposition to treat the clerks as so
many hired men, a revolt has followed,
Ironclad rules have been prepared
and strictly enforced by the speaker in
the house. Clerks are required to re-
port to the speakers desk at o'clock
each morning and to remain at their
posts until 5 and often as late as 6
o'clock. That no work has been found
for them on certain days has not served
to abrogate the rule. Doorkeepers and
gallery keepers have been subjected to
the same strict rules, while their pay
for the first time in legislative history,
is but So a day.
Doorkeeper Is Docked
One of the doorkeepers has been
locked" for two days absence from
his post without leave. Joseph Gull
name, doorkeeper, is said to have
been fined for his absence. Speaker
Clague enforcing the penalty against
him.
The mailed hand, only thinly gloved,
has been felt in the senate, where SIM
mar rules as regards reporting to the
secretary's desk have been imposed
and strictly adhered to. The admins
tration of the rules has not been SO
vigorous in the senate as in the house,
however, where even the telephone
girls, employed by a corporation and
entirely distinct from state supervi-
sion, have been shown a chalk mark
on which they were told to mark time.
The economy slogan in the house,
which marked the election of Frank
Clague as speaker, has been the
Watchword ever since Mr. Clague took
Office. A complaiSant rules committee
has established rules governing COM.
pensation and hours of employment in
line with the speakers suggestions.
Clerks who have always drawn SIS a
day for their work are now receiving
50 and 81, and even the irrepressible
page has been cut from SO to $3.50.
AS most of the clerks and doorkeepersr
have necessarily come long distances
to accept employment in the legisla-
ture and are required TO pay good
prices for their board and lodging in
81. Paul, their employment on the re-
duced schedule will not permit them
taking home any large fortunes with
them.
The designations cited, it is said. will
be followed by others before the close
of the session.