The Detroit times., 1910-12-05

house hold their ,Y
Jobs during the
ascendancy OF the party concerning
II. OF course the majority OF The
attaches oil committees remain as
long az the chairmen who appoint
them are in power. Likewise, many
OF the subordinate positions are heiu
during the service of the member on
whose recommendation the appoint
ment was made But as soon as that
member drops out OF congress, the
employe. unless he has insratiated
himself with some other member. Is
seen no more.
There are few men in the mouse
whose work has been SO valuable
and so essential TO the deliberations
of that body that no sort oil polltlcai
| yicissitude will take their places from
them. The most striking instance oi
| This is the case OF James {. Courts.
| clerk 10 the committee on approptla-
| lions. The committee clerkships are
| nearly always the prerogatiNe OF the
chairman, and he usually has 4 score
OF political lieutenants entitled 10 al
appointment as spoil OF war Bit
here is the clerkship OF the most
powerful committee OF the house n
the hands OF Il dyed-in-the-wool Dem
ocrat. This position, however can
not be filled satisfactorily by ne"
conner. To make up the annual p'tu
get of a billion dollars and to nave
| information ready al hand concern
ing every penny oil the proposed eA
Denditure, requires an acquaintance
with things that can be acquired on
" through years OF eXacuins WORK
Mr.. Courts possesses such an ac-
ouaintance, and speakershlps' cnair
manships. and parties may come anu
20. but Jim" Courts still holds ms
lob. rendering faithful service ana
efficient aid TO financial legislation.
J Mr.. Courts is training his stan oil co
workers in the same way, ana the
elevation of his former lieutenant
Kennedy Rea, to the clerkshlp Oh lhe
senate committee on appropriations
il a testimonial to his success. hea
Is also a Democrat.
Another employe OF the house VINO
stays through party changes Is Col'
Charles H. Mann. the superintendent
of the house press gallery. Lake
SUPERINTENDENT Preston OF the senate
press gallery, Charlie M~nn has sue
-eded in making himself indispensa'
bile 10 the men who give to the
world its review OF affairs in Wash
/, ington. Keeping track OF all commit
tee meetings. saving the newspaper
men "A thousand steps, and Watching
, like q hawk at all times 10 see that
the profane feet of the outsider new
or invade the sacred precincts OF
, the Press gallery. Colonel Mann has
so endeared himself TO the news
. gatherers that politics is not worth
a hill of beans In determining wheth'
or he shall stay or go win the
, change in house control.
There is position in which the
} Democrats will have chance 10
reciprocate when the house organizes
next wear The chaplain OF the
house, Reverend Henry \. Coudep
is blind In the past the Democrats
, although in the minority always have
brought out their candidate against
: him. but many OF their number no"
, believe they could do a particularly
gracious act by re-electing Rev. Cou'
don, although he Is stralghtout
, Republican. DR.. Couden ia a sweet
r voiced. kindly minister, and has en-
, deared himself to all the members
with whom he has come in contact
Another employee who has made
, himself so useful that he has remov'
ed his position from the pale OF par
, lty favor, is w. A. Smith. known 10
everybody around the Capitol as
Andy" Smith. Ha " an employe OF
the government printing office. and
has charge OF the congressional
, record office in the capitol, but holds
his position at the pleasure OF the
senate and house. He knows more
about the congressional record than
, The man who makes IL and no em
nloye of the entire capitol is more
/ popular.
The official reporters of debates in
, the house, are not, like those OF the
, senate. paid under contract, but are
on the regular salary rolls of the
house. Although prior TO the recent
, increase OF congressional salaries
, hey were paid as much as member
| of the senate or house, their posi-
, ions have never been deemed n
. spoil OF political warfare. A man
must be an expert stenographer &c
Command one of these positions or
, that OF official stenographer to a
house committee.
. With the above exceptions the EN-
rloyes of the house go the way oil
olitics. The officers manage to hold
heir positions throughout the as
, endency OF their party, since par
= caucus almost uniformly reselects
ne old officers as long as il is in
he majority The principal positions
Ike that OF clerk OF the house, door
eeper. and postmaster. are desirable
1erths. since each carries with II =
list OF undergraduates. The clerk
$ acting speaker whenever there is
vacancy in that Office. When Demo
rats take control OF the house next
ear their first presiding officer will
10 Alexander Mcdowell, clerk Of the
resent house The rules set forth
vat the clerk shall preside over the
deliberations of the house until a
aeaker is chosen. But no other
business is i'm order until such a
hoice is made There have been
times when the clerk was an i'm
ortant factor in situation from
hich he was to be eliminated the
moment a speaker was chosen
There is considerable speculation
as TO what the attitude of the Dem
. Ccratic house will be toward John J.
Roobar. the Republican librarian OF
The house Boobar is another ex
| or,pia IF tho feiioU who doaa mora