El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-12-05
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X/ H IL =. the t duty of legislatins
ate, falls upon the shoulders
OF It's members, remarkable proper
ton of the detail work falls to the
officers and employees of that body and
the house would be lost in legislative
wilderness without its staff of aids.
scarcely wheel of the legislative ma
chinery could turn without them In
the main, the employees of the house
hold their jobs during the ascendency
of the party controlling it. OF course
the majority of the attaches of COM
m1ttees remain as long as the chair
men who appoint them are in power.
Likewise, many of the subordinate pO
sitions are held during the service of
the member on whose recommendation
the appointment was made. But as soon
as that member drops out of congress.
the employe, unless he has ingratiated
himself with some other member is
soon no more
There are a few men in the house
whose work has been so valuable and
SD essential to the deliberations of
that body that no sort of political vi
cissftude viii take their places from
them. The most striking instance of
this is the case OF James c. Courts,
clerk TO the committee on appropriat-
tions. The committee sclerkships are
chairman, and he usually has score of
political lieutenants entitled to an APP
po1ntment a spoil of war But here
is the clerkship of the most powerful
committee of the house in the hands
of dyed in the wool Democrat. This
position, however, cannot be filled
satisfactorily by newcomer. To make
up the annual budget of a billion dol
lars and to have information ready at
hand concerning every penny of the
proposed expenditure requires an &C
quaintance with things that can be ac-
CURED only through years of exacting
work. Mr.. Courts possesses such an
acquaintance, and Speakerships chair,
manshfps and parties may come and
go. but Jim" Courts still holds his
job. rendering faithful service and eff
ficfent aid to financial legislation. Mr..
Courts is training his staff of CO.
workers in the same way. and the ele-
walton of his former lieutenant Ken
nedy Rea, to the clerkship of the SEN
ate committee on appropriations, IS a
testimonial TO his success. Rea is also
a Democrat
Mann's Continuous Term
Another employee of the house who
stays through party changes is Col.
Charles H. Mann. the superintendent
Of the house press gallery. Like su-
perintendent Preston of the senate
press gallery. Charlie Mann has sue
ceded in making himself indispensable
10 the men who give to the world its
review of affairs in Washington. Keep
ing track Of all committee meetings
saving the newspaper men a thousand
steps. and watching like hawk at all
times 10 see that the profane feet of
the outsider never invade the sacred
precincts of the press gallery Col
Mann has SO endeared himself to the
newsgathererS that politics is not
worth hill of beans in determining
whether he shall stay or go with the
change in house control
There is a position in which the
Democrats will have a chance to re-
ciprocate when the house organized
next year. The. chaplain OF the house.
Rev Henry n. Couden. is blind. In
the past the Democrats although in
the minority, always have brought out
their candidate against him, but many
Of their number now believe they
could do particularly gracious act
by rejecting Rev. Mr.. Couden. al
though he is a straightOut Republican
DR. Couden is sweet voiced. kindly
minister, and has endeared himself TO
all the members with whom he has
come in contact
Another emplOye who has made him
self so useful that he. has removed his
position from the pale of party favor
is W y Smith, known 10 everybody
around the capitol as Andy" Smith.
He is an employee Of the government
printing office, and has charge of the
mo to <ol- 10 Il.