The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-12-05

ployes Of h = .yy94
house hold their
Jobs during the
ascendancy of the party concerning
IT, or course the majority OF the
attaches OF committees remain as
long as the chairmen who appoint
them are in power. Likewise, many
OF the subordinate positions are heid
during the service OF the member on
whose recommendation the appoint
ment was made. But as soon as that
member drops out OF congress, >lhe
emnloye. unless he has ingratiated
himself with some other member, Is
seen no more.
There are a few men I'm the house
whose work has been so valuable
and so essential TO the deliberations
OF that body that no sort or poltlcai
yicissitude will take their places from
them. The most striking instance Oh
this is the case of James L. courts
clerk TO the committee on approprih-
tons The committee clerkships are
nearly always the prerogatiVe OF the
chairman. and he usually has "A scof"
of political lieutenants entitled TO an
appointment as spoil OF war. bht
here is the clerkship OF the most
powerful committee OF the house III
the hands OF Il dyed-in-the-wool Dem
ocrat This position. however, can
NOT he filed satisfactorily by new
conner. To make up the annual Dud'
pet of a billion dollars and 70 have
information ready at hand concern
ing every penny OF the proposed ca
penditlrre. requires an acquaintance
with things that can be acquired on
ly through years or exacuns "orn'
Mr.. Courts possesses such an az
Quaintance, and speakerships, chaii ,
manships, and parties may come anu
go. but Jim" Courts still noios MS
Job rendering faithful service anu
efficient aid TO financial leglsiatioh'
Mr.. Courts is training his staH Oh CO
workers in the same way, anu the
elevation of his former lieutenant
Kennedy Rea. to the clerkshlp OF the
senate committee on appropriations
is a testimonial to his success. hea
is also Democrat.
Another employe OF the house VINO
stays through party changes Is ool'
| Charles H. Mann. the superintendent
| of the house press gallery Like
SUPERINTENDENT Preston OF the senate
press gallery, Charlie Mann has sue
| "eded in making himself indispensa-
| bile TO the men who give 10 the
world its review of affairs In wash
ineton' Keeping track OF all commit
| tee meetings. saving the newspaper
men a thousand steps, and Watching
| like a hawk at all times to see that
the profane feet OF the outsider new,
or invade the sacred precincts or
! 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 with the
change in house control.
There is position in which the
Democrats will have chance TO
reciprocate when the house organizes
next wear. The chaplain or the
house. Reverend Henry y. Couden'
Is blind. In the past the Democrats
although in the minority always nave
brought out their candidate against
him but many of their number now
believe they could do particularly
gracious act by re-electing Rev. Cou-
don. although he Is stralghtout
! Republican, DIR. Couden Is sweet
| voiced. kindly minister, and has en-
deared himself 10 all the members
with whom he has come in contact.
Another employe who has made
himself so useful that he has remov-
ed his position from the pale OF par
~ favor. is w. A. Smith known 10
everybody around the Capitol as
Andy" smith. lie Is an employe OF
the government printing office, and
81 hn y "A
record office In the capitol, but holds
! his position al the pleasure OF the
senate and house. He knows more
about the congressional record than
the man who makes II and no enl-
ploye 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.
they were paid as much as a member
of the senate or house, their posi-
tons have never been deemed a
spoIl OF political warfare. 4 man
must be an expert stenographer tn
command one OF these positions or
that OF official stenographer TO a
house committee.
With the above exceptions the emf
Moves OF the house go the way of
politics. The officers manage TO hold
their positions throughout the as
tendency OF their party. since par.
~ caucus almost uniformly reselects
The old officers as long as IL is in
the majority. The principal positions,
like thar OF clerk OF the house, doo:-
keeper. and postmaster. are desirable
berths, since each carries with IL Il
list OF undergraduates. The clerk
ia acting speaker Whenever there ls
a vacancy in that Office When Demo
crats take control OF the house next
wear. their first presiding officer Will
be Alexander Mcdowell. clerk of the
nresent house. The rules set forth
hat the clerk shall preside over The
deliberations OF the house until a
speaker is chosen but no other
business is i'm order until such a
choice rs made. There have been
times when the clerk was an I'm
portant factor i'm a situation from
which he was TO be eliminated the
moment a speaker was chosen
There is considerable speculation
as to what the attitude OF the Dem
ocratic house Will be toward John j.
Boobar. the Republican librarian OF
the house. Boobar is another ex
ample OF the fellow who does more
1