Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-05-14

years.
senator's and representatives. Is to recon-
mend boys from a greater distance.
The selection from among the number
submitted to him Is made by the chie1
doorkeeper of the House Of Representa-
tives as regards the forty-six pages used
In that branch OF Congress. He can APP
point or dismiss them at Will But an ei-
fort is usually made to give preference TO
the best boys and to the recommendation
OF a member who has been longest with
out such an appointment
These boys come on duty at O'Clock IN
the morning every day that Congress is In
session A roll Is called. after which they
devote the time until noon in folding ana
fllng on each members desk copy OF
the Record and Of any important bill con-
uected with the preceding days business.
At noon they take their places on
benches on either the republican or demo-
cratic sides OF the House-no page carry
ms, cards TO both factions. An electric
bell system has numbers above the but
tons corresponding with those on the
desks This is q new feature, and has
done away with the old system OF favorit-
Ism. when a congressman became at
tached TO one boy and almost commanded
his services.
The pages are expected to remain on
duty while the flag files.
They are divided into those who remain
always on the floor those who carry
cards from the reception rooms. telephone
pages, door pages and the riding pages,
who go down into the CITY to various gov
eminent offices. and wherever a member
may wish to send officially. In early
days, when horse service was the quick
est about Washington. the title was be-
slowed and has remained Even now,
with the rapid trolley system. these pages
QyS
which to do their errands.
With the installation OF the series OF
private booths in the cloakroom OF the
House. q chief telephone page is also in
Guided I'm tho number. He finds the con-
gresSrnen-!f he can--who are wanted.
Then there Is a page-!n-chief, who has a
sort of Junior Republic authority over the
fellows These boys can serve SO long
as they arc reappointed. A radical change
ike that Just accomplished at the Capitol
means a sweeping dismissal. and ap-
pointrnent OF those whose patrons belong
10 the ruling party; But In cases where,
faithful service, boy has enlisted the adj
rniration OF members, he is kept on. al
though his contemporaries have TO go.
page must be not less than twelve years
old nor more than eighteen when appointed.
but he can remain in office after reaching
the latter age. His salary is SO a month.
and he gets Il whether school keeps or
not 10 use a New England term. In
him months of holiday with full pay.
And according to +. Il. Lyon until this
session ext ordinary head doorkeeper OF
the House, and stiIl retained at the Cap
ito':
They make really good use OF this va :
cation. Many OF them attend law lectures
or study civil or some other form OF en-
ginecring. and by the time they reach the
point where political conditions or their
age causes them 10 retire have gained
another means OF permanent livelihood
That Is one reason why We really pre-
fer boys from away. They usually board
here and know fewer people, naturally,
than Washington boy. The very necessity
for something TO occupy the time often
drives them TO study. and then they--lnost
IF them-send money home. so that little
remains for any designations.
las class they are bright. alert, well
gIoomed. interesting boys. During my
fifteen years OF service here have never
known but one boy who absolutely could
aot catch on to his required duties. nor
Of but one who deliberately resigned and
turned his back upon the attractions of
congressional life With the boys as the
men the habit grows, and not to be in
the midst OF things here hurts.
Even when q page is given somethin g
more remunerative he will come up here
In an ashamed way, as II he no longer
counted. Some boys II affects like wine,
and / could relate several sad results OF
this excitement. But to most II gives a
knowledge of congressional proceedings
and politics which they find very useful.
individually some boys, of course, are
more vivid in my memory than others.
1.-The handsomest boy we ever had here
was Jimmie Worrell of Minnesota He
VAS a page II the fifty sixth and FIFTY