The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1911-04-06
TRIM PATRONAGE
CAUCUS OF NEW MAJORITY IN
LOWER BODY OF CONGRESS
AIMS AT ECONOMIES.
90 OFFICES ABOLISHED
Total Saving Of $4,000 Is Purposed
in Expenditures For Employees.
Rules Changes I'M
portant.

Washington, d. G.. - In harmony
and with vigor, the Democrats of the
house of representatives in the sixty
second congress went at their caucus
work OF organization, determining
committee assignments and devising
economies through reductions of use
less employees and abandonment Of
non-working committees.
The first act of the caucus was to
issue directions looking to the abolish
ment OF about one-fourth of the pat
ronage jobs of the house, saving
thereby $120,6S0; discontinuance of
six committees at a saving of $12,0 900,
and abandonment of the practice of
allowing employees a months extra
pay, saving $780, 900. This Is a total
saving of $182,6SO of last years total
expenditures for house employees of
about $4,000
A legislative program was adopted,
which Is expected to confine the activ-
tiles of the coming extra session of
congress to popular election of sem
ators, Canadian reciprocity, tariff re-
vision, investigation of governmental
departments, congressional reappor-
tionment, statehood for Arizona and
New Mexico, general deficiency appro-
%priations, District of Columbia legis-
lation and publicity Of campaign CON
tributions.
Important changes of the procedure
and a general reorganization will re-
suit from the action of the Democratic.
The power of naming committees was
definitely taken from the speaker by
the rules and lodged in the house it.
self. Committee members are to be
elected by the house, not only in the
first instance, but also in the filling of
vacancies.
The important changes in the rules
under which the new congress will
operate are:
The selection OF committees by the
house.
A provision 10 prevent fi~libustering
under the rule giving authority to dis
charge committees from considera-
ton of bills.
A provision permitting amendments
to appropriation bills whenever those
amendments will result in retrench-
ment of national expenditures.
Authority for bills to come up twice
for passage under the unanimous con-
sent privilege.
The rule to prevent flibuster-
ing provides that a bill shall be read
only by it's title and that It's title shall
not be more than 100 words long. 1t
prohibits any member from having be-
fore the house at any time more than
two motions to discharge committees
from the custoday of bills. Under
this rule the democrats believe this
rule can be made to work as original
ly intended, to prevent the burying Of
bills in committee.
The caucus was presided owe by
Albert S.. Burleson, of Texas, as chair
man, and w. A. Ashbrook, of Ohio, as
secretary.
Patronage Shorn.
Patronage is taken away from the
sergeant at arms, d~oorkeeper, post
master and clerk of the house, who
are prevented from appointing any of
ommendation of the committee on or
ganiZation. These recommendations,
as previously stated, are to be based
on an equal division Of patronage
among the members.
Under the speaker three Offices are
| ahnliahA1 h,t tun fRnac o1rn,Iu NV
listing are transferred to him to fill.
Under the clerk of the house 26 posi-.
tions are abolished at a net saving of
$39.970. Under the sergeant at arms
a cut of AZ is made In the special cap.
itol police force. The senate will have
to concur in this reduction, which IN.
cludes one captain, two ~lieutenants,
s47,050. The doorkeeper will lose 81
positions, saving $31,340.
South Trimble, of Frankfort, KY.
who was a member of the f~fty-seventh
congress-. was unanimously elected
clerk of the new house.
U. s. Jackson, of Indiana was elect
ed sergeant-at-arms, defeating William
F. Ryan, of Buffalo, by a vote of ia
to 81.
Joseph ]. Sinnott, of Virginia, was
elected by reclamation to be door.
keeper of the house.
William M. Dunbar, of Augusta, Ca,
was elected postmaster on the third
ballot. defeating A. G. Bremner, OF
New Jersey, 104 to "a.
Rev. e. Couden, the blind chaplain,
was reelected by reclamation to his
position. He has served as chaplain
for nearly a dozen years.
nan ~ AAnEr ~