The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-12-15
$15,O0O A YEAR FOR LOOKING PLEASANT London Chamberlain's Job
 Is Soft Snap MANY CANDIDATES Duties Are Non- Existent, as Are Those of Window Clerks" and ''keeper of the Green Esa yard"

London. December 4.-tSpecial1-lt is no wonder tliaf5there was a hot fight for the job of ellamberlain of the city of london. this weslS, for it is doubtful if a more absolntes 'Spap" exists in the whole Of the British enipire. And Adrian Don- aid Wilde Pollock, who won out in the election, is lucky man, for hesssil now exchange one billet with no duties worth mentioning at salary of SlO,000 a year. for another billet with no duties worth mentioning al salary of Sl5,00O year.
 The job which Polloe'-, who is solici- tor by profession, occupies at present, and has occupied since 1905, is that of city remembrancer, which, like his new post of chamberlain, IS little more than a picturesque reih of the classic past of the city of London-that historic square mile between Temple Bar and Aldgate, of which the lord. mayor is officially the hsss, and whose queer municipal machin- cry is quite distinct from that which con Il ols the rest of this metropolis.
 There is Kings remembrancer. too, who, oddly enough Is also named Pollock, though he and the present city remem- brancer are not related, and he actually does something to earn his salary. In the old days his majesty's ''rememhran- Ger dppdfenllS kept tue ioNdl tHSdSe- ment book and saw to it that the mon arch didn't forget any offhis dates. and probably the city remembf bfancer did like service for the lord n8tor Today, how fever, the actual work Of running the rich corporation which is the City of Lon don Is done by permanent officials, who really earn their none too munificent pay, but who sport no. grandoquent title, wear no comic opera dress, and are not
 ,s.l lord mayors show.
 Snaps Plentiful
 Eat snaps that date back to the dark ages are as plentiful in the city of Lon don as leaves in Vallabrosa, and nobody yet has discovered what their respective holders do to earn their money. There is secondary" for instance, in the list of city officials. with a salary of 5000 a year but apart from ths fact that he draws his salary regularly there is no evidence that he has any actual exist ence No one outside the city govern ment knows what the two "ale corners" of the city of London do 10 earn their ancient salaries of S100 a year each, nor who the window clerks are or wheth- CT the keeper of the city greenyard keeps if green, or what are the functions of the prothonotary of the Southwark borough court.
 The lord mayor, whose salary IS equal to that of the United States, has quite a few real duties. Besides presiding over the deliberations of the aldermen. like an American mayor, he sits as a judge in the court of the Mansion House, and when there are no cases. Is duly presented with pair of white gloves, He is the head of no end of charities and other institutions. and the official host Of the city's distinguished guests, and altogether has to work pretty hard. But beyond wearing gorgeous robes at official func- tions MT. Pollock, the new city chain berlain, will not perspire much more pro fusely in return for his Sl5,000 per year than he did as remembrancer for his nice little wage of s10,O00. Officially, he will be treasurer to the city corporation, but