The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-01-10

THE SENATE PLUM.
While Presdent-elect and Governor Woodrow
Wilson Ia wrestling with the problem of selecting
cabinet members. receiving advice as to the dis
position Of Offices and attempting to keep the
New Jersey bosses" straight, Vice-President-
elect and Governor Marshall is resting comforta-
bly, before a cheerful fire In his home in Indian
apoiis, waiting for the fourth of March with
out worry.
Presidentelect Wilson will have several hum
bred jobs to hand out involving several million
dollars, while the sum total Of the Offices at the
disposal of the epigrammatic Tom IL $1,000. AZ
ter vicePresident Marshall has chosen his ste
nographer. telegrapher and one or two Office
assistants this part of the hateful work at
taching to public Office will have been COM
pleted.
However the senate over which Mr.. Marshall
will preside, has more pie" to dispose of than
its presiding officer, the Offices being larger III
number and the salaries and emoluments at
taching thereuhto being In the neighborhood OF a
million dollars. Some of these places RepubIi-
cans will be lgracousiy allowed to hll, but the
greater part are the spells of the victorious
Democrats.
First In Importance among the Offices TO be
filled are the secretaryship of the senate. and
the position OF sergeant-at-arrs, each paying
So, 500 annually. This thirteen thousand dollars
Ia only part. however, for there are numerous
assistants TO the secretary and many elevator
conductors. messengers postof1ce clerks, teie
phone operators. ianitors and others under
them, bringing the total In salaries paid close
to the s350.O0O mark.
The largest item OF patronage Is probably IN
the various committees of the senate. There are
seventy three Of these, and each is entitled 70
clerk. a messenger and q tanitor Some OF the
committees have several assistant clerks The
salaries of the clerks range from s2,25o to $4,000
the average being about $4,000 This patronage
ia to be bestowed by the chairman of the COM
r,ittee. the rule being that the chairman OF the
committee shall always be allowed this priVi-
lege
ar these seventythree committees nineteen
are headed by minority chairmen. although the
majority OF the committee ia always made up
NJ members of the majority party. Most of these
committees never have had a meeting since their
designation, and 1t is not expected that tney
rhal meet II there any danger that these
committees would ever have any business 10
transact It may be depended upon that the ma
jority would never permit them to be presided
over by any member OF the minority party
They are simply created for the purpose ~ CIV
ing each minority senator who has served more
t,an one term little patronage in the sui'e OF
all extra clerk at little higher salary. and
the anpointment OF messenger and 1A'itor 10
h,s committee room, a fact which suggests room
for economy II the Democratic senate which
comes into being after March Attn really wishes
10 practice It,
So far as the majority cierkships are con-
cerned they will be filled by men VINO nave
heen secretaries TO senators who under the
reorganization of the senate will become COM
mittee chairmen However, there VIII De 10"
choice plums for "life-long Democrats al the
disposal of the Democrats when they assume
control of the senate.