Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-09-06
Resolutions for Clean Sweep.


Resolutions for Clean Sweep.
ut is the sense Of this caucus that 1t is
neither practicable nor possible so TO dis
tribute the patronage of the House as to
give to all members Of the caucus places
Of equal importance or salary. The COM
mittee on organization should be given
broad discretion in the selection of the
employees upon whom we must depend for
the efficient conduct Of the business of
the House; and in securing and maintain
ing this efficiency as a first consideration,
as we'll as for the equitable distribution
Of the patronage of the House, we must
trust to the wisdom and sense OF fair
ness OF the committee. No hard and fast
rules can be prescribed.
Therefore, be it resolved, That the
committee on organization De, and II IS
hereby, authorized to nominate to the Of
ficers Of the House all employees not here
after excepted. and the officers are hereby
directed to appoint all and only such en-
ployes as may be SO nominated to them.
THAT said committee shall apportior
the patronage of the House among the
members Of this caucus having IN view
ganization, and. second. the fair dis
tribution of the patronage among the
members of the caucus.
That said committee shall keep a
register of all employees Of the House
shall show the name OF the employe.
the position held. the salary paid, and
the name S OF the en-. member or members.
Such register shall be properly indexed
and shall at all times be open to in
spectton by any member OF this caucus.
OF the me com com
cloakroom men and the appointees of
the Speaker at the desk are excepted
from the employees to be appOrtiOned by
the committee.
THAT all employees appointed by the
officers Of the House shall be subject
to dismissal by the officer making the
appointment. the fact that such employe
has been appointed in pursuance Of a
ganization notwithstanding.
"That chairmen Of standing commit
tees Of the House. except the commit
tee on mileage, shall not be allotted
patronage.
Disagrees With Committee.
The resolutions had not been read
more than few seconds when Rep
resentative Wingo Of Texas. a new
member, declared he did not believe in
the committees contention that II
would be impossible to divide up the
Jobs. and challenged the preamble OF
was
upheld after a strenuous word battle
Representative Finley Gray Of In
diana, who has been sore" on the
patronage subject for a long time, made
q speech that drew the yel1s from the
throats OF the newer and hungrie,
members. Mr.. Gray said he had beer
done out of patronage long enough
and he wanted to get what was coming
to him. He had surrendered his patron
age, he explained. in the beginning. OF
the sixty-second Congress. SO that e
Stokes jackson. an Indiana man, could
be made sergeant-at-arms. Mr.. Gray
did this, he said. simply. AZ an accom-.
mediation. and not because Jackson hal
been Of help to him in the campaign.
Mr. jackson died. and when Repre-
he believed was his rightful patronage
he was told, mo. You already have hat
q sergeant-at-arms and that Is enough.
ST do not believe In the assumed wis
dom Of these older members" said Mr.
Gray. II think the new men make bet
ter congressman"
Better not let thats remark get bacl
to your district them" advised a demo
crat.
Amendment to Dust Republicans.
The sweeping amendment by Represen
tative Clark Of Florida to Gust all re
publicans must be taken as "the sens
Of the caucus" 1t shows the temper o
| the democrats, but is not the final action
| The amendment was vigorously defends
| by the author and reads as follows:
"It Is the sense of the caucus that tn
| committee on Organization shall not al
| low any republican to hold any position
which should be included in demo
cratic patronage, no matter how lon
| he may have served. as we believe
| democrat can be found who is fully capa
| HE OF discharging the duties Of any plac
| IN the House organization"