Daily Kennebec journal., 1916-04-28
TEN WORKERS
Who DEALWITH
THE AFFAIRS OF
THE MAINE FOLK
The Clerical Force of
Maine Senators and
Repre- sentatives in
Congress
WHO THEY ARE AND
THEIR EXPERIENCE

cian-There is a notable roster of
Maine peope here who assist in trans
acting the business that Maine sena-
tors and representatives have at WASH
ington. Most of them have been in their
present positions for a long time and
have become familiar with the inter-
rsis of the constituencies that their
employers are elected to serve. They
take care of a very large correspond
ence. writing hundreds of letters that
the senator's and repr resentativeS send
home daily, and keep tab on a volume
of detail work in matters before the
departments. While the Maine sena-
tors and representatives. give personal
attention to their errands here. mucn
is necessarily left for the clerks and
stenographers to look after.
Each of the Maine senators has three
employees in his offices. that being the
quota allowed to most senators. Each
Of the representatives has one clerk,
that being the quota allowed to repre-
sentatives. This makes, all told, 10 en-
poyes for the Maine lawmakers. In
addition these employ es keep the Of
fees open. while Senate and House
and various committees are in session
Callers from Maine. who are visiting
at Washington, receive courteous at
tention and are made to feel at home
Indeed the Congressional clerk, if alert
TO the interest Of his senator or rep
resentative. can make himself or her.
self useful in many directions.
The senior Maine senator. Mr.. john
son, as chairman of the pensions COM
mittee, has the largest clerical force
of any member of the delegation. On
his staff are several experts. detailed
from the bureau of pensions, to ex-
amEe the many pension bills intro
duced by senators and make up re-
ports thereon. The clerk Of this COM
mittee is ex-Mayor w. j. Gilpatric of
Saco. He formerly served as clerk Of
the fisheries committee. Mr.. Gilpatric
Is a man of affairs, has become famil-
lar with the ways of Congress and also
10 Senator Johnson.
Frank Manson of Waterville is also
one of the clerks of the pension COM
mittee. He is a Colby man and has
oeen in newspaper work most Of the
'tlme since he left college. Just before
he came to Washington, at the begin
hlhg of the present session, Mr.. Man.
son was night editor of the Water
'1lIe Sentinel. He has had an extern
SNe experience in newspaper work. At
one time he was connected with the
kennebec Journal.
Miss Helen Z, Gaffney Of Augusta is
senator Johnson's stcnographer. She
served in similar capacity to FRED
e''ck W. Plaisted, while he was Gov
@'"or OF Maine and before that was
''pioyed on Gov. Plaisteds newspa-
psi' 'ne New Age. She is a very COM
pe'ent stenographer
senator Burleigh's clerk is Robert A.
'ohF, graduate of Bowdoin 'o7. and Of
'N7 georgetown Law School, He is a
"ep"e" OF Gov. Samuel Cony. Of Maine.
1r 'u maintains law Office at Augusta.
10 mas peen with Senator Burleigh since
~, ' ana knows most Maine people by
r hFse names. Mrs. Cony, who was
'u'se E. Gartley Of Bangor and con-
.e''ea with the Maine State Library at
s"s'd' before her marriage is stenog-
wi. rhnef IN Senator Burleighs office.
c r''n her is also her sister, Alice NJ.
''''ley of Bangor. as third clerk.
george P. Plaisted. a prominent Re-
ru'''can Of Gorham. has been Repre-
n. "'a'Ve Kinds clerk for many years.
m nds been county commissioner of
aHoeriand. member of the county
''''i''ee and also chairman Of the
n committee. At one time he was
sased IN the lumber business. A
we"'er is graduate of the Gorham
,n mai school. He is one Of the best
Capitol.
l. T. Elder has been clerk to Repre-
,a'Ve McGillcuody. practically all
s the latter's service from the
Ohu Maine district He is a very
"a pe'eht young man, thoroughly train
clerk SonereSsloiai
y Vo..s Elizabeth T. Cushman Of Ellis
q, ,,'' is clerk to Representative Peters
~, ,Ae Third district She was stenos-
W.. naes IN his law Office there, when he
Hrst elected to Congress.
.ehK c. Merritt Of Houlton is with
N'esehtative N, - Guernsey as he was with
n 'uernsey's predecessor. Represen-
>~'"s'nued on Page 2-coIumn s.