The Monticellonian., 1917-02-08

to put through.
 Working Hard for Control. Curiously enough, this feeling to considerable extent exists in the hearts of some of the Republican members Of the house. It must not be understood for a minute, however, that the Re publicans as a party are not gong to try their best to organize the next house of representatives It can be taken for granted that the Democrats will try just as hard. AS matter or fact. both parties today are doing all that in them lies to secure the adhe- sion to their cause of the five or SIX independents and others who may be able to say the word which means sue cess to one or the other of the great parties in the work of organizing the house and in controlling 1t thereafter.
 Perhaps it is bad grace to say so, but probably no one will enter denial when the word is set down that there is an element of selfshness in the de- sire of party to control the house of representatives, even if it is not to control it by a margin wide enough to enable it to be sure that it can put through or block legislation as the party desire may be.
 Control of the house is valuable from a selfish point of view to the | members, because of the patronage in the case. On one roll of the house of representatives there are the names ts.fO FTbAn in addition there are 59 committee clerks, and the appointment of these clerks lies well within the field of the influence of the charmen of the different con- mittees. Each chairman has at his disposal jobs which collectively pay $3, 300 each year. There is political aid to be expected from these em- ployees in addition to the work which they give to the committees which employ them.
 There is good deal of patronage which is not included in the above. It is distributed among the members and it takes in clerical appointments in large number. Folders of documents, elevator conductors, policemen, book keepers, and some other jobs which seem worth while in the eyes of the men who aspire to hold them, are in the direct gift of the house organiza- tion.
 Dewey Was Only Admiral.
 With the death of George Dewey the rank of admiral passes from the Unit ed States navy list until it shall be revived by congress to be given To some leader in war or to some sailor who in a sudden emergency rises so high above the ordinary level of serV- ice and of heroiSm as to make 1t tttlng that he shall be honored above other men.
 The rank of admiral in the navy corresponds to the rank of general in the army. There Is no general in the United States army today. Neither is there a lieutenant general except on the retired list. Of course there are plenty of major genrals, just as there are plenty of rear admirals in the navy, but though n man be called general or admiral it does not mean necessarily that he holds right to that title unmoditied.
 When Dewey was made an admiral the nomination and confirmation car ried with them the right to remain on the active list of the navy if he should so elect during the remainder Gf his life. George Dewey was the only officer on the active list of the United States sea service who had passed the milestone of his siXty-sec- ond birthday. In the army there is no soldier on the active list who has passed the age of siXty-four years. Until within a few months the age of compulsory retirement in the navy was sfxty-two years, while in the army it was siXty-four years. A change has just been made in the law which keeps naval officers on the active list as long as officers of the army are kept there, that is until they are siXty-four years of age.
 Worked Hard to the Last.
 In a great many respects George Dewey was a wonder to the men of the service. Of course he won renown at Manila bay, but he won admiration in Washington by the way in which he kept at work for 15 years after if he had so elected, he could have taken life easy. Every day all through the years the admiral would go to his of fee in the Mills building and there take up his duties as president of the general and joint boards of the navy. He took a deep interest in all things pertaining to the service and he kept abreast of the times despite his ad- vancing years. He was a keen advo- cate of preparedness.
 In Washington, working just as hard as Admiral Dewey worked, there has been for years a lieutenant general of the United States army. True enough it is that he has been on the retired list for years but despite this fact he asked for active service of some kind and so, even while borne on the roster of retired ones, he is keeping up his work for the service, work which leads him into fields where his sym pathies strongly are engaged.
 Lieut.. Gen. Samuel B. NJ. Young to day is governor of the Soldiers home