The Clio messenger. (Clio, Mich.) 1907-current, 1917-02-02

to put through.
Working Hard for Control.
Curiously enough, this feeling to a
considerable extent exists I'm the hearts
of some of the Republican members of
the house. 1t must not be understood
for minute, however, that the Re-
publicans as a party are not going
to try their best to organize the next
house of representatives. 1t can be
will try just as hard. AS matter Of
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 1T 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 selfishness I'm the de-
sire of party to control the house
of representatives, even If it is not
to enable 1t to be sure that it can
put through or block legislation as the
party desire may be.
Control of the house is valuable
from 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
Of 219 employees. Then in addition
there are 80 committee clerks, and
the appointment of these clerks lies
well within the field of the influence
of the chairmen of the different COM
mittees. Each chairman has at his
disposal jobs which collectively pay
$1,000 each year. There is political
aid to be expected from these EN-
ployees in addition to the work which
they give to the committees which
employ them.
There Is a good deal Of patronage
which is not included in the above. 1t
1t 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-
ton.
Dewey Was Only Admiral.
With the death of George Dewey the
rank of admiral passes from the Unit
ed States navy list until 1T shall be
revived by congress to be given TO
some leader In war or to some sailor
who In q sudden emergency rises so
high above the ordinary level of serv-
Ice and of heroism as to make 1t fitting
that he shall be honored above other
men.
The rank of admirai 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 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 man be called
general or admiral it does not mean
necessarily that he holds right to that
title unmodified.
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
ii his lie. George Dewey was the
only ofliccr 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 nc
soldier on the active list who has
passed the age of sixty-four years.
Until within few months the age OF
compulsory retirement in the navy
WAS sixty-two years, while in the army
1t was sixtyfoUr 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 slxty-four years
of age.
Worked Hard to the last.
In great many respects George
Dewey was wonder TO The men OF
the service. OF course he won renown
nj Manila bay, but he won admiration
in Washington by the way in which he
kept at work for 10 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 adj
vancing years. He was 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
1t 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
pothies atronOlv ora rnpaped