Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-12-04
REFERENCE MAN.
NOT WORRIED BY
OFFICIAL SHIFT
TO the Victor Belongs the
Spells Does Not Reach
Legislative Bureau.
REASONS ARE OBVIOUS

While campaigns are being waged by
this party worker and that party worker
for political spoiIs at the hands of the
incoming State officers, and While a State
of turmoil exists in several offices for
fear Of removal in favor of friends Of
the new State heads, there is one man
in Indiana who is not worrying about
losing his Job when tha State admins
tration undergOes a change.
That man is Charles Kettleborout; h,
director of the legislative reference bu-
reau- Very few men know M. Kg tile
borough's politics, and it is doubt III if
any of the clerks in the bureau know
the politics of their fellow clerks
Mr.. Marlborough has held BIS posi-
ton for seven years, and he Is not wor-
rytng but that be will hold r. seven or
seventeen years longer, if lie so desires.
for the Office is absolutely out of reach
Of the political spoiIsme,s, and is not
given to appointees on a basis of politi-
cal service.
When tfhe appointment of I director
for the legislative rcfeg ence bureau is
being considered, no .Ilention is made
Of politics. The boaI1. in whose hands
the appointment rcss, does not ask the
politics Of persons ryho are being con-
sldered for the beHfh. nor do they con.
slider any person for the appointment wha
thinks he should. have the place because
OF faithful parry service
When the Appointment of a director Is
made il is dore so on the basis Of merit of
the aDpointe {. and on that basis only.
The reasons Cor this are obvious.
Perhaps 10 one office in the Statehouse
has more tr1 do IN one days time than
n = -. II.
ence emu. and perhaps no other offl-
GERS wtIr,1 is as fascinating and really en-
Joyabl's as is Mr.. Kettleborough's.
The work IS practically different each
day. says Mr.. Marlborough. lone man
VIII De in here talking to me on some
su s5ect or other, and the next person
who comes n VIII have an entirely diff
1eTent subject 10 talk about
But our work is not all talking We
prepare reports for the year book. aid in
preparation Of bills for the Legislature
and do all sorts OF research work"
While all State Offices are supposed
to have a welcome sign ont for member
CT the political party. opposite Of the
incumbent, the Legislative Reference
Bureau is one office where the welcome
exists on the inside as well as the out
side. This Is the reasons politics is never
mentioned about the reference bureau
office.
Democratic member Of the Legisla-
tnre may call at the reference bureau
and ask for literature relative to a blu
which he is preparing for submission
to the Legislature This Democratic
member knows nothing OF the politics
OF Mr.. marlborough or any Of the
clerks in the bureau, and he therefore
knows he is receiving the same cOnsid-
Grafton at the hands Of the clerks as
would any other member OF the Assem- bly,
who might call
8lr. kettlebOrOugh's busiest hour is
right around time for the Legislature TO
convene. 1t is up TO him to gather all
data relative TO bills proposed By some
members Of the Assembly. and have Il
on hand at n moments notice. He must
keep in touch with work Of other States
in regsrd 70 progressive legislation and
have the data on other States work
ready for the perusaI Of the Indiana
solons.
So thorough is Mr.. marlborough
knowledge of the Indiana LeglslsfuFe
that he can tell offhend every bill that
has been introduced in the Assembly in
the past seven years. He has a thorough
knowledge Of the contents OF every biz.
and IS personally acquainted with the
members Of each assembly during the
time lie has been connected with the
Legislative Reference Bureau.
Whenever any member Of the Legis-
lature wants any Information on any
subject relating to legislation all he has
10 do is 10 ask Charley marlborough.
and he can find out.