Evening star., 1952-11-09
1850 OLegisIative Jobs
Among Many Due for
Change al Capitol
By Don S. Warren

By Don S. Warren
A lot of goodbyes are being said
on Capitol Hill. With the incoming
Republican control in the House
and Senate hundreds of patron
age jobs will have new claimants.
It is probably the most attract
i've single patronage "pie counter"
in town since most Of the jobs
are awarded on a political basis
rather than by non-partisan civil
service examination.
Involved are about 1900 legisla-
tive jobs. not including more hun
dredS Of individual appointments
to be made by Senators and House
members in their own offices or
those to committee staffs.
There will be big turnover in
January. judging from present in
dications. but if recent practice Isl
followed there will be nothing like
a clean sweep.
For one thing there are some
career workers in both the House
and Senate who have survived
more than one change of politi-
cal control. At worst they have
at times become second stringers
instead Of top dogs.
Professional Jobs Set Up.
Also, under the Congressional
Reorganization Act. Congress sew
earl years ago established pro-
feSsional career posts on many
House and Senate Committee
staffs. supposedly beyond the reach
OF the spoils system.
Among the most fertile fields
for change are the 158 posts on
the Capitol Police Force. the 81
Capitol pages. the doorkeeperS, the
employees in the document rooms,
the folding rooms, the mail car
riers and the elevator operators.
JanitorS-and there are o lot Of
them-also are subject to a turn
over but some officials say there
has been a tendency in recent
years to omit these other laborers
from the political scheme.
Job applicants already are said
to be lining up for some Of the
better paying patronage jobs.
Notable among these are the
$13.400 jobs of sergeant-at-arms
of the Senate and House. These
are more important that even indi-
Gated by the salary, for under
them are lots of other jobs where
the boss may have an influence.
Dukes Job at Stake.
That Senate post. now held by
popular Joe Duke, is being sought
by his Republican Deputy William
T. Reed and several others. in
Guiding Edward F. McG Ginnis. who
held that post during the Re-
publican 80th Congress: -
The ONCE of Secretary OF the.
Senate probably will fall to y.
Mark Trice, now secretary to the
minority.
If they want to, the Republicans
can provide even new chaplains
for the House and Senate. Such
changes have been made on a
political turnover. The chaplains
of the House and Senate are paid
about $4,000 for part time service.
The present thought is that
Republicans in control will be
"just as rough on the opposition
as they were on U.S." That may
mean that no more than 10 or
Is per cent of the jobs on the
police force, the pages and other
regular patronage places will be
made available to Democrats next
year.
For instance. there now are 81
Senate pages. The number is fixed
by legislation. In the 80th
Congress, the Democrats were
allotted appointments. Likewise,
since then the Democrats in con-
troll have allowed their Republican
opponents only four.
Lynn'S Position Safe.
One of the farewells comes from
Capt. Olin Cavness of the Capital
Police Force. a protege Of Senator
Fulbright. Arkansas Democrat.
Capt. Cavness is bidding goodbye
to his $5,400 a year job. He has
been on the force since 1910. He
comes from Bentonville, Ark.
There are some job opportuni-
ties on the committees, despite
the theory of keeping career men.
The Senate judiciary Committee,
for instance has a large force.
One subcommittee has a staff of
33 members and another Of Is.
Some career men. however, ride
through all political upSets. One.
for example, is David Lynn, archi-
tect of the Capitol, who has held
that $4,000 post since 1923. There
have been only seven Capitol
architects since 1893 when Will
liam Thornton was making Wash
ington plans.
Mr.. Lynn has supervised the
WAR