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Mr. BYRNS. Then you desire two additional messengers, one at $900 and one at $840. We would like to know why these increases are deemed necessary.

Mr. WEBSTER. Regarding those $2,500 places, the President has asked for them. He wants to promote two men from $2,000 to $2,500, and Mr. Tumulty thinks we ought to provide for a promotion from $1,800 to $2,000 and one from $1,600 to $1,800 on account of the peculiar efficiency of the clerks who occupy those places. You will notice that this does not increase the clerical force at all. It is merely a series of promotions.

Mr. BYRNS. This does not constitute any increase in the number of clerks?

Mr. WEBSTER. No, sir; the number of clerks is the same. The clerks whom it is desired to promote are exceedingly efficient, and the Secretary has had their cases under consideration for some time. I believe he asked for a similar appropriation last year.

Mr. BYRNS. Mr. Webster, what position do you hold in the Executive Office?

Mr. WEBSTER. I am the accountant.

Mr. BYRNS. It is proposed that you shall do the work now performed by the disbursing clerk?

Mr. WEBSTER. Yes, sir. I am doing that now. The disbursing clerk who had been there for a great many years, Col. Crook, died last March, and when he died I took up his work and was made special disbursing agent.

Mr. BUCHANAN. What salary are you getting now?

Mr. WEBSTER. $2,500. That was my salary as accountant before Col. Crook died.

Mr. BUCHANAN. Then this does not affect your salary at all? Mr. WEBSTER. No; it is merely a change of title. As I am doing the disbursing work, the office thought I ought to have some designation to indicate it.

Mr. BYRNS. As to the two clerks whom it is proposed to increase to $2,500, what salary are they drawing now, $2,000?

Mr. WEBSTER. Yes, sir.

Mr. BYRNS. How long have they been in the service?

Mr. WEBSTER. They have both been there since 1898.
Mr. BYRNS. What particular duties do they perform?

Mr. WEBSTER. One of them is a confidential clerk to the President and the other is the head of the telegraph and cipher bureau there, and has charge of the telephone exchange and the telegraphing, and also arranges the trips of the President, makes out the schedules, etc. Mr. BUCHANAN. Those two clerks are now drawing $2,000 each? Mr. WEBSTER. Yes, sir.

Mr. BUCHANAN. What are the four clerks you refer to drawing now? Mr. WEBSTER. $2,000.

Mr. BUCHANAN. Then, there is no increase intended for those four clerks?

Mr. WEBSTER. It is proposed to increase two of them to $2,500. Mr. BYRNS. As I understand it, the proposition is to promote two of the three clerks at $2,000 to $2,500.

Mr. WEBSTER. Yes, sir.

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Mr. BYRNS. And then to provide four instead of three at $2,000, which will give you three promotions for clerks who are now in the lower grade to $2,000.

Mr. WEBSTER. No, sir. You will notice that the disbursing clerk has been omitted and has been put as an additional $2,000 clerk. Mr. BYRNS. But you have not filled that position and have no disbursing clerk.

Mr. WEBSTER. No, sir.

Mr. BUCHANAN. I want to find out what increase in Government expense this represents.

Mr. WEBSTER. The effect is to increase one clerk from $1,800 to $2,500 and one from $1,600 to $2,500, a total of $1,600. Of course, those promotions would not be made direct, but they would be made up through the grades.

Mr. BUCHANAN. That does not make the difference given in the footing.

MESSENGERS.

Mr. WEBSTER. There are two additional messengers asked for, one at $900 and one at $840, making a total of $1,740.

Mr. BYRNS. Why do you need these additional messengers, Mr. Webster?

Mr. WEBSTER. We are compelled to detail messengers to the White House on account of the great amount of work there, and the office thinks we ought to have the messengers on our pay roll instead of having them detailed there.

Mr. BYRNS. You mean detailed from other bureaus or departments of the Government?

Mr. WEBSTER. Yes, sir.

Mr. BYRNS. Have you two messengers detailed there at the present time?

Mr. WEBSTER. We have about 12 clerks and messengers on detail just at present, but most of those are engaged on social business in connection with the receptions. They are only there temporarily. Mr. BYRNS. I mean have you had messengers detailed to the executive office for any extended length of time?

Mr. WEBSTER. Yes, sir; we have had some detailed there nearly all the year.

Mr. BRYNS. Those details are from what bureau of the Government?

Mr. WEBSTER. One of them is from the Interior Department. Mr. BYRNS. Do you know from what bureau in the Interior Department?

Mr. WEBSTER. The Geological Survey; and two from the Government Printing Office.

Mr. BYRNS. Is it proposed to return those messengers to their respective bureaus in the departments, or do you want these two messengers in addition to those you have now on detail?

Mr. WEBSTER. No, sir; if we get this appropriation we would probably appoint two of these messengers on the White House payroll instead of detailing them.

Mr. BYRNS. I understand, but my inquiry was this: If these two additional messengers were allowed, will you want those messengers

or would you return them to their departments, or do you want these two messengers in addition to those you now have on detail?

Mr. WEBSTER. Oh, no. We would either return them to the departments or appoint them on our pay roll. The fact is, we would probably appoint them on our pay roll.

Mr. BYRNS. These details have been going on for a number of years, as I understand?

Mr. WEBSTER. Yes, sir. Of course, I do not know what disposition the Secretary would make of these detailed messengers if we got the appropriation, but I think he would appoint two of them on our rolls. I think he has promised one of them to appoint him if there is a chance to do so.

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