Characters
Bus
Bus, a seasoned and well-established secretary, has served under nine different congressmen. As the curtain rises, she finds herself unexpectedly dismissed by Eddie Wister, her current employer, who decides to replace her with a secretary from the steel industry. Amidst her farewells to Marjorie, Bus overhears Alan McClean discussing his efforts to thwart the Appropriations Committee from green-lighting H. R. 2007. Drawing from her wealth of experience, she offers to assist him in navigating the convoluted system. While Bus occasionally harbors hope that the insidious corruption can be combated, she remains mostly resigned to its persistence. Fittingly, she delivers the play’s final remark. When Sol boasts of his untouchability, she simply retorts, "Maybe," hinting at her lingering belief in the possibility of an untainted world.
Dell
Dell stands as a prominent member of the House Appropriations Committee and a staunch ally of Gray. He engages in strategic bargaining with fellow congressmen from other states to ensure the passage of H. R. 2007.
Joe Ebner
Joe Ebner, a maverick in Congress, lacks the clout to integrate his favored projects into H. R. 2007. However, with McClean's leadership, Ebner becomes fervently committed to defeating the bill and paving the way for a revamped political order in America.
Farnum
Representing California, Congressman Farnum is passionate about a national park project at Joaquin Miller's home, despite his oblivion to Miller's identity.
Solomon Fitzmaurice
Solomon Fitzmaurice, known to many as Sol, embodies the very defects of the political system. Though astute, he masks his intelligence under a veneer of complaints about his meager earnings. Sol is genial to all, feigning empathy for every side of an argument, yet his interest lies more with his drink than with his constituents. His primary aim is to push through legislation that will line his own pockets. A particular ambition is securing a winter port for the Atlantic Fleet at Rocky Point, Long Island, which would funnel money towards his housing project. When Alan McClean resolves to challenge the political status quo over the appropriations bill, he approaches Sol, recalling Sol's earlier claim of being an idealist upon his congressional debut. Sol shares an inspiring tale but attempts to sway McClean with a cynically pragmatic view of politics: "The sole business of government is graft, special privilege, and corruption—with a by-product of order." Sol remains a fervent supporter of Gray, staunchly defending the chairman’s honor while jesting about his fellow congressmen, including himself.
Marjorie Gray
Marjorie Gray, daughter and secretary to Congressman Simeon Gray, finds herself navigating the delicate terrain between her professional duties and personal affections. Her budding relationship with Alan McClean does not go unnoticed, and when Bus remarks on Alan’s seemingly adoring gaze, Marjorie quips, "I wouldn’t really mind!" Initially, she appears to be nurturing McClean to match her father’s acumen and integrity in politics. Upon discovering Alan's intent to use sensitive information against Gray should the bill pass, Marjorie's loyalty firmly sides with her father. Yet, suspicion gnaws at her as she questions the innocence of her father’s involvement in a potentially lucrative deal. Gray warns that losing out could lead to severe repercussions, even imprisonment, prompting Marjorie to implore McClean to abandon his opposition.
Simeon Gray
Known also as Sime, Simeon Gray is the play's most formidable political figure, presiding as chairman of the House Appropriations Committee. One of his paramount responsibilities is assuring presidential satisfaction with the bill’s provisions prior to its formal presentation. Revered as Congress's paragon of honesty, he is adept at curtailing waste and corruption. Yet, Alan uncovers a hidden motive in Gray’s push for H. R. 2007: a...
(This entire section contains 1398 words.)
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clause that benefits a bank in Gray’s district, where he holds substantial interests. Gray professes his primary concern is the economic prosperity of his constituents, yet privately confides to Marjorie that his directorship could lead to a prison sentence should the bank falter. Once the bill clears the committee with a bloated budget, Gray marshals his considerable influence to ensure its passage in the House.
Levering
Levering, wielding significant sway in Congress, is dubbed "the presidential mouthpiece—the official whipper-in of the administration." He engages in a lengthy discourse with Alan, gently but resolutely attempting to garner his support for the legislation. Some colleagues jestingly refer to him as Dizzy or Disraeli, alluding to Benjamin Disraeli, the 19th-century British prime minister famed for his remarkable achievements both domestically and abroad.
Mark
Mark, the mail clerk, embodies the voice of the everyday citizen in the narrative. Observing the unfolding events within the House offices, he questions, "What good’s all this—that’s what I want to know?"
Alan McClean
At the heart of this compelling drama stands McClean, a vibrant young congressman from Nevada, driven by a fierce desire to reshape the political landscape. His campaign promise was clear: to construct a dam that would transform the arid lands of his home state into fertile ground for farmers. Initially, McClean seemed a natural ally of H. R. 2007, a bill proposing funds for the dam's construction. However, a shocking revelation about the project's exorbitant costs and the shadowy financial support for his election from construction firms benefiting from the dam led him to a startling decision. Inspired by his late father, a crusading newspaper publisher who fought tirelessly against corruption, McClean embarked on a journey of self-reflection, even hiring a private investigative team to scrutinize his own campaign. His unwavering commitment to justice and taxpayer integrity remained steadfast, even when Marjorie, the woman who captured his heart, implored him to reconsider his opposition in the name of love.
To seasoned politicians, Alan's idealism appeared hopelessly naïve, a youthful delusion. Yet, he was far from foolish. When his direct assault on the bill seemed doomed to failure, he pivoted with cunning brilliance. By supporting the bill while deliberately embedding it with glaring instances of waste, he aimed to expose its flaws to the public eye. He anticipated that the ensuing scandal would make his fellow lawmakers too skittish to support it. Yet, he misjudged their voracious appetites; the allure of the financial windfall clouded their judgment. Despite the cynicism surrounding him, Alan remained resolute, an undeterred champion against government excess, fighting valiantly for the American taxpayers.
Miss Bess McMurtry
Within the corridors of power, Congresswoman Bess McMurtry stands as a beacon of advocacy on the Appropriations Committee. Her mission is clear: to channel resources towards increasing maternity nurses and ensuring the proliferation of birth control education and contraceptives.
Merton
Merton, once the dutiful secretary to Alan McClean, finds his tenure abruptly ended by the close of Act 1. The revelation that he has been secretly relaying information about McClean's activities to veteran politicians results in his swift dismissal.
Greta Nillson
See Bus
Peebles
Hailing from the South, Congressman Peebles carries with him a sense of resignation regarding appropriations. He consoles those whose projects face cuts, reminding them of the South's long history of being overlooked financially by the federal government since the Civil War.
Sneden
Among the supporters of the bill is Congressman Sneden, whose primary concern seems to be the time legislative duties take away from his beloved golf game.
Trumper
Though never seen, Congressman Trumper's influence is felt through gossip in the halls. Known as one of the "swing votes," he is open to opposing the appropriations bill for laughable concessions like free seeds and free silver. This latter issue stirs suspicions among the populace that the wealthy are manipulating the government to suppress silver circulation. Alan finds himself astounded by Trumper's delusional confidence that he is a viable presidential contender.
Wingblatt
Wingblatt, a steadfast member of the Appropriations Committee, is committed to marshaling sufficient support for the bill's successful passage through both legislative chambers.
Eddie Wister
Eddie Wister, a savvy deal-maker with a penchant for manipulation, disrupts committee proceedings at the play's onset due to his dealings in New York with the steel industry. His secretary, Bus, is unceremoniously dismissed to make way for Miss Corey, an inexperienced yet striking blonde, formerly employed by Col. Sprague of Appalachian Steel. Eddie pushes for appropriations in support of The Committee of 48 on National Defense, an innocuous-sounding group that is, in reality, a coalition of steel companies. As the plot unfurls, Eddie's machinations further reveal his use of private investigators to dig up dirt on Simeon Gray, aiming to leverage this information for blackmail.
