Evening star., 1921-09-19
Capital Sidelights
BY WILL p. KENNEDY.

There is a growing recognition that
If Uncle Sam wants to have his at
fairs in the administrative branch OF
the government, which is the biggest
business establishment in the world.
run economically and efficiently as
big business runs it's affairs, he must
get around to paying far higher sal
aries for good business men to do the
job.
A couple of years ago there was
considerable surprise expressed in
Congress when Representative Swager
Sherley. chairman of the House appro-
priations committee. defeated for re-
election to a seat as representative at
a salary of $500. was promptly
given a job with the railroad admin
lstratiOn by William q. McAdoo at a
salary of $4,000. But it is now gen.
orally admitted that Sherley earned
every cent he received
Now comes the great republican
campaign manager, Will H. Hays.
who put Harding in the White House.
and as postmaster general is conduct
toners. and multiplies the estimate
of the worth of a good executive.
Hays is one of the cabinet members
who is taking. the greatest interest
government service for economy and
efficiency. Recently speaking of the
work of this commission, of which
Senator Smooth of Utah is the father.
Mr.. Hays said: without this service
i believe Senator Smoot was already
worth a half billion dollars every
year to this country for the next few
years" In private business when
they find man that they know is
doing that sort of efficient work they
pay him more than $500.
nized theory that men work better If
their inner manhood has been satis-
fed, Elliott Woods, architect of the
Capitol and the general housekeeper
the congressional recess to thor
oughly renovate the House restau-
rant. where most of the members eat,
putting in the latest cullinery equip
equipped eating places in the coun-
try. He is also installing thor
oughly up-to-date cafateria in the
House office building for the cOnven-
working in the offices and for their
secretaries and clerks.
X X + X
NJ. w. Pickering, Sergeant-at-arms
of the republican congressional COM
mittee. accompanied by Inspector
Cliff Grant. chief of the Washington
detective force, made trip to San
Francisco this summer. In big tour
ing car they were being driven by
Frank Tape of Frisco, circuitously
down the side of Mount Tamalpais
To the Big Basin" The road was
very narrow, with a precipitous de-
scent into the valley, where the bot
tom of the fall-away could scarce
ly be seen. Frequent signs along
the road said: Bad curve
blow your horn" The driver was
hugging the mountain side and kept
asking: What does that sign say?"
Cliff Grant is recognized as one of
the most imperturbable men in the
National Capital and certainly his
police experience has injured him
against dangers, but the sight OF the
preCipice so close and the fear that
while watching the signs Tape might
swerve slightly from the true and
careful course wore on his nerves
Finally he exclaimed: You no look
at the Signs-let Pick look
x = X
Thousands of visitors flock to the
White House, so that today it is the
best-known residence in the world.
but comparatively few people know
the chief facts about this home of
their President
cause it is built of white freestone.
The site was selected by President
Washington and Maj. Peter Charles
L'Enfant, planner of the Capital city,
in 1891
The architect was James Hoban of
Dublin. The plans were chosen by
competition.
The cornerstone was laid October
13. 1892.
The first occupant was President
and Mrs. Adams, in November, 1900.
The White House was burned by
the British in 1914.
1t was first heated by gas in 1S4S.
A system of heating and ventilation
was installed in 1858.
The original cost of the White
House was met out of the proceeds
from the sale of lands donated by
Maryland and Virginia