The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-10-22
TOPEKA STATE JOURNAL
Information Bureau
FREDERIC j. HAsKIN. Director,
washington, D. o.
A PLAYGROUND FOR CON-
GRESSMEN.

Washington is at last going to become
acquainted au-round. Army chiefs
are going to hobnob with congress-
men. Secretaries of departments will
chat amicably with senator's wives.
What is even more significant, sena-
tors will meet representatives, and
each will, perhaps, learn something of
the others work and his point of view.
Appreciation is going to take the place
of antagonism between the branches
of government.
This millennium like situation Is to
be brought about by the Congressional
Country club which will be opened
about the first of December.
The need for such club to promote
better acquaintance is real. When
congressional committees call In de-
partment officials to explain depart
mental matters at hearings, the atmos-
phere is apt to be slightly chilly. The
congressman, with his eye on the fed
eral budget, suspects the department
chief of wanting more money or clerks
than is necessary. The official testify
ing at the end of the committee table
looks around and wishes that these
lawmakers would have to run his or
ganization for a week. They'd show
more intelligence about 1t If they did.
The Congressional Country club is
to break the tradition that different
branches of government speak differ
ent languages. On the golf links, in
the swimming pool, on horseback, or
around the open fire, statesmen who
have glared at each other may soon
be swapping experiences and jokes
The new club is needed in washing
ton from another point of view The
Capital has fewer country clubs than
almost any city of its size. Waiting
lists of the three large clubs are al
ways long. 1t is said that the city
could easily build up a new club from
these lists alone.
A Needed Club.
The Congressional club, with its
prospective membership of 1900. Will
partly relieve this tense situation. All
congressman and their wives, depart
ment heads, and accredited press rep
resentatives will be eligible. A few
hand-picked outsiders will also be ad-
United on recommendation of men,
bers. On the whole, tho, it is to be
congressional club with only congress
men for its officers and board of di-
rectors.
The congressmen's new playground
consists of more than 400 acres OF val
liable land nine miles out of Washing
ton. A big, fourteen-room country
home, now on the grounds, is to be
the club house until a new one can be
built. Bungalows are to be con-
structed. too. on the property, for
members who may wish to rent sub
urban homes and be close to the golf
course.
one alluring feature that is played
up by the members who are starting
the club is the scenery. The privilege
Of looking out on the historic Potomac
and the Virginia. hills is alone said to
be worth the initiation fee. Moreover.
the highway that runs by the grounds
is the old Braddock road on which
Braddock is said to have marched with
GaOrpa NaShiOVfOO before fba r ovOI1i-
ton.
With this picturesque background,
the club hopes to develop its property
into an estate that will compare favor
ably with the best country clubs any
where.
Golf enthusiasts have pronounced
the prospects for a golf course I'M
usual Devereux Emmett, the well
known golf architect, may lay out the
course. When Mr.. Emmet was shown
the grounds he was so impressed with
the golfing possibilities that he went
home and wrote the following, which
sounds like a testimonial, tho it isn't
meant for one.
''In all my experience" wrote Mr..
Emmett, Il have never seen a finer
property for the purpose, with such a
variety of contours"
The Country club is one of a num-
Der of projects which have been at
tempted to brighten the lives of mem
Der of congress.
Congressman Stay Here.
A congressman has to spend almost
all of his time in Washington nova
days Once a representative of the
people could be reasonably sure of
long session and a short session at set
intervals. Now, extra sessions follow
that the lawmaker has time only to
snatch a few days vacation.
Getting back home is more q duty
than a pleasure, at that. The politi-
clan must keep his voters reminded
that he is still struggling vaiiantly
in the papers so often as might be
wished. After this duty is hastily per-
formed, the breathless lawmaker is
back at it again. Lawmaking has
become a year-round job. And as the
members begin to realize that they are
any more, they begin to agitate for
some of the comforts of home.
This country club has SO many
members promised that it seems sure
of success. The list of members all
ready includes Secretaries Hoover.
DENLY and Mellon; William Burns of
the secret service; Frank White, treas
urer of the United States; and John
Bartlett, president of the civil service
commission.
Another, less promising project. is,
hotel for congressman. This Is a
needed institution, no doubt, but it de-
ponds on a bill to bring it into exist
ence. Anything of the sort that has
to be legislated over is almost surely
doomed from the start.
The hotel for homeless congressman
was suggested as a means of relieving
statesmen Of their housing troubles, so
that they could concentrate on affairs
of state. 1t was to offer them home
conveniently close to the capitol, at a
reasonable rental.
The hitch to this Acadian plan was
the necessity of a fund to esta blish
the institution. Later. it might be
expected to pay for itself. Congress
has not had the time, or possibly the
nerve, to ask for this appropriation,
and the hotel, which a great many
congressman heartily endorsed, is still
a paper proposition.
Another project, now well estab-
lished, is the congressional gymna-
sum, where senators and representa-,
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