Evening star., 1924-09-07

Government systems had been grow
ing up and extending during the en-
tire life Of the Federal service. 1t
was very uneconomic situation.
That job. Mr.. Bethune completed last
Spring, and the report of the Federal
Traffic Board Is now in the hands of
Budget Director Lord, as one of the
big Jobs OF coordination, with the
prospect that the standard regula-
tions will soon be put into effect by
presidential proclamation.
Mr.. Bethune took up his job as
secretary of the United States Tariff
Commission five years ago, being
especially well trained for 1t in other
branches OF Uncle Sans service. He
graduated from Eastern High School
in the class of 1898 as lieutenant
colonel Of the High School Cadet
Regiment, and looking back more
than 25 years says that the cadet
training impressed upon him the
principle of interdependence in group
organization-that the entire COM
pany can be thrown out by one man
who fails. He was thus early i'm
pressed with the responsibilities of
leadership. Upon the declaration of
war with Spain, he volunteered at
once. and served with the 1st Regi-
ment, District of Columbia Volun-
teers, through the campaign leading
to the siege and surrender of San
tiago de Cuba, and until the regiment
was mustered out at the close of
hostilities. He contracted tropical
fever in Cuba.
He is a graduate Of the Columbian
(now George Washington University
Law School. He became an assistant
In the office of the official reporters
of debates in the Senate, where he
remained through three sessions of
Congress. In 1902 he was appointed
confidential stenographer to the sec
retary of the Senate, which position
he resigned in 1907 to accept en-
ployment with the Senate judiciary
committee. He also served in 1908
as special assistant to the Joint
Congression Commission on Revision
sion of the Postol Laws.
After the reorganization of the
Senate in 1911, MIR. Bethune was ap-
pointed clerk in the office of public
buildings and grounds. In 1913,
when the construction of the Lincoln
Memorial was begun, he was appoint
ed chief clerk of the Lincoln Me-
mortal Commission, in which position
he served until appointed secretary to
the Tariff Commission. For five years,
1914-1919, he served in q similar
capacity for the commission on the
Memorial to Woman of the Civil War,
which is the headquarters of the Ma
tional American Red Cross, to the
Arlington Memorial Amphitheater
Commission, and the Arlington Me-
mortal Bridge Commission.
+ *
Another notable job we'll performed
by Mr.. Bethune was between 1917
and 1913, when he was chief ac-
countant for the Government in the
construction of the vast buildings in
what was Henry Park, for wartime
use of the War and Navy DEPART
ments.
For some years he also had direct
supervision Of all recreational facil-
tiles in the public grounds, and un-
der him there was developed a sys-
tenn for their operation which has
been a source of health and pleasure
to many thousands of persons.
For some years a resident of Falls
Church, Va, where he is :, member
of the town council, and just now is
busy as chairman of the Defense
day arrangements, he has taken a
strong interest in local and State
affairs and done important work on
several State commissions.
Practically every member of Con-
gress comes into personal contact
with Secretary Bethune, and it is a
substantial tribute to his diplomacy
as well as to the efficiency with
which he does his work that they all
speak praise of him as an excep-
tionally hard-working and able
Federal employe.