Evening star., 1926-03-21
Capital Sidelights

in honor of Francis Scott Key, author
or "The Star Spangled Banner; al
though Fort McHenry. where the n.y.
ing flag inspired the poets patriotic
fancy, Is to be preserved as ma
tional shrine, and although other
monuments have been erected-the
sordid fact remains that Keys own
flesh and blood is in an almost starv-
ing condition.
This fact has been forcefully
brought to the attention of Congress
in an effort to secure a pension OF
500 a month for Keys granddaugh-
ter, Mary Key McBlair, and Congress
men from every State In the Union
are now deluged with letters from
Daughters of the American ReVoiu-
ton and thousands OF others urging
passage Of this measure.
Mrs. Frank Foster Greenawalt,
regent Of Ruth Brewster Chapter.
D. A. r., and known as "The Key
Lady" because Of her untiring efforts
to have the Key Bridge built and
named in honor of the composer OF
THE Star Spangled Banner" fs now
leading drive to have this pension
granted. She introduced g. resolution
in the last d. A. r. congress. which
was passed by a unanimous vote. petit
tioning the United States Congress to
grant a pension to Francis scott
Keys granddaughter that she might
not he obliged to spend her few re-
manning years in restitution.
rrhiS r,lda htor Mary aV
McBlair, is 70 years of age.
Supporting this resolution are $780,
900 members of the d. A. r. In every
section of the country, who are now
besieging their congressman for ac-
tion at this session. At Mrs. Greena-
waits request William Tyler Page.
clerk of the House and author OF
THE Americans Creed" wrote the
bill. which was introduced on Feb
ruary IS by Representative +. Hart
Fem, Republican. Of Connecticut,
whose wife is vice chairman of the
-. a. n. legislative committee. This
bill has been referred to the pension
committee and Mr.. Fem has been
promised an early hearing.
The two appeals Of practical patri-
otism and y. A. r. votes in a Con-
gressrna n q home town are being used;
also Representative Fem is persistent
in his urge for action at this session.
**
Here are few "ideas" advanced
by various members Of Congress in
the way of legislative proposals:
Representative Loring NJ. Black, tr.,
Democrat. of Brooklyn, \. Z. be-
lieves that the President should be
required. in submitting his appoint
ments to the Senate for confirmation,
TO attach the names of all the persons
or corporations who may have pro
posed or recommended the respective
candidates. and has introduced bill
for this purpose.
Representative William A. Ayres.
Democrat. of Kansas. believes that
all rum-runners should be adjudged
as pirates" and on conviction of the
crime of piracy. should be sentenced
to a Federal penite ntiary for term
of 10 years. The title of Mr.. Ayres'
bill Is: ITO protect the commerce
Of the United States and to punish
the crime of piracy"
Senator Hubert ID. Stephens, Dem
ocrat. of Mississippi. advocates legis-
lation to make husban nds and wives
competent to testify for and on
behalf of each other in criminal
proceedings in United States courts.
The provision of the bill he has in
troduced for this purpose reads:
THAT hUsha nd and wife shall he
competent. but may not he compelled,
TO testify for and on behalf of each
other In any criminal proceeding in
any court of the United States; but
the failure of husband or wife to tes
tify shall not create any presumption
against the accused
Representative Milton c. CARRIER.
Republican, of Enid. Oklahoma,
believes that the President should
proclaim National Agricultural
day" In order to encourage con
sideration of the basic relationship of
farming and agriculture to the we'll
being of the entire Nation. He has
introduced a joint resolution that
the first Thursday in October of each
year shall be SO designated, but that
this shall not be construed as
establishing a legal holiday"
Senator Thomas D. Schall, Republi-
can. of Minnesota, the only blind mem
ber of the present Congress, urges an
amendment to the interstate COM
merce act which would authorize the
railroads to transport any person
TOTALLY DIlHu, ny a uluc,
at the usual and ordinary fare charged
to one passenger. under such reason
Rble regulations as may be adopted
by the carriers"
Representative Tillman r. Parks,
Democrat, of Hope. Ark, advocates
legislation ito forbid the publication
OF confidential information and has
sponsored a. measure for that purpose.
His hill would prohibit any member
or former member of the cabinet, any
secretary or former secretary to a
President, etc. etc, to sell for publ
cation "any Information obtained by
virtue Of and through his official serv-
ice." This would not. however, pro-
hibit the publication of such articles
when no money or thing of value
is paid to such officer or former
officer"
The suggestion, made more than
decade ago and supported at that time
by the late William Jennings Bryan.
that Uncle Sam should 60 into the
newspaper business has again been
revived-this time by George H. Car.
ter. the public printer. who now man
ages the biggest print shop in the
world. The motive that prompted Mr..
Bryan to support the scheme. however
that Of counteracting the "propa.-
ganda Of the predatory and pluto
cratic press'-is not the one now be-
ing advanced by Mr.. Carter.
The public printer sees a chance in
such a Government newspaper to re-
duce the Governments printing bill
and Of informing the public concern.
ing the multitudinous Federal activi.
ties. He has officially advocated a
Government gazette. lie calls atten.
ton that such gazettes have long been
published by nearly every other coun.
try. He recalls that President Roose.
velt directed the Keep commission on
department methods to consider the