Evening star., 1926-04-18
Capital Sidelights

10 tnat question was put Inlo tHe
Congressional Record on the birthday
anniversary of Thomas Jefferson, a,-
thor of the Declaration Of Independ-
ence, founder of the Democratic
party and third President of the
United States, by Senator Tom Hefiin,
Democrat. Of Alabama.
In fact, two answers to that ques-
ton were put into the Record, the
two best among 10000 contestants.
Highest honors went to DR.. M. d.
Taylor. county health officer at Aztec.
n. Mex. His definition. which cap
tured the $50 prize, follows:
"A Democrat is one who believes
in the fullest freedom of speech. press
| and religion. and separa ton of church
and state; laws that bear equally
upon all classes. without special privi-
lege or mOnopOlistic advantage: rights
OF States guaranteed by the Consutu-
ton. and less national paternalism.
Senator Hehin paid tribute to the
brilliant and efficient representative
Of the minority on the floor of the
Senate, Col. Edwin A. Halsey," who
won second prize with this definition
"A Democrat is ono who votes to
adhere to the principles OF the party
as expounded by Jefferson. Cleveland
and Wilson, which assure personal
liberty, freedom OF religion. speech
and press; equal justice. industry,
frugality and happiness; abhorring
| corruption and privilege and preserv-
ing tnviolate the Republic in Vigor
and union
Representative Martin r. Madden,
chairman Of the House appropriations
committee, is being extolled these
| days in many places as the most
valuable man in public life" This
statement has several times been
made before the House District com
mittee by Representative Thomas l..
| Blanton. Democrat, of Texas. who
| lauded Madden unstintedly for pro-
tecting the taxpayers. Then Repre-
sentative Ralph Gilbert, Democrat, of
| Kentucky countered by declaring that
| such statements are "all tommyrot." ;"
| In his recent campaign for renom-
nation to Congress Representative FL
| liott w. Sproul. Republican, of Chi
| cago. who has been a pal of Mr.. Mad
! denis for nearly half a century. was
accused by his rival with being moth
| ing but rubber stamp for Madden.
| Gleefully Mr.. Sproul admitted the i'm
| parchment, reviewing how Mr.. Mad
/ den's careful watch over appropria'
| tions had made possible tax reduction.
often a rubber stamp for Mr.. Madden,
| and telling a gathering of more than
! 5000 persons that if they did not want
| him to be a rubber stamp for Mad
| den's economy Of Federal funds,
! they'd better elect some one else. That
| clinched the election for Sprcul.
| Uncle Sam is one Of the biggest
| publishers In the country and almost
every year brings out some new
hooks. The very latest-and decidedly
| importa nt--book is Cannon's Prece-
/ dents, covering the decisions on pro
| cedure In the National House of
| Representatives. compiled by Repre-
sentative Clarence A. Cannon of Mis-
| souri,, who was parliamentarian for
| the late Champ Clark when he was
| Speaker and who has succeeded Mr..
Clark In Congress.
Another new book of handy refer
ence for those doing business with
the various departments of Govern
ment Is the new Register. which has
taken the place of the big biennial
Blue Book, or directory of Govern
ment employees This was usually
obsolete by the time 1t was published
at a cost of $4,000. The new Regis
ter is to be printed annually. the first
edition, but recently come from the
presses. at a cost of $3.791.35. This
contains only the names of persons
holding administrative and super
visory positions In the Government
service. Aside from small official
distribution and the allotment of
three copies TO each member of Con
gress, all copies of this register are
sold by the superintendent Of docu.
ments. who is doing good mail order
business.
Probably nothing in the decorative
work within the Capitol Building at
tracts so much attention from the
sightseeing throngs who have been
making their spring visitation, espe-
cially the high school parties from
practically every State in the Union.
as the 26 feet of unfinished frieze of
the rotunda. Charles Fairman. cura-
tor of art in the Capitol. gives an in
teresting historical statement about
the frieze:
With the completion Of the old
Capitol by Charles Bulfnch the
rotunda of the Capitol was sur
mounted by low dome. At the ex-
tensions of the Capitol under Thomas
u. Walter (S51-1S67) by the addi-
| ton of the present Senate wing and
House wing the low dome was re-
placed by the present dome. Before
| the low dome was removed to give
| place to the present dome. the draw
ings contemplated a sculptural frieze
and correspondence was entered into
between Capt. Montgomery G. Meigs
and Thomas Crawford and Randolph
| Rogers upon that subject and
| Thomas Crawford submitted an esti-
| mate of the cost for a frieZe in
| actual relief in plaster which he
| stated had been used for such pur-
| poses in Europe and had existed in
! a satisfactory condition for hundreds
of years.
Following this correspondence on
| November &c. 1855, Capt. Meigs
makes the statement that the Secre-
| tary has informed him, that he did
! not wish any more money expended
| upon the decoration of the new dome
| until Congress: by further appropri-
alton. authorized it. and that this
| would suspend any present action.
Edward Clark. architect of the
| Capitol. in his annual report for the
year 1877, states:
The belt of the rotunda. intended
| to be enbellished with hasso relieves.
Is being embellished in real fresco.
| representing In light and. shadow
events III our history, ARRANGED An
| chronological order. beginning with
the Landing of Columbus and ending
with a period of our Revolutionary
/ history. ..
| This refers to the work of Con-
| stantino Brumidi. who continued his
work until his death in 1880. He was
succeeded by Filippo Costagini. who
died. leaving space of 26 feet un-
| decorated.
| The rotunda frieze is located SO
feet above the floor of the rotunda.
1t is 800 feet in circumference and
s feet inches in height. At the
bottom of the frieze there is an out
ward projection of l foot. The ro-
i L. ~ LIZ L. inlx