Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-03-14

Members OF the House learned some
thing about the work Of the press gal
lery and especially about the service
that tho superintendent Of the gallery.
William J. Donaldson, performs for
them and for all the people OF the
the other day when resolu'
ton was passed raising Mr.. Donald
sons salary.
He has worked his way up from a
page, has been In the service or the
House for Is years. and has not nao
an increase in salary for eight years.
Even Representative James T. Begg.
Republican, Of Ohio. referred to as
the watchdog Of the Treasury" IN
sisted that the increase to $4,000 was
not adequate or commensurate with
the service rendered.
It was a striking tribute to Mr..
Donaldson's worth that all Of the
usually parsimonious members who
haggle over even slight increase In ap-
fell all over one another
in q scramble to see which could speak
In strongest language OF Mr.. Donald
sons efficiency, courtesy and Jealous
service--such men as Representative
Charles L. Cnderhill. Republican. OF
Massachusetts; Representative Joseph
Byrns Of Tennessee, the ranking
Democrat on the appropriations COM
mittee; Representative, Ralph Gilbert,
Democrat. OF Kentucky. and others.
Representative Emmanuel Celler.
Democrat. Of New York. gave an en-.
tightening lecture to his colleagues
on what the superintendent OF the
press gallery and his assistant do:
Their service Is unique. They are
sort Of liaison officers between the Con-
gress and the whole country through
the newspapers. We all know how
important the newspapers and the
press are to the members Of Con
gress. The Government could not
function without them. The superin-
tendent Of the press gallery is al.
ways at the service Of congressman
and all governmental officials. Often
times the men who represent the news
papers In our home districts are not
In the gallery. They are in all parts
Of Washington attending to other as.
signments. AS soon as a member OF
the House makes speech OF interest
his constituents he wants his con-
stituents through the newspapers to
get that speech. Mr.. Donaldson gets
hold Of the particular correspondent
and In that way he helps each and
every member OF the House.
Mr.. Donaldson does q great deal OF
collateral work. He follows the course
Of all bills. He explains their status
TO the press. procures bills ana com
mittee reports for the newspapers. Ae
not only takes care OF the men IN the
press gallery. but when Congress IL
not in session he works. He covers
every national convention, Republican
Dvn0~aocivA Ia here
during the Mitchell trial. He was here
during the presidential investigation
OF aircraft by the Morrow committee
He was here during the investigation
Of the Shenandoah tragedy.
HE supervised dissemination OF
news at the arms conference and at
the meetings here of the Interparlia-
mentary Union. II he slips up on any
thing Congress slips up. He Is quite
essential to our own work. The labor
er is worthy Of his hire. There are
287 correspondents in the press gallery
and he has TO take care OF each and
every one Of them. In the last few
years the number has more than dou-
bled.
Jefferson years ago said this about
newspapers. IL left for me 70 oecioe
whether we should have a Govern
yIleuL "llklOOI ibS"op1pS"o -
papers without the Government, ]
should not hesitate for one moment
to prefer the latter"
Representative Gilbert chimed in
that: THE Government is run by the
press. The press can make success or
failure of any policy. can make or
destroy any man overnight.
\
Whoever does not recall the old.
time favorites-quaintly clean and
sobby IN comparison with modern JAZZ.
My Old kentucky Home" "old
Folks at Home" tSuwanee River y
"Old Black joe" "Massa's In the Cold.
Cold Ground" and "Old Dog Tray
have missed something that stirred
the heart and human sympathies.
Now II Is proposed that Congress
shall pay opportune tribute to tbs
author OF these internationally pop
ular songs by authorizing the coinage
OF 5ocent pieces In commemorative
OF the birthday Of Stephen G. Foster
Americas greatest composer OF more
than 100 songs and musical compost
ions. The resolution WIS introduced
in the House by Representative
stephen G.. Porter Of Pittsburgh
where Foster was born on July )
1s26-the tiftieth anniversary OF the
signing OF the Declaration OF Inde
pendence--and in whose veins was
blended the blood of many men who
fought that the immortal declaration
might echo down the corridors or tine
Stephen G. Foster vas the son o.
William Barclay Foster. third son o.
James Foster Of Berkeley County, Va,
who served in the Virginia line dur
ing the Revolution, and was present
at the surrender Of CORVALLIS al
Yorktown. stephen c. Foster married
Annie BARCLAY OF the Rowan family
conspicuous in Kentucky history
whose home near Bardstov11. KY, has
been adopted and dedicated as q
shrine BY the State Of kentucky and
named 'My Ola Kentucky Home" In
honor Of Fosters most famous song.
The homo in Pittsburgh where
Stephen c. Foster was born Is also
maintained as a shrine TO Foster g
memory BY the municipality OF Pitts
burgh. .
150th anniversary Of the signing OF
the Declaration Of Independence.
which is to be flttingly commemorated
by the sesquicentennial celebration.
II is also the centenary OF the birth
Of Mr.. Foster, and the Pittsburgh
Chamber OF Commerce wants to put
in circulation million e0.cent pieces
in his honor.
In tho House Office Building the
members OF Congress have their
names on the doors of their offices.
Usually members from one State try
to get offices close together for pur'
poses Of cas-. conference. The writer.
walking down the corridor the other
day, saw the name of Let's" over
ONCE 355, and right next door, in 1858.
was Hooper, and then in ISL came
I pdike. AS the names ran together on
his tongue he found himself saying.
Lets who6per up, Dixie"
Il y * y
Representative Emmanuel Celler Of
the tenth New York district has just