Evening star., 1926-04-11
Capital Sidelights

and prominently in the present with
as thorough a knowledge Of the his
tortc past and the debt that today
owes to many a long-past yesterday
as Representative r. Walton Moore
Of Fairfax. Va. It is claimed by
those who speak with authority that
no man living knows more intimate
details of the human-interest story
of the Old Dominion, with its un-
matched place in establishment OF
this Government. than Mr.. Moore.
who now represents in Congress the
district in which the Father OF His
Country lived.
And Mr.. Moore, as he "acts in the
living present." is always conscien-
tiously Jealous to preserve the au.
thentic records and landmarks of the
elder days Just now he is nego-
tiating for the purchase of an OK
tremely interesting autograph docu-
ment recording the formation OF the
first military organization Of It's kind
on this continent-the Fairfax Com
pany Of Independent Volunteers, in
ira.
This Revolutionary document was
written and signed by George Mason
of Gunston Hall, Va, one of the most
able Statesmen Of his time. Madison
pronounced him the most able de-
batter in the country. He was an In
innate friend and neighbor Of George
Washington. He was author Of the
famous Virginia bill of Rights" fore
runner of our Constitution. Then he
was one Of the most prominent
among the trainers Of the Constitu-
ton of the United States.
George Washington himself ap-
proved with emphasis the formation
OF the Fairfax Company of Independ-
ent Volunteers and became It's first
remaining such until he
relinquished the Office to accept com
mand Of the American Army at Cam
bridge, Mass, in 1775.
This treasured document was pre-
pared at a meeting OF freeholders In
the courthouse in Alexandria. October
II, 1774. Alexandria was the county
seat of Fairfax County, in which
Washington and Mason both resided.
The uniform adopted by this pioneer
militia company was the regular uni
form Of blue turned UP with bun. with
plain yellow metal buttons, bum waist
coat and breeches and white stockings.
Their equipment consisted OF a good
firelock and bayonet, sling cartouch
box and tomahawk. Each member
pledged himself to keep on hand a
stock Of 6 pounds Of gunpowder. 20
pounds of lead and so gunflints at the
least.
In this government of equal repre-
sentation" 1t Is interesting to note
apropos Of the attempt In the House
last Thursday to force reapportion-
ment through appeal to high constitu-
tional prtvilege-how much reappor-
tionment is needed, in view of the fact
that some citizens votes count many
times over in congressional elections
what other citizens votes in other
States or other districts in the same
State count.
Let us see who in the House and
Senate hold their seats with the back
Ing OF the largest number of voters
and who by the smallest number OF
votes.
In tho Senate Charles s. Deneen Of
Illinois seems to have the largest fol-
lowing. with 1,449,1 $50 votes cast for
him. with Royal S. Copeland Of New
York second, with 1,27s.6S7 votes;
then comes James Couzens Of Michi.
Edge of New Jersey, 60S,020; Morris
Texas, 591,913; Frederick
II. Gillett, Massachusetts,. 566. 6.1SS, etc.
Compared with Senator Deneen's
vote, approximately @ million and q
half, we have Senator Francis E. War
rem of Wyoming. with only 41.293
votes; Cole BleaSe, South Carolina,
with 50.751: Coleman du Pont, Della
ware, 52,731. Why, Borah has only
9s,S46 and Walsh Of Montana only
89.6S1.
In the House. Representative Rich.
ard Yates and Representative Henry
r. Rathbone Of Illinois are in a class
by themselves, with 1.519.021 and
1.613,70s. respectively-but they are
"at large" with the whole State
voting instead of one district. Rep.
Grant NJ. Hudson Of the
sixth Michigan district has more votes
behind him than any man elected
from one district-173.7o5. Next to
him comes Representative John D.
district, with ,133,7S0: Representative
Alfred NJ. Michaelson, seventh ILL.,
nois, 153,563. and Representative
Cleveland A. Newton, tenth Missouri,
123,1ss.
Some members Of the House
Congress with pretty scant
ing-Representative Thomas s.
Mcmillan, first South Carolina dis
trict, had only 6,531 votes; Repre-
sentative Whitmel p. Martin. third
Louisiana district, 6,209; Representa-
tive A. III. Gasque, sixth South Caro-
lima district, 6.27S; Representative
William B. Oliver, sixth Alabama dis
trict. 6.672: Representative Butler B.
Hare, second South Carolina, 6,6S5,
and even the great parliamentarian.
Representative Charles Crisp, third
Georgia district, whose father used
to be Speaker. has only s.13s votes
to his credit.
Just now, when Congress is being
implored to authorize the purchase
of the Mount Hamilton tract for a
National Arboretum, and when the
architect Of the Capitol has been in
structed by the joint committee on
the Library to have a survey made
to determine the proper site for re-
location and enlargement Of the Bo-
tanic Garden, it Is especially inter-
esting to note the high regard In
WHICH, OIAcE HdtlOHS Hoiu OuE OOtdIlStS
because Of their contribution to his
tory, discovery and science.
Appropriate also, in the light of
the administrations opinion that q
maximum annuity Of $1,000 In the
civil service retirement bill
Is too high, Is this citation showing
the very important service rendered
by one Government scientist who has
his life to such work. and
who would receive the mere pittance
of $720 a year, more than half of
which he had paid himself by his 2A
per cent contribution from his salary
to the retirement fund.
Mount Collins Is a new name on
the map Of eastern Canada. The
8 3,500-foot mountain has been so