Evening star., 1926-12-12
Capital Sidelights

Inc coming into the House OIL rep
resentative John J. Corcoran as sue
cessor to Senator Harry Halves adds
another to the already long list Of for
mer secretaries to members who got
the virus of legislation into their blood
so that ambition led them to become
members in their own right. For
decade Corcoran has been one Of the
best known, most efficient and popular
employees about the Capitol. His story
is an inspirational one for Young
America of the oliver Optic type
From Clerk to Congressman"
He started in here as secretary to
"Gumshoe Bill" Stone, famous Mis-.
sourian, who was a power in the Sen
ate. He has been right-hand man to
Harry Halves, who won prestige as
one of the ablest men in the House in
recent years.
Other former secretaries now in
Congress include: Senator Harris of
Georgia, who was secretary to former
Senator A. s. Clay; Senator La Fol-
lette, who was long his fathers adju-
tant; Representative Wallace White
of Maine, grandson Of former Sena-
tor Frye, whom he served as secre-
tary when Senator Frye was President
Oliver, formerly secretary to Senator
O'Gorman Of New York; Representa-
tive Edgar Howard of Nebraska, for
mer secretary to the Great Com
moner," William Jennings Bryan;
Representative Charles II. Crisp of
Georgia, secretary to the late Speaker
Crisp, and who later served as parlia-
mentarian of the House; Representa-
tive Clarence Cannon, formerly clerk
to the late Speaker Champ Clark, and
who also served as parliamentarian:
Representative Addison Smith of
Idaho, who served a former Senator;
Representative William r. Johnson,
formerly an employe of the House
folding room.
Another new member Of the House,
Representative Harry l.. Englebright.
who comes from Nevada City and sue
ceeds the late Representative John e.
Raker, used to tag after his father
through the Capitol corridors and in
the House chamber when his father
was a member during the regime of
the late Speaker Uncle Joe" Cannon.
He now represents one of the largest
congressional districts In the country,
with two.thirds of its area under Fed.
eral reserve.
A veteran student of Government
comes back to the House in the per.
son Of Representative Frederick w.
Dallinger of Massachusetts,, who
entered the lists against Senator Gil.
lett. When Mr.. Dallinger graduated
from Harvard in 1893 he carried off
the highest honors in political science.
He Is author of a book on "Nomina-
tions for Elective Office in the United
States"
believe It or not" Representative
John Garner Of Texas. the fiscal men
tor Of the Democrats in the House,
who is author Of the tax reduction bill
that has stirred up so much partisan
pickering, Is one member Of Congress
who dislikes publicity. He is complet.
ing "a years Of consecutive service.
claims the all-time record for intro
ducing the smallest number of bills in
the House of any member during the
last quarter of a century. having
averaged not more than two bills a
session during all that time. He never
wrote a speech in his life: those he
makes are all extemporaneous. He
never has a speech reprinted from the
Record and sent out to his constitu.
ents.
kk II 4
Just now the appropriations com.
mittee is holding the center of the
stage, having made the best record
in the entire history of Congress for
having the big supply bills so we'll in
hand for prompt action thus early
in the session. Chairman Madden
gives a large share of the credit to
the earnest and efficient services of
the force Of committee clerks, under
the leadership of Marcellus c. Shield,
who has been sitting at Mr.. Madden's
side in the House while the Post Office
and Treasury appropriation bill has
been under discussion.
For 1S years Mr.. SHIELD has been
a clerk in the appropriations COM
mittee and for the last 10 years he
has been in charge Of the office. which
prepares all Of the big appropriation
bills. which during his service have
totaled upward Of sac. 900 900 900. And
yet SHIELD cOnfesses that as q boy
making penny change In a candy shop
he was so inaccurate that he finally
lost his job because at the end of
the month there was not enough sal
ary coming to him to make good his
shortages. He has served under five
chairmen of. the appropriations COM
mittee-two Democrats, Fitzgerald
and Sherley, and three Republicans,
Tawney, Good and Madden. He has
been so good on this job that although
first appointed by a Minnesota Re-
publican he was continued in ONCE
by a New York Democrat and Is now