Evening star., 1927-11-13
Capital Sidelights

the s50,000,000 program is about to
start with the mammoth S17.000.0 900
Commerce structure. 1t Is timely to
emphasize that other parts Of the
country than Washington profit more
than the Capital City under the build
ing boom.
Fundamentally the agencies of the
Government to be housed In these new
structures serve ali the people direct.
ly and will he able to give much more
efficient service in their new perma.
nent homes.
But it is people from outside Wash.
inSton who have charge of the
big devclopment-SecrC Mellon,
ptotidly claimed by Pittsburgh, and
Who has received the Ii. ~. degree
from eight OF the biggest colleges and
universities; Senator Smoot OF Utah
chairman of the Public Buildings Com
mission; Edward II. bennett of Chi
cago, chairman Of the Bonrd Of Archi
tectural Consultants, etc.
outside contractors are expected to
get the job of erecting the buildings.
All OF the materials used will come
ffofn outside of Washington.
80 by analysis it can he shown that
when members of Congress say, We
are giving $50.000,O to Washington"
1t isn't exactly true. What really
happens here Is that a large section in
the very heart of the city Is taken by
the Government and thus removed
ftOm taxation. The $4,000. 900 really
flows into otfter parts of the country.
Nor istit clean and straight outlay
most OF that amount is covered by
rents that would have to he paid in
dribs and drabs if the buildings were
not put up by the Government.
To give one little concrete illustra.
ton: Chairman Elliott of the House
committee on public buildings and
grounds came here recently from, In.
diana to attend n meeting of the Pub.
liz buildings. Commission, when it
PASSED upon the general plans for the
1900, 900 Commerce Building and
for the $lO.OD0, 900 Interna, Revenue
Building. His home State and the
people IN it get a very direct benefit
from that one little incident In the
Federal building activities. At the
meeting Representative Elliott nude
a motion. that was carried that these
buildings he built Of oelitic limestone
this material Is quarried in Indiana.
this means that a considerable portion
Of the S27 .00U000 flows back into FL.
liott's home state. incidentally. ii
Was Elli5tts bill that was passed
carrying authorization for $50.
00D. 200 program IN Washington and
s1l5.OOe,1O0 more for the rest Of the
country.
n
The death recently at Farming
ton. ~ H., IF Brig Gen. W. >.
Edserley recalls nuted military trial
In which he figured as orc of t),e
Judges. The scene was Camp Alge !.
in Fairfax County. Va: end the oc-
currerce which led to the trial was
American War. One Of the units Of
The 2d Division of The I'd Army Corps.
The latter then stationed Mt Camp
AIger. was the Sd Virginia Regiment.
commanded by Col. Nalle. The evening
of August s, 1898, there was trifling
disturbance with which some of the
enlisted men Of the Virginia regiment
we're connected afid which Gen. NJ. G.
Butlfr of South Carolina, commanding
the I'd Division. mistakenly construed
as an attempted lynchins. The next
day he issued most drastic order
against the regiment which. among
other things. confined to their quar-.
teis all the officers and men. Senator's
Daniel and Martin were among those
who joined III protesting the injustice
of the order. and at tf1c request OF
Coll Nalle a court of inquiry was
convened. consisting Of two officers oi
the Regular Armys Lieut.. Coils.
frJrorlnc nnI Dnx.o1I a,I fsol C,1.e
a%yolnnteer officer of the 80 Missouri
Regiment The recorder was none
other than he present chief of the
general staff. Mai. Gen. Charles r
Sumnerall. then lieutenant, six
years after his graduation at West
Point. Several days were spent i'm
hearing evidence and. the case fors
Gen. Butler was argued by Orig. Gen.
Goblin Of Pennsylvania. and for the
Virginia regiment by Andrew i.
Montague. then attorney general of
the state and now representing the
Richmond district I'm Congress. ana
II. Walton Moore. now representing In
Congress the district In which Camp
Algcr was located. Illness prevented
Mr.. George f. Hamilton of, Washing
ton. who was associated with Messrs
Montague and Moore from taking
was in favor of the Virginia regiment.
but meanwhile the war had come to
an end and the officers and men had
left for Their homes. -.
-. y
While he stood for three months in
the shadow of the presidency
GARFIELD lowering between life and
death-AChester A. Arthur. up to then
machine politician and New York
City 'boss." found himself. He had
been put out of the New York Gus
toms house by President Hayes as a
spokesman, and came into the White
House conducting a reform admins.
tration only seven months after
Hayes had left it. Garflelds death.
was due TO party factions and Ar.
thur did his level best tn clean house.
No other President did SO little to
>btain a second term. 3.