Evening star., 1928-02-12
Capital Sidelights

Sam rUSter OF the first families OF
Virgini1 and other pioneer States II a
bill introduced by Representative Mon
tague of Virginia, which Is attracting
great deal Of attention before the
House census committee. Is passed. This
nronoses ~ that the director OF the GEN.
s,,s shall publish the names OF the
heads of families as returned by each
Federal census from 1900 to 184O.
The prime purpose OF this measure,
Representative Montague explains, Is to
make available to historians and
genealogists important census statistics
that the Government has collected at
great expense, that are now stored IN
flimsy. fire-trap structures, and which
should be properly preserved TO refer
ence of future generations.
It is estimated that this publication
would cost Uncle Sam something like
$4,OOO,000. The Montague bill author
ICES the director Of the census to sell
the publications and in this way par
TALLY reimburse the Treasury.
Every member OF Congress Is invited
to attend the big celebration at Alex
andria, Va, Of Washington's birthday,
February %, which has been civic fea-
ture for 100 years, and which. this year,
will be on more pretenti'us scale tnan
ever before with President Coolidge and
Gov. Byrd and other notables In at
tendance. Ever since Washington'S death
In December, 1899, the city and county
of Alexandria, which he served In sew
eral important Offices before he served
the Nation, have thus memorialized
him.
One OF the important events this year
will be the reception rendered by Gov.
and Mrs. Byrd to the President and
Mrs. Coolidge and other special guests.
On behalf Of the George Washington
Birthday Association. which was or
ganized within a month of Washing
toms death, Senator Samson and Rep
resentative r.. Walton Moore OF Vir-
ginia have invited each OF their col
Leagues in Congress and their wives to
be guests at the approaching celeDra-
ton.
Those of them who find 1t possible
to attend will be shown the hospitality
for which Virginia has long been noted.
by the community which was the
county seat OF Washington's County Of
Fairfax for most OF his active life.
which was. as we would now say. his
home town, and with which he was
more closely and constantly identified
than with any other locality. In no
other locality are there such vivid and
unfading memories OF the wonderful
soldier and statesman who Is every
where venerated as the master builder
OF our great republic.
~
A pretcntious plan for q nation wide
celebration of the bicentennlai OF
WaShington's birth has been laid be-
fore the Presidents commission, which
is arranging for fitting observance OF
that event In 1882. by Representative
Sol Bloom of New York. He proposes
that an exact reproduction OF wash
ingtons home at Mount Vernon and all
its contents be made under the SUPER
vision OF the Daughters Of the Amer
lean Revolution: that these facsimilies
be sold to various communities. to be
erected In public parks. and that be-
ginning on February %. 1882. the peo-
pie in each community should assemble
at these various reproductions OF
Washington's own home to commpn-
crate his memory. and that on each
anniversary of his birth similar cere-
monies be observed. thus making the
celebration Nationwide. coinc.dent and
perpetual.
Statuary Hall at the Capitol. where
each State has right TO place two
statues of citizens who have done the
most notable service for mankind
making total of 96 statues--is ALREADY
overcrowded BY the So statues that have
been set up there. The situation Is
causing considerable concern and lead
ers in Congress are trying TO select a
new and larger chamber or corridor TO
which these statues can be removed.
David Lynn, architect OF the Capitol
has been in conference with leaders and
points out that 1t has been suggested
that the crypt might be used as To-
cation for all OF the statues from the
different States. and that In that event
Statuary Hall might be restored to as
near as possible the condition which
existed when 1t was meeting place for
the House Of Representatives. II has
also been suggested that areas adjoin-
ing Statuary Hall might be Allied with
statues from such States as might
hereafter send their contributions. This
space will be. at the best, II fully occu-
pied, insufficient to furnish locations for
o6 States. the full representation of two
statues from each OF the States. At
tention has been invited to this con-
dition in order that the Congress might
take into consideration the possibility
OF the time soon approaching wnen
there will be no further space available
In Statuary Hail. and several States. by
reason Of III crowded condition. unable
to secure representation In this ma
tionai assembly Of statues OF distin-
guished citizens.