Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-01-01
Capital Sidelights

! day recess the Senators will consider
the question Of providing an appropri-
alton Of about s185, 900 for ventilating
and ir-conditioning system which will
purify the atmosphere in the Senate
chamber. For years 1t has been known
that such an Improvement was needed.
but action has been delayed, at times
because there was recurrcnt agitation
for charging the Senate chamber ana
extending 1t to outside windows 50 that
direct current of fresh air might be
available.
The President through the Budget
Bureau transmitted to the House ap-
preparations committee recommended
ton Of the architect of the CAPITOL an
estimate of $185, 900 for inclusion In the
deficiency appropriation bill for Senate
ventilation. The reason for early ac-
ton was so that the contract might be-
promptly let and the materials col
lected here, ready for Immediately
starting the job as soon AS Congress
adjourned. The House did not include
the estimate in the deficiency bill,
leaving it for the Senate to do what
ever it saw fit. The Senate approprI-
atoms committee is awaiting an exact
estimate. which will be presented when
Congress meets this month, and it Is
expected that the appropriation will be-
carried in the legislative appropriation
bill. so that the work can be done after
Congress adjourns in June.
# X X
Statuary Hall--the old House cham
BERN the Capitol is becoming so over
crowded with the memorial statues that
the States are placing there to out
standing sons. and the weight Of those
statues is so far in excess of what was
in mind when the chamber was erected
that the architect Of the Capitol is
having engineering studies made of
what should be done to relieve the
situation. There are some five or six
States now planning to send additional
statues-California, Tennessee. Missis-
sippi and Wisconsin among them-that
those in charge of the Capitol feel it Is
time to provide more suitable place
for these statues. Among suggestions
made have been that the rotunda might
be used. or the Hall of Columns" on
the first floor running through the
center Of the building north and south
This subject will probably receive
careful attention during the present
session of Congress, because Statuarv
Hall in the Capitol is one most con-
spicuous gathering place for people
from every State in the Union. Leaders
in Congress from each of the States
are eager to help solve the problem
where to place these memorial statues
that are the gifts Of the States.
X y y
One OF the new members OF the
House Is veritablc lack Of all trades"
and has made his way in the world
through a route OF hard knocks-Rep-
reSentative Louis Monast of Pawtucket,
r. /. He was brought as an immigran,
from Canada when he vas only years
old and was a textile worker in cotton
mills at the age of g. working in all
departments. becoming mule spinner
and fancy weaver. Then at l9 he
thought he'd try new line of employ
ment and tried his hand as a baker,
confectioner. packer of fruits and yege-
tables. meat cutter and became general
manager OF department store, in the
course Of 10 years.
At the age Of % he took another
industrial shift and laboyed in the
building line as stone mason. brickIaver
and carpenter and became engineer
and craftsman and IN charge of all
construction.
Later he capitalized all this expert
ence by founding realty corporation.
warp company of converters and
dyers OF yarns. and n baking company.
Now at the age of 81 ne has come
here TO try his hand al the Legislative
mill.
Even in It's spirited zeal TO make
unprecedented progress OH important
legislation. the House relieves the
steady grind now and then bv DaS-
sages In a lighter vein. For example,
after Jack" Garner. the peppcry
leader Of the Democratic minority in
the tax reduction fight. had succeeded
i'll overriding the Presidents recon-
mendationS. those of Secretary Mellon,
the Budget Bureau and the Republl-
can majority on the ways and means
committee. by q vote OF 365 10 "a, he
propounded this parliamentary query:
In view Of the fact that the mi
nority has predoninated in the con-
sideration OF this bill. and the rules Of
the House requiring the ma jority TO
have a majority Of the confsreeS to
carry out the will OF the House I want
to ask the Speaker whether or not he
will consider the question Of appoint
in, rs a majority of the conferesS
those who are IN accord with the views
a! the House as expressed todaT?"
The Speaker promptly replied. For
the time being the chair would say he
would regard that question as beng
more Democratic than parliamentary.