Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-06
Capital Sidelights
RY WILL kENNEDY.

1
elaborate, most modern ventilating SyS-
tenn that washes the air and changes
| it every few minutes and keeps the
humidity at just the right point, but
the House members have been provided
with medical adviser, whom they can
/ consult at any hour and who is in
constant attendance while Congress Is
| In session.
The man selected for this new and
! important post is a native Washing
| tonian. George w. Calver, commander
| NJ. O.. U. S. Navy, who is well known in
| Massachusetts,, where he served two tours
| of duty. Representative John N Garner,
| who is to be the most important Demo-
crat in the next Congress as minority
leader and the ranking Democrat on
the ways and means committee and by
virtue of that position in charge of all
Democratic committee appointments, has
moved out of his office in the part of
the Capitol which was formerly occupied
by the Library of Congress, so that the
House physician can have this central
location.
On all the elevators and otherwise
conspicuously placed about the House
end of the Capitol are the following
notices signed by Comdr. Calver:
WARMING!
"For prevention of spread Of respira-
tory diseases.
Il. Do not use common drinking cups,
%. Avoid crowded or overheated
places
80. Get plenty of nourishhg food and
fresh air.
"a. Avoid excessive fatigue.
IS. Keep away from people who are
coughing or sneezing.
'6. Use handkerchief if you cough
or sneeze, and keep away from other
| people.
81 Go home, go to bed and call your
| family physician If you feel chilly or
have fever. Early treatment limits
disease.
g. Pneumonia and other serious
! complications can be avoided by stay
ing in bed after the fever is broken
AS the job of House physician is some
thing brand-neW, Comdr. Calver has to
build his position from the ground up.
His principal job is to prevent members
from becoming sick. His Office will be
open daily for consultations and as a
clearing house of advice. He empha-
sizes particularly that he has no in
tention of taking any of the members
away from their regular physicians, who
from long attendance must know their
| physical history and condition better
than he can hope to on such short ac-
quaintance.
The Massachusetts, delegation paid a
very gracious and well deserved tribute
during the holidays to one of the most
| popular members of the press galleries,
William G. Gavin. who has been repre-
senting a string of Massachusetts, pa
perS for the past eight years and who
has been called back to Boston to be
city editor Of the Boston Herald. The
2 Senators and Is members of the
House from Massachusetts signed a
parchment scroll which told in beauti-
fully embellished script their apprecia-
ton and best wishes. Accompanying
this was an elaborate silver service.
This testimonial was drafted by Rep
resentative Luce, who is known among
his colleagues as 1.-The Scholar" and
reads as follows:
The Senators and Representatives
from Massachusetts, learn with regret
that they are no longer to have the
privilege and pleasure of meeting Will
liam @. Gavin in the course of his
search for news to be sent to papers
in our Commonwealth. This regret,
however is tempered by the knowledge
that he returns to Boston as step up
ward in his chosen calling and by the
confidence that in him we shall have
at home a considerable, sympathetic
friend.
"Diligent, iudicious, tactful, he has
won our admiration for his work. More
than that, by fairness, thoughtfulness,
kindness he has won our esteem for
him as a man.
I'VE shall miss Bill He will take
home with him our heart wishes for q
long life of health, happiness and use
full work."
Representative Charles l.. Underhill
of Massachusetts, who has been one OF
the outstanding members of the House
District committee, has just taken over
one of the most important jobs in the
House organization and is relinquish-
ing his craftsmanship of the claims
committee and membership on the
House District committee. He has taken
active charge as chairman of the COM
mittee on accounts and in cooperation
with the new House physician is work
ing out some hygiene and sanitation
reforms, one of which means the aboli-
ton of the lunch counter in the men,
bers' lounging room just off the House
! chamber.
The committee on accounts is the fls-
cal committee of the House and the
Craftsmanship has always been consid-
! cred q position of the highest trust.
| Because Of his long service on the
| House District committee Representa-
| tive Underhill was in line for the chair
manShip. If and when Chairman zihl-
man quits that job. Throughout his
activity on the District committee, Mr..
Underhill was actuated by a sincere
desire to give Washington the best pos
Sible government, and due to his efforts
many important reforms were placed on
the statute books. Conspicuous among
| these was the Workmen'S compensation
law. over which very bitter controver-
| sy was waged in the House for several
years. He also sponsored the legislation
| which authorized the purchase of the
! huge triangle south of Pennsylvania
| avenue, between the Capitol and the
| Treasury, at cost not to exceed $25,-
000,0 900. as site for new Federal build
ings, and aided in the greater Botanic
Garden bills which lead to Identification
of the west frontage of the Capitol.
He steered successfully through the
House the new insurance code for the
District of Columbia. which is still
pending in the Senate.
The contingent fund OF the House
is absolutely unprotected except for
| the chairman of the committee on
accounts, and so Mr. Underhill, having
already established a standing in this
regard, will be known as 1.-The Watchdog
of the Treasury" Every report from
this committee is privileged and they
sometimes make appropriations of as
much as half million dollars without
scrutiny by the appropriations commit
tee or without being subject to veto
or to joint action by the Senate.
Representative Underhill will be in
charge of providing all travelling ex-
penseS for his colleagues, all office sup
plies, Including furniture. typewriters.
etc. checking up on all kilograms sent
by members or officers Of the House,
| jurisdiction over the funeral expenses