Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-22
Capital Sidelights
BY WILL p. KENNEDY.


y BY Will p. KENNEDY.
sJust now, when there is a mad scram-
bic for jobs at the Capitol, led largely
by young men who hope through such
work to finance their way through,
medical or law schools or other branches
Of higher education. the country gets
the idea that the employment service OF
Congress is makeshift organization.
oftentimes helping lame ducks, and that
the work In consequence Is indifferently
done: - IH&-'s. -...
The key positions under Congress are
held by veterans, who. by long years Of
devoted service, have made them Spe-
cialists on their particular jobs, so that
they are kept on the job no matter
what changes may come in the cleo
lions, simply because they are the ones
who keep the mechanism of Congress
running smoothly no matter what in.
experienced employees may be put on
the pay rolls with changing admins
trations or shifts in party control.
Among these are william Tyler Page,
clerk Of the House; Bert w. Kennedy,
doorkeeper; Joseph G. Rodgers. SER
geant-at-arms Of the House; J. M. Nc
Kee, in charge OF the folding room;
william (Andy) Smith, in charge Of the
Congressional Record; Patrick ]. Haiti
gan and A. r.. Chaffee, reading CLERKS
all Of whom have served the House from
20 to so years. And on the Senate side
such men as Peter M. Wilson, In the
once Of the secretary Of the Senate.
Then Congress has second line on
have made successes in private business
and who are giving Congress the beneflt
Of extensive experience paid for out OF
their own pockets. Such Q one is Frank
w. Collier, postmaster Of the House, VINO
has served 20 years, after having con-
Quoted o drug store Of his own IN La
Crosse, Wis, for 10 years. and VINO mas
so we'll organized the work for emcient
service that he is giving members OF
Congress thoroughly satisfactory service
with six deliveries at their ofnces daily,
from I'm. until 10 pm, wltn Only TWO
additional employees more than when ne
first took over the once, although the
work has more than doubled. Another
Illustration is b. c. Flick. assistant TO
Foreman Mckee Of the House folding
room. who was selected because OF MS
special fitness for this work, having
owned and managed large department.
store for many years In Lake City,
MINI. operated several 160-acre farms
and been one Of the largest dealers In
horses in that part Of the country. Many
Capitol visitors still remember the stal-
wart figure Of the macebearer DURING
the last decade, Col. A. c. Jordan. who
besides his patriotic service ct tha Capi.
toll owned and ran one OF the most
famous mule breeding farms IN the
country, which won countless competl.
tions. And do not overlook the present
chief OF pages on the Republican size
Of the House, even though he = OF
diminutiye stature-Johnny McCabe,
protege Of Chairman Wood OF the ap-
propriations committee, who USED 70 DC
headliner in vaudeville, ana VINO now
in his spare time operates large turkey
farm In Virginia, where ne frequently
employs members Of Congress as post
hole digeers, and who is now raising the
pride of his flock for President HooVers
Thanksgiving dinner.
Lest we forget"-the women. MIS-.
Florence A. Donnelley served former
Minority Leader James r. Mann as MS
right hand man" for more years than
II would be polite TO mention publicly.
He repeatedly said she knew more
than most members Of Congress-. Inc
House not long ago made special 1oo
for her because Of her special knoWl-
edge and experience, 30 that she now
has position all her own as an Is.
sistant to House Leader TilSon and
clerk to the committee on committees.
making up the slate Of committee as
signments. Then visits the Speakers
ONCE and gets acquainted with the
charming and cordial rs well aS EN-
cient young woman, Miss Mildred Z.
Reeves, who holds the unique distiI1c.
ton Of being the only young woman
who ever served as clerk to two SPEAK
ers Of the House-Longworth and OH
lett-and who meanwhile has become
an able lawyer by dint Of much burn
ing Of the midnight oil. Miss MoCon:
nell during the post week celebrated
an anniversary Of many years service
as secretary to william Tyler Page,
clerk of the House. He gives her much
credit for invaluable assistance and she
Is becomingly modest about it--as are
all the clever ladies here mentioned.
The American home Is gradually be-
coming interested In educative reading
matter which Is replacing smart" and
"snappy" lurid literature that has been
pandering to depraved taste ana emo
tionalism where 1t was not barred from
the newsstands.
Realizing the need for broadening and
Strengthening home reading Of worth
while books among the American people,
from four national or
ganizations-the United States Bureau
Of Education, the American Library As
ISOLATION, the National Congress OF
Parents and Teachers, and the National
University Extension Association
recently in the National Capital to Co
operate in formulating plans for FUR
thering home reading. At that meeting
a specific program was unanimously
adopted and each organization assumed
q definite part in its development. The
Bureau of Education and the American
Library Association, separately or joint
", will prepare graded. annotated read
ing courses on general and special sub
jects, as may be requested by organiZa-
lions or even individuals, and print and
distribute these courses within the limits
Of their respective budgets, and they
will give publicity to this project. Where
requisite data for construction OF these
courses are not at hand, the Bureau OF
Education and the library association
will secure whatever help Is necessary
from outside specialists.
When these courses have been pre-
pared and distributed, the American Ii.
brary Association will notify the various
library purchasing agencies that there
probably will be demand for the books
listed In these reading courses. The
National University Extension Associa.
ton adopts and promotes Is Q part Of
Its extension program the reading
courses thus issued. The extension divt-
sion Of each Of the universities and col.
leges subscribing to this program issues
on its own behalf certificates Of achieve
ment to those persons who satisfactorily
complete reading courses.
For the service attendant upon exam
lining summaries Of books giving sug.
gestions and issuing o certificate, q
small fee may be charged by an extern
sion division, but otherwise the services
are free. ."