The Washington times., 1930-12-01
Tillergrans

lists who didn't know what it
was all about-got thrill that
repaid for the trip to the Capt.
tol. Longworth and Garner grew
red in the face; glared at one
another; declined ito yield"
and contradicted figures. House
gallery gods leaned. over the
railings, apparently expecting a
fistic encounter any minute and
not blaming either man for get
ting mad.
It was a good show. After.
ward what happened? Nick and
Jack left the chamber together.
Not for a fist fight but a frolic.
They went down the corridor,
it is reported by competent OBJ
servers, pulled out Gig ars,
grinned at each other, and
chorused something like this:
81 certainly gave you h
didn't II"
So don't get excited today as
Longworth and Garner assail
the political and economic views
of Republicans and Democrats.
It's always been in the game
and in the end, in all probabili-
ty, it makes for better leglsla-
ton; or at least for better legis'
lative friendships. 4.F-'
William Tyler Page, OF Mary
land, clerk of the House, who
started in as a page boy in
that body a half century ago
when they had. log fires in the
corridors and gas jets still
flickering here and there, is
already lining up the recruits
for his next School for Con-
gressmen." The formal opening
of the school" will take place
when the next House is as
sembled but Mr.. Page is now
looking over his prospective
pupils and giving individual
instruction. The idea, evolved
by Mr.. Page, is this:
New members of Congress
know little about legislative
procedure, the mechanics OF
the House organization, COM
mittee assignments, and what
they may or may not do. AS
rule, each Congressional
rookie has promised his con-
stituents that he'd come here
and perform wonders for his
district and the greatest State
in the Union"
Clerk Page, with years Of ex-
perience behind him and in a
sort of fatherly way, tells the
new member where he "heads
in" He wants to be sympathetic
and helpful, at the same time
reminding the recruit that he
must stay around awhile and
watch the machinery as it Is
operated by the older states
men.
Meanwhile, he instructs
them concerning the proper
way to introduce a bill, to OBJ
tain the aid of the legislative
reference service, to be content
with some committee assign
ment the new member may re-
gard as beneath his talents,
and to look for recognition on
the floor when he can get it.
This is helpful to the average
new Congressman and there
are dozens in the House today
who have profited by the ad.
vice Of "Sage Page"
With the approaching retire
ment of Senator Furnifold M
Simmons, North Carolina,
March 4 next, the Senate will
lose its dean in point of serv-
ice although one Senator from
the Tar Heel State will stay on
as the eldest man in the upper
body; and he's a few days
older than Simmons. Many
folks have thought it was the
other way around.
Y y
Senator Lee S. Overman,
North Carolina, was born the
same month and same year as
Senator Simmons. But Over
man first saw the light Janu-
ary 3, 1854. Senator Simmons
was born January 20, 1854, or
seventeen days later. However,
Simmons entered the Senate in
1901 and Overman in 1903.
Senator Reed Smoot. Utah,
came in with Senator Overman
Q903, but was born in 1862
also in January.
Senator Frederick M. Gillett,
former Speaker of the House,
is 79 years old and voluntarily
quits the Senate at the end Of
the present short session.