Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-06-01
Capital Sidelights


own particular lobbyist Is recognized
as the best representative of organized
interests seeking remedial legislation
from Congress. In their behalf Robert
H. Alcorn, chairman of the Joint Con-
ference on Civil Service Retirement
Legislation, which yopresents approx
mately SOC, 900 Government workers in
all branches Of the Government service
throughout the entire United States,
has in effect worked himself out of a
job by securing the passage OF the lib
eralized retirement bill. which has just
been signed by the President, and which
correctS many tnjusticeS and tnequalt-
ties in earlier acts.
Mr.. Alcorn has been q familiar figure
among members of Congress for the
past II years, during which entire
period he has been working daily for
retirement legislation. He was first
chairman of the Joint Committee of
Employees Of the Naval Gun Factory,
and is still chairman Of that group.
It was soon discovered after the for
nation of the Washington Navy Yard
committee that no real progress could be
made toward a Federal retirement sys-
tenn because various groups Of employees
were divided among themselves as to
what plans should be supported. There
fore the joint conference on retirement
was formed in 1915, representing sub
stantially all groups in the Government
service. Mr.. Alcorn became chairman
Of the joint conference in 1917, and is
still holding that position.
groups as the National Association Of
Letter Carriers, the National ASsocia-
ton Of Post once Clerks. the Railway
Mail Association, the rural carriers, or
CARNATIONS Of all navy yards and sta
tons and arSenals, the mechanical
trades In the Bureau Of Engraving and
Printing and the Government Printing
once.
The bill Just signed by the President
IL the nth act which the employees of
the Government had been successful in
getting enacted under the leadership Of
Mr.. Alcorn.
Three Of the bills passed the Senate,
which had been reported in the House
committee on the civil service, but not
until the closing days Of the SEVENTEEN
Congress did the House approve the
Dale bill, and not until after Mr.. Al
corn had circulated Q petition which
was signed by 291 members Of the
House, the greatest list that ever signed
any petition Of House members on any
proposition pending before Congress.
That bill received q pocket veto from
President Coolidge, and out Of that bill
Just become law.
~ So
One naturally expects to ind the best
piece Of road work In the entire country
in the Plaza in front Of the Capitol
Building. But tourists from all parts of
the country driving through the Plaza
note one square Of cobblestone paving
In the middle of this Plaza roadway.
The interesting story Of this cobble-
stone square 10 told by Harry Parker,
colored messenger for the House ways
and means committee for the past 40
years, who first came to Congress with
William Mckinley.
Harry" has known all the business
leaders OF the country as well as all
leaders In national legislation for two
score years. He says that the cobble-
stone area was used as hitching place
for horses belonging to members of
Congress. and that In that area have
been parked some Of the best horse
flesh that was ever seen In Washington.
Among those he recalls as having owned
and ridden or driven these horses were
Francis Burton Harrison of New York
who was q member Of the New York
Volunteer Cavalry IN the Spanish
American War, and later Governor
General of the Philippine Islands; Will
Of the most noted orators that ever sat
In Congress; Frank o. Lowden Of Il
linois, who was lieutenant colonel of the
Illinois National Guard during the War
with Spain, later governor and candi-
date for Vice President; Isaac r. Sher-
wood, who went into the Civil War as
q private and was mustered out a brig
adler general, and who for many years
drove the finest pair of horses in the
Capital City; Joseph Croker Sibley of
Pennsylvania, Col Edward Deaux Nor
rel, who commanded the Pennsylvania
National Guard and later was commits
stoned brigadier general; Joseph Weeks
Babcock of Wisconsin and many others
Harry also recommends that q tab
let should be placed in the new Ma
tional Press Club Building to COM
memorate the fact that the Mckinley
tariff bill was framed In the old Ebbitt
House on that site.
He recalls that the Dingley tariff bill
was framed in the old Hamilton Hotel,
at Fourteenth and K streets.
Dr. Ray Lyman Wilbur, Secretary of
the Interior, noted educator, fire.
quently recalls interesting bits Of his
tory In connection with present-day de-
velopments, especially aS they are con-
nected with his own administration of
the national domain. He has Just
brought to public attention the fact
that, in addition to its value as a coloS-
sal retainer of arid lands and to its
educational and recreational poten-
tialities, the region in the vicinity of
the proposed Boulder Dam Is interest
ing from historic standpoint
On the banks of the Colorado River,
in Clark County, stand the walls Of the
buildings that once constituted Fort
Callville. Callville is interesting not
only as fort, but also as the head
of navigation on the Colorado, when
that turbulent and cratic river was
by the hardy Mormons In an
effort to establish communications by
sea with the outside world. While their
effort did not produce the desired re-
suit, nevertheless the attempt was q
step in the progress of the Southwest,
and a picturesque adventure which ap-
pears to be worthy of commemoration
by preservation of the old fort.
With the formation of the lake upon
the completion of Boulder Dam, the site
on which the ruins of Fort Callville now
stand will be submerged. 1t will there
fore be necessary, if the fort Is to be
preserved and restored, to remove the
old walls to higher ground, possibly up
Callville Wash q little way, but still
near the rivers edge.
When the entire area Is examined
from the standpoint of future develop
ment and use, Interior Department OH
cials plan to have consideration given
to the proposal for the preservation of
the historic old fort.