Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-21
WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS

Further medical testimony as to the
excellent state of Mr.. Hoover's health
was forthcoming this week. DR.. Royal
S. Copeland, Senator from New York,
following visit to the White House
ofhces, and a glimpse of the President
in the flesh, pronounced him in better
health than year ago. Last year DR.
Copeland counseled against too strenu-
Gus medicine ball play. This time he
warns the President not to burn too
much midnight oil. Sitting I'D nights
at the White House will not hasten the
tariff bill. nor resuscitate the London
naval parley. AS for the perplexities
attending the selection of a new member
OF the Supreme Court, who measures up
to MIR. Hoover's own ideas. who win
prove acceptable to the country. and
who can safely run the gauntlet in the
Senate, DR.. Copeland urged the Presi-
dent to take it easy. According to the
Senator's version of the conversation
Mr.. Hoover remarked that he would
have to sit up all night soon to canvass
the long list of Supreme Court candi-
dates, and Copeland responded senten-
tiously, Don't do that. sleep on it and
make the decision in the morning."
X X III
In mapping out his PENNSYLVANIA
primary campaign, Secretary of Labor
Davis announces among other things
that it is to be conducted along
economical lines. So far as he is con-
cerned, 1t is to be no battle of dollars.
His own purse Is substantial, but as
nothing to the millions within the
reach of the opposition. He will rely
almost entirely on volunteer workers.
AS for himself, the problems of the De-
partment of Labor will keep him close
IN 10 d. A..
He has no present intention of resign
ing from the cabinet, until and unless
he obtains the senatorial nomination.
On the vextng question of prohibition
Secretary Davis intends to say nothing
in contradiction of the position of his
chief, President Hoover.
Representative Ruth Bryan owen of
Florida regards all of her constituents
''as just one big family" whose welfare
is in her safe keeping. Her mission in
Congress is not to reform the universe,
but to promote and conserve the inter-
ests of her own bailiwick. She stresses
the local and the personal keynote.
Her latest move to cement the personal
bond with her family is to cali on the
juvenile members, the high school boys
and girls, to select their most repre-
sentative" Schoolmates to come to
Washington for the Easter holidays, as
the guests of Mrs. Owen, all expenses
paid out of her private purse. One boy
and one girl from each of the 10 coun-
ties in her district, to make up a party
of SO, are now being chosen. and the
Congresswoman will personally conduct
and chaperon the party on its sight
seeing tour. Here is an idea that from
vote-getting standpoint is away ahead
OF free seeds or franked excerpts from
the Congressional Record.
X - x
At least one member of Congress still
clings to a corncob pipe, and makes
no conCealment of 1t. He is Percy Z.
Quin of Mississippi, whose corncob
has been in evidence in the lobby OF
the House and in the Capitol corridors
for now nearly 20 years. Representa-
tive Quin Is also an inveterate gum
chewer. Born on farm, the son of
Baptist minister, he taught country
school while studying law, and served
coming to Congress. He has retained
to a unique degree his plain home
spun character. Under seniority rules, |
II and when the Democrats obtain con-
troll Of the House, he is in line to he |
chairman of the important committee |
on military affairs.
X \ X X
The familiar expression watchdog |
of the Treasury has a very tangible |
origin and can be traced to the early |
days of the first United States mint |
Then the mint had a watchdog, and |
he was real one, of the canine species. |
His name was Nero, and he cost the /
Government So. Nero's job was to guard |
osnf -
Marys lamb. he went everywhere the
Waterman went, and then some. II |
was the watchman's duty to ring q bell /
every hour through the night, and then |
send Nero through the yard. Probably /
the idea was that If Nero made the trip |
1t was safe for the watch I
man to follow. Nero was q legitimate
Item of expense to the mint, as the
early financial records Of the mint at
test. That was long before the days of /
the controller general and budgets. The
cost of Nero's food was charged against