Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-07-13
Capital Sidelights
By WILL p. KENNEDY.

The way In which Representative
Dick" Elliott of Indiana cleared up d
program of more than 80 bills under
consideration before the House Com
mittee of Public Buildings and Grounds
many of which were of particular in
terest because they are important steps
in the development of the National
Capital, proved the efficacy Of common
horse sense and good nature in legis-
lation as well as in other business
transactions.
Dick" Elliott Is q typical Hoosier
and his friends in Congress describe
him as common as an old shoe" He
always has fund of interesting anec-
dotes and visits socially among his col
leagues while Congress is in session.
No matter what important legislation
may be awaiting action before his COM
mittee, or how many important meas
ures he may have on the calendar
Dick" never has the appearance of
being rushed or excited. He seldom
crates in the House. He never appears
to feel his Importance. and yet when
the smoke of legislative contest is over
and the dust kicked up by excited
members has died down, Dick" Elliott
emerges with his work we'll done and
new record of achievement.
Those who have watched the Federal
building program most closely recognize
that Dick" Elliott within the past five
years has achieved for the National
Capital and is carrying out a sys-
tematic busineSslike program of con-
struction Of Federal buildings through
out the country, which his colleagues
believed impossible when he took
charge.
In this last Congress alone the meas
ures that he put through for building
up Washington and making more ef-
ficient the Federal activities include:
Authorization for acquisition, estab-
lishment and development of the
George Washington Memorial Parkway,
skirting both banks Of the Potomac
River, from Mount Vernon and Fort
Washington to the Great Falls on the
Potomac. with an initial appropriation
already made of 100000.
Authorizing the architect Of the Cap
ital to enter into contract for con-
struction Of the Supreme Court Build
ing. with a limit of cost Of $s.250,0O0
Authorizing the purchase by the Sec
rotary of Commerce Of additional land
for the Bureau of Standards.
Authorizing a necessary increase in
the White House police force.
Amending the act to authorize the
Secretary of Commerce to purchase a
site and construct q building for use
as constant frequency monitoring
radio station.
Providing better facilities for the en-
forcement of the customs and immigra-
ton laws.
Authorizing the Secretary of Com
merce TO purchase land and construct
buildings and facilities for radio re-
search investigation.
To establish a commercial airport in
the District of Columbia.
To authorize the extension Of the
National History Building Of the United
States National Museum, wherein Is
stored the famous Roosevelt collection,
at a cost of $6,500,000.
To extend. remodel and enlarge the
Post Once Building in the District of
Columbia. to double its present size, at
an estimated cost of $4,000 900.
To provide for charging the Capitol
grounds.
Authorizing the erection Of an ofice
! building for the Pan-American Union.
The amount Of work involved in COM
mittee hearings and in proper con-
sideration Of this legislation, including
very considerable negotiations with the
Senate. Is little realized by the hun
dreds Of thousands of persons who will
benefit through the work so efficiently
done by this good-natured Hoosier
legislator, who takes special pride in
whatever he can do to help make the
National Capital the most beautiful
city in the world, and to expedite the
progress of this development so that it
may be completed as nearly as possible
before the bicentennial celebration in
1882.
Scores Of members Of the House have
accepted wholesale invation, extend
ed to all members Of the United States
Senate and House of Representatives,
to be house guests at any time this
Summer. or at any other time, for any
length of time they may choose, of one
citizen Of the United States living in
Northern Minnesota.
Representative Melvin Mas, who 4:
one of the most picturesque characters
in the House, being an inveterate flyer
who thinks nothing Of committing by
airplane between the Twin Cities and
Washington, publicly extended this in
vtation on the floor of the House on
behalf Of w. H. Fawcet, commonly
known as Capt. Billy" publisher who
got into that game by getting out a
regimental paper in France He now
owns one of the finest lakeside estates
in the entire United States, called
Breezy Point at Pequot, Mimi, on Big
Many Of his colleagues have already
assured Representative Mas that he
can report to Capt Billy" that they
will be glad to enjoy his hospitality this
Summer.
Old Man Plutarch, of more or less
happy School-day memories, has Just
been trotted out again to tellingly illus
trate a point by Commissioner William
John Cooper Of the United States Once
Of Education.
He recalls Plutarch's story of an old
man who went to see the Olympic
games. When he arrived there were no
seats left, and he wandered from sec
ton to section hunting for a possible
vacant place. When he reached the
section occupied by the Spartans, most
OF them rose at once and requested him
to be seated, whereupon all the Greeks
applauded. Turning to the assembled
multitude, the old man shouted, ALAS,
all the Greeks know what is right, but
only the Lacedemonians practice i'll"
Said DR.. Cooper, in clinching his
argument: More than mere knowledge
is required to insure programs. The
principle Of the electric magnet may
remain mere academic fact, or be
utilized as plaything, or be made to
develop an electric era In the history Of
the world. There Is a vast difference
between knowing the right thing to do
and doing 1t. as our old Greek historian
pointed out so many centuries ago"
emphasizing that similar experiences
with individuals are had every day, DR..
Cooper recalls a story about the British
scientist Haldane. A medical friend, he
states, recently had to deal with two
women brought in dying of diabetes to
the hospital where he worked Both
had been treated before, and taught to
inject themselves twice daily with in
sulin. But one had broken her syringe
and had mt frniihlnA "a ..A.I. - IL -