Evening star., 1931-12-27
Capital Sidelights
BY WILL p. KENNEDY.

The approaching national conVen-
lions of the two great political parties
10 select the net President of the
united States will afford people all over
TIE country an opportunity to hear
again q voice from each of the con-
vention platforms which for many years
has been an important and dependable
aid in carrying through eXpedtiouSly
the work OF the convention, as thev
have been for more than two decades
performing duties of very responsible
character In the making of the Nations
laws.
The retention of the two veteran
reading clerks by the new Democratic
organization of the National House of
Representatives Is well deserved trib-
ute to the longtime faithtulness and
efficiency OF these two veteran officials
"A. E. Chaffee and Patrick ]. Haiti
gan. Mr. Chaffee has been an employe
OF the House for the past 27 years.
In 1919 he was promoted TO the posi-
ton he now holds and since then has
rendered such valued services that his
retention was considered imperative,
even though his political party sur
rendered control Of the lower branch
Of the National Legislature.
Mr.. Haltigan is serving his twenty
first year as House reader. He was
sworn in when the Democrats took
control In 1911, and since that time has
the remarkable record of having missed
only one regular session of the House.
he has never missed caucus of his
party since 1911. 1t is safe to say that
no other official of the Congress can
match thls record for attention to duty,
almost 100 per cent In a period of 90
ha
reading clerk longer than anv other
occupant of the place in the history of
the Government. All through the
period of the great World War he was
steadily on duty and alert. when the
enactment OF legislation Of the most
stupendous Importance to the Govern
ment occupied the attention of Con-
greSS.
In the early morning Of April 6, 1917
Good Friday, in the midst of ter
rific rainstorm, Mr.. Haltigan called the
momentous roll when the vote was
taken on the resolution declaring war
upon the Imperial German government.
The vote of the House on that mem
orable occasion was 373 in favor of the
resolution and so against it, with l2
members absent and not voting. Up to
two weeks ago that was the largest vote
ever cast on any question before the
American Congress
Mr.. Haltigan has been reading clerk
OF the last three Democratic National
Conventions in San Francisco, New
YORK and Houston, and he has already
been designated for similar service at
the coming convention next Summer,
In this connection, it may be said.
his voice has been heard al over the
world more extensively, perhaps, than
any other individual in public life.
X X
Good morning, Judge"-that's the
usual greeting to certain new member
OF CongreSS-Martin L. Sweeney. Demo-
crat, OF Cleveland, Ohio-who promptly
got off on the wrong foot By lecturlne
tie House in his maiden speech Iust at
a time when many of his colleagues
were feeling more irritated than usual.
But 1t is tribute to his genial dispo-
sition and good fellowship that their
| impatiency with him didn't last long.
and quite generally they admit without
reluctance that he promises to be one
Of the most valuable members OF the
House"
But Sweeney came here having his
gang with him. and no matter hoN his
blunt speech. or Irish Wit and sarcasm
Of his analJ ticI! mind and sharp tOngu1
working together may annoy and Ve1
some OF his colleagues that gang" can
see nothing but great herald in
Sweeney. For until just before he came
to Congress, Sweeney was for four Years
national president of the Ancient Order
OF Hiberians, having been elected at the
national convention IN Buffalo in 1927
Four years before he had been elected
judge Of the Municipal Court o. Cleve-
land and served on the bench for eight
years. On the death of former Repre-
sentative Charles A. Mooney. Sweeney
was the unanimous choice of the Demo
! cratic organization in a special election
to fill the vacancy.
Fellow Hibernians, many of whom
had been associated with him in the
national administration of that organ.
iZation. memorialized his stepping into
the Washington political arena by
rendering him a test monial banquet
last week. The local A. o. H. division
and four branches of the Ladies
Auxiliary made the arrangements. The
| affair was presided over by P. H. ODea
president of the Commodore John Barry
Division. Among the speakers from
Congress were Representative Francis
B. Condor of Rhode Island, Representa-,
tive James M. Mead of New York anc
Representative John w. Mccormack OF
Massachusetts,.
The fact that veteran members of
the Congress do not soon forget former
colleagues. and especially those who
have made their mark and left a good
legislative record of acts" accom-
plshed, was notably attested last week
when the retired R. Walton Moore of
Fairfax, Va. visited his old haunts at
the Capitol and fraternized with old
associates. At luncheon the entire
Virginia delegation cheered him and he
received enough social invita.io in ona
day to keep him busy for several
months.
Representative Moore is credited
with having done more than any other
member of Congress in the past half
century quietly and automatically, foI
| development and establishment of the
| National Capital and its surroundings
When asked how man who has been
| so active and busy for years IN Con-
gress Is now employing his time, Mr.
! Moore said that besides serving pretty
| actively as a member of the Virginia
| State Board of Education, the George
| w SOiiillI4oo4O4l
| and the Fredericksburg Battlefield
Park Commission. he is busy practicina
| law in firm which has offices both in
Washington and Virginia.
While at the Capitol visiting in the
| cloak room of the House former Repre-.
cente tive Moore called attention to the
excellent work of Representative S
| Otis Bland of Virginia toward making
the recent Yorktown celebration such
brilliant success Mr.. Moore i:
! recognized by his colleagues as being
one who looks behind the scenes anc
then gives credit where credit is due
SO such observations by him are giVer
attention and remembered. Mr.. Moore
| said: Mr.. Bland as secretary of the
Joint Committee in Congress in charge
of the project worked on it inces
sanity throughout the congressional re-
cess until the celebration occurred il
| October. Except for Mr.. BANDS ef
forts it could not have been SO sue
cessfully arranged and carried out
That celebration is now an historic
event.