Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-12
The Political Mill

Cnlnk up SCfataBemS WIN winch 10 Tile
up legislation or treaties or any other
been demonstrated. Just when the
leaders, Republican and Democratic,
believed thai they had the conference
report on the Interior Department ap-
preparation bill, including the COM
promise agreement on drought relief
all ready for adoption by the Senate
along comes Senator Borah of Idaho
with q resolution requesting Secretary
Hyde OF the Department OF Agriculture
to utter the word food" in connection
with the proposed relief loan Of $20,-
100000. A prompt reply from the Sec
Rotary of Agriculture backing up the
statements made by Republican Leader
Watson and Democratic Leader Robin
son saying that of course farmer in
the drought-stricken area who COM
piled with the terms of the law and
borrowed money could use it for "food,"
clothing and medicine would lay this
latest move Of the opposition in the
dust. To decline to reply to the Senate
resolution or to attempt an evasive
answer would merely be to give the
Republican and Democratic leadership
OF the Upper House q slap in the face.
X n X \
From political point Of view an eva
siVe answer or reputation of the
statements made by Watson and Robin
son would appear to be not only I'M
timely but silly and childish. 1t has
been clear for days that no agreement
could have been made had there not
been assurance given Senator Robinson
and Senator Caraway that the $40, 000,-
600 loan fund could be used for food.
A frank admission on the part of Mr..
Hyde that the loan can be so used
would cut the ground from under the
feet of the Senators who are attacking
the administration and the compro-
mise. In addition, the people in the
drought-stricken area are themselves
entitled to know whether the measure
of relief contained in the compromise
does permit them to buy food out
of the loans made to them on security.
The administration has been opposed to
a dole" TO free food distribution by
the Federal Government. The compro-
mise agreement does not provide for
free food; it specifically provides for
loaning the money to the farmers in
the drought-stricken area with security
given and accepted by the Government.
President Hoover has said that the fund
will be handled fairly and sympathet-
ically by the Secretary Of Agriculture.
If the Senate likes the word flood, I"
why not use the word food? The Sen
terms, holding up the relief measure
Tor more days. The administration
would make political mistake now to
be put in the position of splitting hairs
and haggling itself.
If the Congress is able finally to put
through all the appropriation bills
aftsr the relief measure has been dis
posed of-by March 4, and there Is no
special session of the Congress made
necessary by the failure of any Of these
measures, it may be possible for those
in charge Of remodeling the Senate
Chamber to go right ahead and put
through their plans which call for NOV
ing the Senate Chamber out to the
north wall Of the Capitol. Not only
are plans now In hand for the construc-
ton of what has been called the most
beautiful legislative hall in the world,
but for letting the light Of day into the
Senate Chamber. Three great windows,
forty feet high, at the north end of
the Chamber will provide this light,
as well as the skylight above the
Chamber.
Senator Copeland Of New York, who
at one time was health commissioner
for the greater city, has worked for
years on the proposal to get the
Senators more daylight in the Cham
Der and q connection with the fresh
air of outdoors. A half million dollars
has been appropriated for the change.
However, it will require eight or nine
months to do the work Of construction.
For the last two years Congress has
been In session during the Summer
months. There has been no chance
to go ahead with this work Of remodeling
the Senate Chamber. It is the New
York Senator's hope that the remodel
ing may be done during the coming
Summer. He Is one of those who are
against a special session of the Congress
this Spring and Summer.
Senator Copeland tells q story about
an institution for the blind, which was
built without outside windows in con-
siderable part. The theory was that If
the blind could not see there was little
reason for having windows to let in
daylight and that artificial light would
do as well. When the blind inmates
began to sicken and die, 1t was realized
that they needed the light Of day for
health purposes as well as do those who
can see. It is the contention of Senator
Copeland that members of the Senate,
spending long hours in the Senate
chamber each day, where the daylight
comes now darkly through q Skylight
and artificial lights are used constantly,
are giving UP their health and shorten
ing their lives. Under these conditions,
it is natural, he said, that many MEN,
bers of the Senate should absent them
selves from the chamber whenever they
are able to do so.
The plans for the Senate chamber re-
modelling have been revamped, so that
the Vice President will sit facing north
instead Of south, as he now does. The
Senators will face the south, with their
backs to the north wall and the great
windows provided in the plan. The
galleries will be rearranged, with the
press gallery working rooms extending
the full width Of the building back of
the Vice Presidents chair. The gal
leries themselves will contain more
seats for the press and for the visitors.
X X X
Many Of the Senator'S, when they
can, leave the chamber for the golf
else in order to keep themselves in
shape for their work. Senator Copeland
insists that If the remodeling Of the
chamber goes through, 1t will not be
so necessary for them to leave the seS-
sionS of the Upper House. Newest
member of the Senate, Frank G. Part
ridge OF Vermont, like number of his
colleagues, Is fond of the out-of-doorS.
He is great walker. Borah of Idaho
takes his exercise on horseback. Sena-
tor Partridge besides being a walker is
a veteran fisherman and hunter. He
walks to the Capitol and in the Capt.
toll grounds, setting a good pace. In
Proctor, VT, his home, the Senator used
always to walk to and from his office
a matter of half mile, or two miles
day, including his trip In the middle
of the day. He Is q wood saver, too
He saws, splits and piles several cords
Of wood each year at his home. Here
in Washington he has tackled the med
1cine ball in the gymnasium provided
for the Senators. But it is poor SUBJ
stitute for outdoor exercise which he