The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1931-12-31

- - 80 Christmas since ii
was planted about thirty years ago.
1t is defendant of the great English
Glastonbury tree, which, it is said, is
a shoot from Joseph of Armiathea' s
staff. 1 was wrong before when l
said that l thought the legend had it
that it was from the original tree
that made the cross of Calvary.
=
And, speaking of blossoms, cher
ry tree out in Chevy Chase, suburb,
was seen to be in bloom on Christ
mas Day.
Christmas also visited the office of
the second precinct police station
here. Thieves stole money and pro-
perty valued at one hundred thirty
seven dollars from the cops.
One of the best Christmases was
enjoyed by little Edith Riley, "the
closet prisoner" She received pre-
sents innumerable at Gallinger hospi-
tai. This was her first real" Christ
mas.
The holiday period afforded an OPP
perfume time for moving furniture,
books, papers and office equipment
of all sorts into the new Department
of Commerce building which occupies
eight acres and is seven s'ories in
height. When the work of moving is
started, it was estimated that it
would take a week to complete the
task.
Among things that Washington is
may be mentioned center for the
distribution of drugs. Fourteen per-
sons were arrested as "dope peddlers'
at Christmas time. Some bootleg
gers were also taken.
Austin H. Clark, scientist of the
Smithsonian Institution, in Wash
ington, says that the stars of the
United States flag do not represent
stars in the heavens but stars from
the sea, instead. Mullets shaped like
stars found their places on the flag of
George Washington, Clark says.
Washington got the idea from North
amptonshire, England, and then the
stars went into the American En-
blem.
Members of Congress evidently
think that small-salaried government
employees are of more Importance
than are the national legislators, for
the Congress refused to grant Sat-
urday vacation after Christmas to
the federal workers, but took long
rest itself until after New Years.
Such modesty is becoming in this day
and age. Of course, President Hoov-
er gave US the Saturday, after Con-
gress had failed to do so, but the
President made it plain that we could
not have the Saturday after New
Years.
In glancing through some old do
cuments. ran across the information
: that although the Job of speaker of
the House of Representatives is con-
sidered a highly important one, no
man, save James X. Polk, ever grad
uated from that position to the pre-
sidency of the United States. A
number have tried, including Champ
| Clark, who was close to getting the
nomination when it went to Woodrow
; Wilson in Baltimore. Friends often
f, said afterward that Clark's years
! were shortened by his disappointment
in not becoming president after long
years of public service in the House.
It may seem strange, but the Clerk
of the House of Representatives al
ways acts as presiding officer of the
lower body of Congress until re-
gular speaker is chosen. Once upon
a time, the Clerk acted as Speaker
! from the time the session started
early in December, until some time
! along in February. Members of the
House were in the meantime vainly
balloting to try to select presiding
officer.
There is one job in the House Of
Representatives that sometimes leads
to political advancement. There ]!
always q parliamentary clerk, per
SON well versed in parliamentary law
who assists the speaker in makini