Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-01
Capital sideIights
BY WILL p. Kennedy.

they have done throughout this session
for party political purposes, members
Of the, House, Democrats and Repub-
licans, Insurgents and Farm Laborite,
viii all fraternize and unite their erst-
while vituperative voices in one great
chorus Of jollifcation in a big merry
making jamboree the minute the gavel
falls on the closing of this hectic seS-
sion of Congress. In that songfest no
voice will ring out more clearly and
unsteady than that OF Representative
Paul J. Kvale, the one Farm-Labor
member, who is pointed out as holding
the balance Of power. He is recognized
as being one Of the best singers in Con-
gresS and In the National Capital.
The House leadership has designated
an informal committee consisting Of
Representatives Clifton A. Woodrum of
Virginia and John D. Clarke of New
York to make plans for this old-fash-
Toned Song-feSt. The Marine Band
Orchestra under the leadership of
Capt. Taylor Branson is working up q
program of old familiar songs. Repre-
sentative Woodrum has secured the
services Of one of the most popular
group Of entertainers in the Old Dot
minion, "The Roanoke Entertainers, /"
who have won fame during the past
two years as radio artists. They spe-
cialize In playing and singing old time
barn dance" tunes with which they
are familiar from birth in the old home
town Struggled between the Blue Ridge
and Allegheny Mountains-the birth
place Of Hill Billy Tunes" They have
such familiar nicknames as Ladies
Plug" South Paw" and THE Red
Headed Announcer"
The Interstate Male Chorus, under the
direction Of Commissioner Clyde B.
Aitchison Of the Interstate Commerce
Commission, will be on hand to assist
in the festivities and to render special
selections. The Press Gallery gang has
been invited to contribute an important
part In the program. Representatives
Woodrum and Clark are maintaining
secrecy regarding some surprise pack
ages TO be delivered" and warns that
any Of their colleagues who fail to be
on hand Immediately following adjourn
ment viii miss q rare treat.
These informal jubilation gatherings
Immediately following adjournment of a
session Of Congress have always at
tracted a great deal Of attention on the
part Of the public and have been partici-
pated in by some Of the most promi-
nent artists In the country.
4 Il Il
Although there is quite q little specu-
lation IN the public press regarding the
organization Of the next Congress, no
matter which party does organize the
House, and it probably will be the Re-
publicans, the House will have the
services Of veteran employees in all of
the more important Jobs. This includes
that William Tyler Page. clerk Of the
House, and author Of the Americans
Creed" who has been in service at the
Capitol for 40 years; Joseph O.. Rogers,
sergeant at arms, who has been a
House employe for IS years; Bert w.
Kennedy, who has worked continuously
on the floor Of the House for AZ years
and who Is the dean of all House en-
ployes except Arthur Lucas, q colored
messenger who has been IS years in
service in the cloth room; Joseph j.
Sinnott, doorkeeper on the Democratic
side, who has served at the Capitol
for IS years; A. z. Chaffee, who has
been In service for 20 years and who
Is now reading clerk; Patrick j.
Haltigan, who was reading clerk under
the Democratic administration and has
been retained on the job for the past
20 years: James Grifnth, o special en-
ploye, who has charge Of ringing all
the bells to notify members and of
putting up the flag which flies over the
House end of the Capitol when the
House Is In session, who has been in
service % years, 20 Of which have been
on the House floor; Harry Farrell,
enrolling clerk, who has been In service
IL years; Rouel Small, the neStor of
Official reporters of debates. who has
Transcribed proceedings for the past 80
years, and Allister Cochrane, another
official reporter, who has been in service
2e years; Charles Parkman, who is
rounding out Is years and is now spe-
cial assistant to the official reporters.
In charge OF the press galleries are
James Preston on the Senate side, who
Is completing his thirty-fourth year,
and William j. Donaldson on the House
side, who Is completing his twenty-five
year. Other important veteran en-
ployes are William ANDY Smith, who
Is rounding out Sc years in charge
OF the Congressional Record at the
Capitol, and Martin Mckee, in charge
Of the House folding room, who has
completed 10 years of service.
The postmaster OF the House Is
Frank w. Collier, who Is rounding out
rs years of service.
These are the wheel-horses Of the
House, who keep the business and ma
chinery going. regardless Of whether Re-
puDllcanS win or Democrats, ana no
matter what Individually important
member may be elected or defeated.
y
Hard-boiled as members of Congress
may be at times in the consideration of
particular pieces of legislation, and no
matter how eold-blooded they may be
at times in political, partisan strategy
or campaigns, they frequently show o
very tender spot.
An illustration Of this came yesterday
when one of the page boys lost his en-
tire months pay, amounting to $110,
which was the sole support for an entire
family. The father had been out of
work for many months and the boy was
proud of his chance to care for his
little brothers and sisters.
When members of the House learned
Of his misfortune they Immediately
started a subscription, and in a few
minutes the entire loss was wiped out.
At the same time they expressed in pic
turesque language their opinion of who-
ever found the lost money and kept it.
Several detectives have been set TO work
to try to learn what became Of the page
boys salary, and If members can find
out who got 1t they promise to make life
miserable for that party.