The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-03-05
NEA Service Writer

Washington.-Bravery, ability
and sincerity Is a combination not
common among the job-holding
politicians of Washington. 1t Is
likely to mean defeat in the next
election when the constituency
finds out about 1t. But there are
few such men here who man.
age to stay on the job.
Congressman Charles Robert
Crisp OF Georgia, usually called
Judge" or Charlie" Is one.
Lately he has been getting a vast
amount of attention because he
became acting chairman Of the
House Ways and Means committee
when Chairman Collier of Missls-
slppi took sick.
He is In command of the task
Of devising methods of raising
new taxes amounting to billions
OF dollars
Where Are HIS Enemies?
You find, in checking up, that
Crisp doesn't seem to have any
enemies at all. Republicans who
have wrangled with him In years
past quickly start telling you that
he has more brains than any other
democrat In tho House and ~even
that he Is the backbone" Of the
house democrats. Anyway, Crisp
is certainly the brains" Of Ways
and Means. ,
He might have been democratic
floor leader this year, II. when
party policy seemed to demand O
northern man, he hadn't with
drawn in order 10 avoid n bitter
intra-party fight. He would do a
lot for his party because he Is
sure the country's welfare de-
ponds on II.
Now he serves as a party lead
or without title and often ad-
Vises Speaker Garner and Leader
Rainey. lie Is famous as a pre-
siding officer and parllamentari-
an; he himself was House parlia-
mentarian under Speaker Champ
Clark. This session he has been
OF exceptional value In pulling
people out of bad parliamentary
jams on the floor as well as In
committee.
A Genius for Essentials
He has keen business sense
and genius for getting at essen
tials. He studies deeply, works
hard, and Is familiar with O wide
range of governmental problems.
He Is conscientious and fair
minded, with liking for compro-
mise and Cancellation, though he
sometimes, flames into righteous
Indignation" More progressive
than most southern members, he
doesn't let his district or sectional
viewpoint obscure his national
viewpoint.
Probably the biggest thing in his
career was his service on the World
War Debt Funding commission. He
presented all the debt agreements
to the house, explaining them
clearly and effectively.
1t was Crisp, outstanding expert
on procedure, who forced through
the rules liberalization by which
145 members may now seize bills
in committee and bring them to
the floor.
When drys objected that it would
mean prohibition vote, Crisp, po-
litically dry, said he favored votes
on prohibition as well as other inn
portant issues. OF course he is a
low tariff man. He now urges taxes
on gas and electricity.
What Farm Relief Means
His human qualities attract
everyone-from elevator man to
presidents. He is under medium
height, with serious lined face and
quiet dress. Smoke cigarets, lives
in an apartment, says farm relief
to him means getting someone to
rent his 100-acre cotton-vegetable
farm at Americas for nominal
sum.
Takes society moderately. Favor
lite sport: Playing with 4-year old
granddaughter "Ginger" and
younger grandson Charles Robert
in sandpiles or swings under his
pecan trees at home.
His Father Was Speaker
He is 81 years old. His father
was Speaker Charles Frederick
Crisp. Other Crisps were Shakes
perean actors. The present Crisp
was elected first to fill the unex-
pired term when his father died.