Evening star., 1932-03-25
WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS

were in some disagreement as to how
the reduction should be applied "One
plan to which the committee is giving
serious consideration, he said, "is to
apply the classification act to Con-
SreSs, grade the members according to
ability. seniority and record, and scale
salaries up and down according to
grade" Incredible as II NAV seem
some OF his auditors are said to nave
accepted this preposterous proposition
as the gospel truth. The story reached
lne ears OF Representative Abernethy
OF North Carolina. Hurrying into the
House chamber he interrupted the tax
debate and electrified his colleagues
with the declaration. "I had the as
surance of the leadership of the House
That salaries would not be cut 1 am
$lO,OOO-a-year man. When I came
10 congress ! was making $4,000 a
year practicing law. Some of YOU fell
lows who are hollering and want to
cut salaries may be worth less than
you are receiving now, but am worth
more because 1 represent the soul OF
the people"
Representative Gilbert N Haugen Of
Iowa on Tuesday of this week estab
nShed new all-time record for length
OF continuous service in Congress, He
mad served in the House for 80 years
and 20 days, a longer span than any
other man, living or dead. in the
history OF the Republic. The record
nad been held previously by the late
Gen. Bingham of Philadelphia, who
served 80 years and 10 days. There
nave been several 32-year records. Mr..
Haugen was born in Iowa in 1889.
which makes him 70. He served two
terms in the Iowa Legislature In the
early nineties and came to Washington
In McKinley's day.
Even the White House has its LIGHTER
moments. With the coming of Spring
6nd the approach Of the presidential
campaign Mr.. Hoover pauses momen-
laflly IN his conferences with grave
rallroad presidents, worried bankers
and anxious politicians to greet stars
OF The stage and screen, who are call
ing upon him singly and in pairs, TO
smile and to be photographed. Mile.
rim DOrsay, French movie queen.
posed on the White House steps the
otner day and was presented to the
PRESIDENT by Washingtons chief of po-
nee, Maj. Gen. Pelham D. Glassford.
MISS Billie Dove was another celebrity
TO dazzle the executive Offices. This
week the Sisters of the Skillet" two
Jolly fat men from radioland and the
vaudeville stage clasped the Presiden-
tai palm. with appropriate ceremonies
Ruoy Vallee, the crooner, accompanied
by the Mrs." followed the Skillet Sis
ters. Rudy said Mr. Hoover offered
him q Congressional Medal If he
would compose and broadcast o song
capable Of lifting the country out Of
the depression.
There will be at least one vote for
Calvin Coolidge at the Chicago con-
vention. William F.. Whiting, wealthy
Bay State paper manufacturer, who
served as stop gap Secretary of Com
merce during the closing months Of the
Coolidge administration. has "bolted"
the Hoover convention delegate slate in
Massachusetts,. Mr.. Whiting adopts the
role Of conscientious objector. He re-
fuses 70 take the Hoover pledge. He
does not propose to "tie his hands" He
voted for Coolidge on every ballot In
1920 sId in 1924 and In 1928. He re-
CARDS himself a. just as much entitled
to the title the original Coolidge man
as Frank w. StearnS Time has not
weakened the ardor of his enthusiasm.
Mr.. Whiting has been going to Repub-
lican conventions as a delegate for so
many years that he has come to look
upon a delegateship as his inalienable
prerogatiye. He was named on the
Hoover slate this year In Massachusetts.
But at the eleventh hour he refused to
take the pledge. National Committee
man Lsgett said Whiting places him
self above the party" and hastily picked
q substitute. whiti viii run On his
90 hss 4e spes!* g ~ :. a.