Evening star., 1932-07-31
Capital Sidelights
BY WILL p. KENNEDY.

There are o number Of old-time
schoolrnasters In Congress, and one oi
the best examples is Representative and
DR.. John W. Summers of washington
who practiced medicine for more than
a quarter of q century before coming to
Congress.
Dr. Summers worked his way through
college and professional schools by
teaching, and to fit himself for teaching
he worked his way through normal
school. And when he got started on q
professional education he didn't stop at
his alma mater in Kentucky. but con-
tinued on in New York, London, Ber-
lin and Vienna.
He was a farm boy and until he was
Is worked betimes in village store. Sc
he has a pretty fair personal-experience
impression of some Of the things the
youth of this land need. And one Of his
impressions is that they should make
themselves better acquainted with the
Federal Government. Feeling that there
Is much misunderstanding among adults
as well as youths regarding some things
that all good citizens should know,
Representative Summers now and then,
from time TO time, drafts O few ques-
tions and their answers. which are be-
ing used in Government courses in the
schools Of his district and elsewhere.
Here Is a sample batch:
Question: Do any Of the taxes paid
10 county or city treasurers go 10 the
support Of the National Government?
Answer: No. All taxes on land. houses,
business property, personal property or
-. L. l.ak -
county or city treasurers are levied, COL
lected and expended within the State.
Such taxes are not, and under the Con-
stitution cannot be, controlled in any
way by Congress, and not cne penny Of
such taxes goes to the support OF the
National Government.
Question: Do National Government
officials and employees pay an income
tax?
Answer: Yes. Senators, Congressman
and all employees of the National Gov
ernment pay exactly the same Federal
income tax as q private citizen with the
same income. In order that there
might be no question about this, the
Congress several years ago passed a law
stating specifically that salaries of
United States Senators and Congress
men should be taxed.
Question: Did Congressmen reduce
their own salaries this year2
Answer: Yes. Congressmen and Sen
ators cut their own salaries 10 per cent
and their travel and stationery allow
ance 2S per cent.
Question: Does the Government do
free printing for Congressman?
Answer: No. The Government Print
ing Office collects the full cost Of every
line printed for each and every Con-
gresham.
Question: What about the franking
privilege?
Answer: In the transaction Of official
business Ccngressn1en receive and an
swer anywhere from 40 to 400 letters
daily. This correspondence covers a
wide range Of subjects, such as pending
legislation, public and private = relating
to veterans cases Of oil kinds to i'm
migration cases, to pensions, to public
works, such as rivers and harbors, pub
lie buildings and the like; in short, to
every subject which contacts our people
with the National Government.
4 y
High tribute was paid by Representa-
tive John G. Tilson of Connecticut,
former House leader, after "a years Of
continuous service in the House, to his
colleagues throughout those years and
throughout the entire history of this
Government when he announced that
he is about to resign from the House.
Mingled emotions naturally arise as
one contemplates closing long term
Of service in the House OF Representa-
tives," said Col. Tilson, while his mind
travelled back over his happy associa-
tions and he mentally weighed the
character and talents of the men with
whom he has been associated. 1T is
said that it takes all kinds of people
to make UP q world" he thought aloud.
The variety Is not quite so great in
Congress, but 1t exists even here. !
suppose that If all of Us were as good
as the best of us none of US would
ever quit Congress willingly. While If
all of us were as bad as the worst Of
us probably there would be little salts
faction in any one Of Us staying here.
1t would be delightfully."- pleasant If we
might truthfully say that the entire
membership of Congress were high
minded, courageous, fair, considerate OF
others, generous In thought and deed:
but. alas, one cannot say so as to all
and be truthful. Along this line it is
perhaps not safe to 60 further than to
say that the average In this regard
Is high. Many conform to the high
standard I have described, and as one
thinks of ceasing to serve with col
leagues Of this type there Is sure to
be q pang Of regret.
"The House Of Representatives as q
truly representative body Of men and
women. Statements so often made by
the press and would-be humorists
to the contrary are inaccurate and ur-
fair. Theorists and alleged writers on
Government have argued and attempt
ed to demonstrate, with considerable
show of logic, 1t must be admitted, that
universal suffrage must inevitably lead
to the rule of the mediocre and In
competent. Thus far In our history
however, through patriotism or
proper desire for the honor conferred
by election to public office, 1t has come
to pass that high grade Of men and
women have continued to be willing to
serve, often at a sacrifice. and con-
stituencies continue to elect them. 50
long as this continues to be true the
country Is safe"
- -
Congratulations to the American
public" Is novel proposal by mem
Der of Congress, since, as rule, our
legislators believe that they should be
the cnes to be congratulated, no matter
what happens, Now comes Representa-
tive William H. Sutphin Of New Jersey,
who points out that when the country
is saved 1t Is the public who will have
done the job.
II have heard a great deal about
this great country Of ours" said Rep
resentative Sutphin-"that it is going to
wreck and ruin under the leadership
with which 1t has been burdened dur
ing the past few years. And I have
heard q great deal about saving this
great country Of ours under the same
leadership that got us into this pre-
dicament. But I am inclined to think
that when prosperity does return and
the country Is saved II will be the pub
lie. the long suffering patient, hard
working public, that does the saving
and not the false prophets Of q nom
existent prosperity"
Representative Sutphin comedies that
some OF the Government officials md
many Of the members Of Congress nre
IN ha rom n1innanfad for their firalpSS