Evening star., 1932-05-22
Capital Sidelights
BY WILL r. KENNEDY.

The present fuss and feathers over
the multitude and variety Of tax pro-
posals isn't new story for the Ameri-
can taxpayers or for the members Of
the legislative branch of Government.
Senator Tom Connally of Texas has just
had his attention called by a constitu-
ent to a complaint recorded by Repre-
sentative George w. Morgan of Ohio
way back in the Fortieth Congress,
some IS years ago. quoting from the
Congressional Globe as follows:
we are taxed for CIR clothing, our
meat and our bread,
On our carpets and dishes, our table
and bed,
On our tea and our coffee, our fuel and
lights,
And we're taxed so severely that we
can't sleep O. nights.
I'VE are stamped on our mortgages,
checks, notes and bills,
On our deeds, on our contracts and on
our last wills;
And the Star Spangled Banner In
mourning doth wave
Ger the wealth of the Nation turned
~NN SAAS bAoFS'
we are taxed on our offices, our stores
and our shops,
On our stoves, on our barrels, on our
broomS and our mops,
On our horses and cattle, and II we
should die,
We are taxed on our cofins in which we
must lie.
We are taxed on all goods by kind
Providence given,
We are taxed on the Bible that points
US to Heaven;
And when we ascend TO the heavenly
goal,
You would, If you could. stick a stamp
on our soul"
Especially in presidential campaign
years and whenever big overthrow in
congress Is anticipated, some one focuses
attention on the famous advice given
by Champ Clark to the American voters
TO send promising man to Congress
ana tnen Keep him there. This year 1t
Is Representative William w. Hastings
OF Oklahoma who quotes the sage ad-
monitions OF the great philosopher some
Is years ago:
"A man has to learn to be a Repre-
sentative" he said, lust as he must
learn to be blacksmith, q carpenter,
farmer, an engineer, lawyer or q
doctor"
He cited the example of John Ran
dolph OF Roanoke, whose district kept
MIN In the House till he became a great
national hgure. Then the Old Dominion
sent him to the Senate and Gen. Jack
son sent him to st. Petersburg.
1T ig llnWisa for J{atriok -
change Representatives at short inter-
vals," Champ Clark warned. "A new
Congressman must begin at the foot of
the class and spell up. II he possesses
certain qualities, and If his constituents
will keep him in the House, he Is as
certain to rise as the sparks are to rise
upward. No human power An keep
him down. It is only fair andyrational
to assume that every Representatives.
constituents desire to see him among
the top notchers'
New England and the cities of
Philadelphia and Pittsburgh have un-
derstood the value Of long service all
along, and having elected a fairly good
man to Congress, they keep him in the
harness
THE best rule. 1t seems to me, Is for
district to select a man with at least
fair capacity, industrious, honest, ener-
getic, sober and courageous, and keep
him here so long as he discharges his
duties faithfully and we'll Such a man
will gradually rise to high p6ition and
influence in the House His wide ac-
quaintance with members helps him
amazingly in doing things"
The present House well illustrates
former Speaker Clarks words: Repre-
sentative Gilbert NJ Haugen, former
chairman Of the House Committee on
Agriculture and who has broken the
all-time record for continuous service,
is now serving his thirty-third year;
Edward w. Pou, chair
man o. the Rules Committee, is serving
his thirty-first year; Speaker John N.
Garner is serving his twenty-ninth year;
Houses Leader Rainey Is serving his
twenty-seventh year. Five members are
serving their twenty-ffth year, three
of them consecutive service-Repre-
former chairman of the Ways and
James c. Mclaughlin Of Michigan and
Representative Adolph J. SABBATH OF
Illinois; and two Of them not con-
secutive service-Representative Bur-
ton l.. French, Idaho. and Representa-
tive John M. Nelson, Maine. Three
members are serving their twenty
third consecutive year, Representative
Joseph w. Byrns Of Tennessee. chair
man of the Appropriations Committee:
James w. Collier OF
chairman of the Ways and
Means Committee. and Representative
Edward T. Taylor of Colorado. Repre-
sentatives Robert L. Doughton OF
North Carolina and ]. Charles Linthi-
cum Of Maryland, chairman OF the
Committee on Foreign Affairs, are
serving their twenty-f1rst consecutive
year. Representative Charles r. Crisp
Of Georgia, acting chairman OF the
Ways and Means Committee, and Rep
John @. Tilson OF Con-
former House leader, are each
serving his twenty-f1rst year, but not
consecutive.
Since it was George Washington who
laid the corner stone Of the Capitol
with Masonic rites in 17s5,
1t was most appropriate that the gavel
used in the dedication of the new George |
Memorial In Alexandria,
erected by the Masons Of the country.
should have been fashioned from wood !
that came out of the original Capitol
structure and from the Mount Vernon |
Mansion.
This gavel was the gift CT group |
Of MasonS who have been employed in !
the Capitol for many years and was
made In the workshops of the Capitol. |
It is to be used only on each Washing
toms birthday anniversary celebration,
February %, at the Masonic Memorial.
The head, or hammer, part OF the !
yavel is fashioned from old mahogany |
brought in rough state from Honduras.
This mahogany was hauled to what is
now the Capitol Plaza and was there
put into doors and window frames.
When the Capitol was partially de-
,troyed by the British in 1914 portions
of these mahogany doors and window
frames were saved and stored away.
Following the explosion in the Capitol.
his old mahogany was brought out OF
hiding and used in cabinet work, and
\ piece Of 1t is now turned into the
head of the Masonic gavel
Imhadded In the Qayel Is q large steel