Evening star., 1933-10-01
Capital Sidelights
ny WILL p. Kennedy.

too, wishing their Capttal-vtSualiZine
the self-eoyerning power Of themselves
and their neighbors-are to have ar
opportunity to feel themselves closer t.
the statesmen Of elder days who yeal
after year guided the Nation in its self
development, thanks to the devoted
services Of two veteran employees OF the
Senate-Col. Edwin A. Halsey, secretary
of the Senate, and James D. Preston
librarian Of the Senate.
Just as the original Constitution-the
ark of tbs covenant of this great Ma.
tion-is enshrined In the Library oi
Congress. to which practically all tour
lists make pilgrimage, 80 also the out
standing historic documents Of the Sen.
ate, carrying the handwriting Of the
Presidents and other great men iI
American history, are now to be dis.
played in cases specially made to fl
corridor spaces near the of1ce OF the
secretary of the Senate, just outside
the Senate chamber.
Col. Halsey and Jim" Preston have
devoted their lives as a labor of love
for more than 80 years to helping the
Senate do its work well. Since they
have been In their present positions
they have been searching out the most
valuable Senate documents - priceless
historically-and having them expertly
restored" and preserved for future
generations and to keep history
straight" They conceived the idea Of
making 1t possible for the visiting pub.
Lie, historians and research students tc
have ready access to these long hidden
documents, which for years had con-
gtituted q real IRE hazard in the origi-
nal Senate wing Of the Capitol.
Among the documents which VIII hrSt
be displayed In these showcases are:
The original in Washington's hand
writing Of his first inaugural address
This Is the actual copy he held while
reading his address.
There is the Monroe message ir
which he uses the words Monroe Doc
trine."
There are the certificates from the
10 States that voted in the first elec-
tion of a President and Vice President
in 17s9-all thoroughly renovated.
There Is the original resolution passed
by Congress calling on the President tc
promulRate day Of Thanksgiving
showing that the Thanksgiving day
proclamation was not Q voluntary act
Of each President, but originated with
Congress calling upon the Chief Exec
utive.
There are two large volumes contain.
Ing the original letters Of nominations
for all the highest ofdces OF Govern
ment, signed by the successive Presi'
dents, and until recent years these were
handwritten, but all Of them bear the
signatures Of the Presidents.
Another treasured document OF spe'
cial interest to the American boy Is
petition In the handwriting OF his ira
ditional hero-Daniel Boone-aSkine
recognition by Congress Of MS CLAIM,
to some s65 arpens IN the old Missoul'
Territory. In 1916 Congress passed an
act recognizing his right TO tins lano
and confirming his title thereto. Inli
land was around Girardeau, MO-. wnefs
Boone died.
From time to time other specially in
teresting and priceless historical docu'
nents win be exhibited in these cases
to which the Capitol visitors viii have
ready access.
In the work now In progress OF clearing
the site for the new Library OF Congress
annex, between East Capitol and =
streets. Third and Second streets, d.
rectly east Of the Library Building-ir
the area that, the original founders OF
the city contemplated would be tne
principal and aristocratic resioentia
section-several historic structures are
being razed. One Of these, at 206 Penn
sylvania avenue southeast. Is the ouiio.
ing in which for = long time the United
States Supreme Court met after tne
burning Of the Capitol In 1914. II va
later temporarily occupied by the In.
ternational Reform Bureau. ORGANIZED
nf HNrnrr Nfinp
those Christian reforms on which the
churches sociologically unite while
theologically differing"
This old structure passes at q psyco-
logical time when the United States
Supreme Court is about to have an i'm
pressive home Of its own for the first
time in history. The new supreme
Court Building, directly north OF the
Library Of Congress, is nearly completed
structurally, and the interior work Will
be completed for occupancy in another
year.
In clearing the site for the new Su-
preme Court Building other historic
structures were torn down, including
what was known as The Old Capitol
building, then occupied as national
headquarters of the Woman's party
This building had been erected to &C
commodate the Houses of Congress dur
ing restoration Of the Capitol after de-
struction by the British in 1914. In
front of that building President Monroe
took the cath Of office March 4. 1917
When abandoned by Congress in 1925 II
became q fashionable boarding house
John c. Calhoun died there. During
the Civil War 1t was used as . prison
for State and military prisoners. Among
those confined there was the notoriou.
Wirtz, keeper Of the Andersonville
prison, who was subsequently executed
When the site was being cleared fol-
the Library Of Congress, away back In
1886, one Of the structures sacrificed IN
the march Of progress was Longs
Hotel which was the scene of the first
inaugural ball given In Washington
when Madison was inaugurated March
4. 1909. Another building razed at that
time had been occupied by Gen. Ross
and Admiral Cockburn. as British head
quarters, August "a. 1914.
Not far from the Capitol and included
in the Capitol Group" is an interesting
corner stone which the public neve,
sees and few know about. Several
squares south Of the Capitol two lofty
yellow chimneys can be seen. They are
part of the Capitol Power Plant. The
huge corner stone Of this plant Is his.
toric. It formerly served as the pedestal
of 0reenough's statue Of Washington
during the years that 1t stood opposite
the east facade of the Capitol. The
north side Of the stone bears the words
First in War" The rear side, facing
within the cellar of the building, reads
First in the hearts Of his countrymen. u
Boos.
From the Albany Knekerbocker Press.
BooS for the mayor OF New York
may be succeeded by q few boo-hoos
later on.