Evening star., 1933-04-09
Capital Sidelights
BY WILL p. KENNEDY.

Charles Clarence Frick, a native
Washingtonian, now assistant United
States trade commissioner in Brussels,
Belgium. was 80 years old yesterday and
has been for 20 years in the service of
the United States Government. This
is believed to be record for young
men, and members Of Congress who
know Frick we'll point out that his ex-
ample is nSpirational for the youth of
the land. He started in as a page boy
in Congress, appointed by Senator Gill
bert NJ Hitchcock of Nebraska in 1913,
at the age of II. and he held that DO
Sition for three years. His studious and
industrious habits and his ambition at
tracted the attention Of many members
OF Congress. He completed full COM
mercial course by studying nights while
working in the daytime as a page.
When he was only Is years of age he
enlisted in the Navy, and made many
trips across the Atlantic Ocean during
the World War on a transport carry
ing American soldiers to European bat
tlefields. Upon his discharge from the
Navy in 1919 he continued for another
year in France with the Graves Reg
istration Service. Upon the termina-
ton OF this assignment Frick re-
entered the service of the United States
Senate at the age of 10 by appointment
of Senator McNary. He promptly en-
rolled as night student in Emerson
Institute in the foreign service course
from which he graduated with excep-
tionally high standing.
He was next appointed by the State
Department to the position of vice con-
cII1 f0r
In Bucharest, Dublin, Swansea and
other stations. He was then trans
ferred to the Department of Commerce
with appointment as a business spe-
cialist and later as assistant trade
commissioner at Bucharest, and later
transferred to his present post at Brus-
sells. He is the son of Mrs. James D
Reilly, ia Fourth street southeast. In
1928 he married Miss Frances Thomas
OF Scranton, Pa. Col Edwin A. Halsey
sergeant at arms of the Senate, was
one of those who inspired young Frick
to push himself ahead in the world
through devoted service to his Gov
ernment.
James D. Reilly, present doorkeeper
OF the Senate. private gallery, known as
Glad Hand Jimmie of the Capitol, y
has been an employee at the Capitol
Tor 81 years, and has served on both
the House and Senate sides. He is the
stepfather of Assistant Trade Com
missioner Frick.
After serving II years as secretary to
Representative William j. Cary of Mil
Waukee, with his talents recognized as a
politician, diplomat and publicity expert
Glad Hand Jimmie ran for Congress
himself and lost the contest by only
narrow margin. He is one of the best
known of the older employees and it
is because of his wide acquaintance
among. people in public life that he
was selected for his present post.
On one occasion, while secretary, he
obtained a passport for a citizen OF
Milwaukee within 2 hours after re-
ceiving the request. Throughout his 81
years at the Capitol he has been con-
stantly exerting himself and using his
influence to do kindnesses for visitors
from all parts of the country. He re-
ceives thousands of letters and greeting
cards each year from his wide flung
circle Of friends for whom he did favors
while they were seeing the Capitol
Mr.. Reilly Is especially well known
to representatives of organized labor
who frequent the halls of Congress, and
who have always found him a helpful
friend. He is member of a local union
and carries a labor card Members OF
the House and their families particu-
larly appreciate the unfailing courtesies
shown them by Glad Hand Jimmie
on their visits to the Senate private
gallery.
1t was nearly 100 years ago-96 to
be exact-that President Van Buren
called the 25th Congress into an
ezra session under conditions very
similar to the emergency that COM
pelled President Roosevelt to call upon
this 73d Congress for a relief pro-
gram of legislation. General and al
most simultaneous suspension of specie
payments by the banks cause the
Secretary of Treasury to close many
banks.
President Buchanan in his message
points out that "at the commencement
of the year 1884, the banking capital
of the United States, including that of
banks then existing, amounted
to about two hundred millions of dol
lars; the bank notes then in circula-
ton to about ninety-five millions and
the loans and discounts of the banks
to three hundred and twenty-four
millions.
This emphasizes that no matter how
desperate the circumstances were one
hundred years ago. this country pros
pered and developed as no other nation
has in all history. President Buchanan
in addressing the 25th Congress on
September 4, 1887, voiced practically
the same sentiments as President
Roosevelt, when he said: I'VE can
only feel more deeply the responsibility
Of the respective trusts that have been
confldid to us, and. under the pressure
of difficulties, uhite in invoking the
guidance and aid of the Supreme Ru:cr
of Nat ons, and in laboring with jealous
resolut lon to overcome the difficulties
by which we are environed.
1T is. under sucn circumstances, \
high qualification to know, by long
to whom the truth, however unpromis-
ing, can always be spoken with safety;
for the trial of whose patriotism no
is too severe; and who are
sure never to desert public func-
tionary honestly laboring for the pub
lie good. It seems just that they should
receive, without delay, any aid in their
embarraSsmentS which your delibera-
tions can afford"
X X X
The Battle of the Wastebaskets has
the House Office Building all embroiled.
New members are incensed because
they are not having any wastebaskets
furnished to them and they have to
BUY their own. While Congress supplies
cuspidors and hairbrush and comb to
each member, it does not provide waste
baskets and the members have to buy
them out of their stationery allowance
Most of the outgoing lame duck"
members took their wastebaskets along
home with them, generally using them
for packing various small articles.
* X X X
Who has the biggest head in Con-
gress? Representative Allen T. Tread
way, Republican, of Massachusetts,,
claims the honor. The only contender,
Charles Adkins of Illinois, was lame
duck" and has passed out of Congress.