Evening star., 1933-07-30
Capital Sidelights
BY WLLsP. KENNEDY.

Senator George w. Norris Of Nebraska
and Representative Clarence F. Lea of
California hope to see their long fight
won and Congress approve q proposed
amendment to the Constitution pro-
viding for abolishing the Electoral Col
lege and election Of the President and
Vice President by direct vote Of the
people rather than through this subter-
fuge.
this proposal has been given strong sup
port and in the last Congress and in
the special session recently adjourned
the proper committee of the House
made favorable reports on the measure.
In this last session a special SUBJ
committee Of the Senate judiciary Com
mittee reported favorably on q resolu-
ton by Senator Norris, which provides
for q direct vote for President, a d.
vision of the State votes among the
candidates in proportion to their popu-
lar votes, and for the plurality selec-
ton of the President.
ut Is hoped before the next session
adjourns," said Representative Lea,
be sent on its way to ratification by the
Legislatures Of the various StateS. 1t
would correct gross defects in our meth
Cd Of electing the President that have
been recognized by all students of our
Government for the last 100 years. 1t
would establish a method of election
consistent with our general American
scheme of government and, believe,
would contribute materially to the bet
terment Of the political Life Of this
country"
Emphasizing that in the State unit
vote all minority voters in every State
are, In effect, disenfranchised. their
votes discarded and not counted in COM
putting the ultimate result of an election.
Representative Lea figures that in each
of the last two presidential elections the
votes of over 38 per cent Of the voters
Of the country were thus diSen-
franchised through the unit-voting sys-
TEN.
In three instances candidates receiv-
ing the plurality vote of the Nation for
President have been defeated by can
didates with less popular votes. "The
defeat of the candidate shown at the
polls to be the choice Of the people OF
the Nation is q political injustice OF
major character" declares Representa-
tive Lea. "A system that makes such
results possible Is not only undesirable,
but a menace to the welfare OF popu-
lar government"
The election of President Is great
contest. a national game that should
be conducted, he argues, with good
craftsmanship. The rules Of the game
are now unfair and tricky. The pur-
pose of the amendment proposed by
Senator Norris and Representative Lea
is to provide fair rules for the contest
for a lust decision, respected because
1t Is fair and just.
The electoral college system under
some circumstances. they argue, need
lessly creates deadlocks and provides
uncertain and inept methods for break
ing them.
If the election is thrown into the
House Of Representatives, each State
regardless of its population, is the equal
of every other State in selecting q
President Each state has one vote
no more. no less A majority Of the
Representatives from each State casts
the vote of that State for President
The State with one Representative Is
as powerful as the State Of New York
with her As Representatives in deter
mining who shall be President.
Each Of the two elections that have
occurred in the House of Representa-
tives has been accompanied by national
scandals and bitterness.
visitors this Summer to the new
House Office Building are much i'm
pressed by the beautiful lobby. 1t is
entered through the portico on the
north end-built entirely of marble, but
only partially inclosed-with five out
side doors. The lobby is approximately
80 feet wide by SIS feet long, with cir
cular recesses at either end. There
Fx,o n II
street front to the north facing the
Capitol and five square-headed openings
by which the elevator lobby to the
south may be reached. The walls OF
the lobby are of gold vein Alabama
lockwood limestone. The floors are OF
marble laid in geometrical pattern in a
combination of dark green, purple and
black The ceiling is of ornamental
plaster. The architectural style of the
lobby is a simple composition of Ionic,
Doric and modified French Renaissance
the frieze being decorated with tri-
glyphs and metopes These metopes
contain circular panels. representing
seals of all the States. Terriorities and
possessions of the United States, to-
gether with conventional panels rep
resenting the various industries OF the
country. The panels on the ceiling
are representative of the various phases
of industry and the military tro-
phies. farming, agriculture. sculpture,
mechanical arts. marine trophies. fruit,
music, literature, drama and trans
portation.
The magnificent new home Of the
United States Supreme Court, ranking
with the White House and the Capitol
as visualizing the three great functions
of Government-executive. legislative
and judicial-and often referred to as
"the balance wheel of government" is
one of the new sights for Summer tour
lists. The exterior marble Is from the
uuarries OF Dandy, VT. The marble for
the exterior of the four courts. the light
spaces of the building, is from Georgia.
The interior marbles are from Alabama.
Some foreign marbles have been used
in the court room.
Because of the conviction for many
years that all buildings with frontage
on the Capitol grounds should conform
isting buildings in the Capitol group,
the Supreme Court Building is of classic
architecture of the Corinthian order.
The exterior is of white marble, but
during these Summer months it cannot
be seen from the Capitol Building be-
cause Of the heavy foliage on the trees
in the Capitol grounds. 1t has been
fitted on its site to conform with the
Library of Congress, just south across
East Capitol street. The Supreme Court
Building is erected on what Is known
as Skeleton frame" the marble
walls being self supporting and FORM
ing no part of the weight-supporting
characteristics of the skeleton frame.
Under each of the four open courts
for better lighting and ventilation is
a garage accessible both by stairways
and elevators from the upper floors.
4 4 \
The first appointment under the
first Civil Service examination ever
held by the United States Government
that is, the first appointment under the
merit system" was made to the
Post once Department at salary OF
E1 nm q wear m Aup11St % 1883-a