Evening star., 1934-04-01
Capital Sidelights
BY WILL p. KENNEDY.

There Is altogether too much loose
talk and sneering comments about
patronage" jobs at the Capitol. OF
course, with each change In adminis-
tration there are workers of either
party who feel that ito the victor be-
longs The spoils" and oftentimes here
are deserving" party campaigners
who find themselves out of a job and
eager to get one on the Government
pay roll. But 1t Is even more true
that the big majority OF the employees
about the Capitol are men and women
who have through long service and
devotion to their duties made them
selves specialists and experts In their
particular jobs. There is probably no
private industry in the country where
this Is as true as it Is about the en-
ployes of Congress.
As an illustration-many others
have been given from time to time in
these columns-there Is Judge Hosea
B. Moulton. q native Of Vermont. q
veteran OF the Civil War. . lawyer OF
eminent standing, for several years q
Judge Of the Municipal Court In the
District Of Columbia. He served In the
Civil War in Company B OF the I'd
New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry
He was In many engagements with the
Army Of the Potomac, and was three
times wounded In battle-in the Battle
OF Bull Run. at Fredericksburg anc
GETTYSBURG, but never left the line Of
battle on account OF these WOUNDS
until the days engagement was over
In January, 1864, he was released
from service at the front and assigned
to duties In tbs United States Arsenal
He was first chief clerk OF the laoora
tory department and took charge Of
all the books. papers and records OF
that department. His desk was IN
large room where women were en-
ployed putting powder into cartridges
They sat facing the wall around the
room. On June II, 1854, Mr.. Brown
the superintendent, was engaged in
preparing fireworks for the coming
Fourth Of July. His material, In
large copper pans. was In the sun ad'
iacent to the side Of the building
where the young women were work
ing. Some Of the chemicals for the
fireworks became ignited by the rays
Of the sun. causing an explosion
which took the lives of all II Of thess
women. Judge Moulton was sittinf
at his desk. and hearing the explo.
sion, sprang UP In time to see the
girls thrown over backward, instantly
killed. He rushed toward the dooi
and on the way saw lying near the
door the fisure Of another girl who
had not been engaged in filling cart
ridges. He caught her up and car.
ried her out Of the building. He anc
she were the only ones saved. The
Judge ran forward and plunged into
the Potomac River. which was ada
cent to the building. He was terribly
burned.
His next appointment was as Z
clerk in the Treasury Department
During this period he studied law
graduated and was admitted to the
bar Of the Supreme Court Of the Dis.
trict Of Columbia and the Supreme
Court Of the United States. He then
engaged in the practice OF law in the
District and later was appointed Judge
Of the Municipal Court, serving fol
four years.
Judge Moulton retired from the
practice Of law when he had reached
his 18th birthday. He Is one Of the
most highly esteemed ofhcers Of the
House and has charge Of that section
of the gallery reserved for the fam
lilies of members. For so years ht
has been q member of the board Of
the Methodist Episcopal Church; Is
trustee Of the American University
and was for many years president Of
the Vermont State Society in the
National Capital. He is 33d degree
Mason, and past commander OF the
Grand Army OF the Potomac.