Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1934-04-02
RITES IN CONGRESS
HONOR POU TODAY
Senate and House Called
Into Joint Session for
Services.
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press
Congress dedicated itself today to
an unusual tribute to the man who
was its oldest member in point of
service-the late Representative Ed
ward w. Pou, Democrat, from Smith
field. N. c.
The veteran of II consecutive terms
In the House died at his hotel apart
ment early yesterday of a heart at
tack after weeks of suffering from
influenza. He was 10 years old.
Chairman of the powerful Rules
Committee, intimate friend of the
late President Woodrow Wilson and
of many leading statesmen of the
last three decades, Mr.. Pou received
homage from his colleagues today.
Vice President Garner and Speaker
Rainey summoned the Senate and
House into joint session for an i'm
pressive ceremony at 2 pm.
Both branches met briefly at noon
to provide for the special meeting
and then recess until the services
The program called for Rev. James
Shera Montgomery, House chaplain
to offer prayer. and Speaker Rainey
and Representative Smell of New York
Republican leader and former chair
man of the Rules Committee, to make
speeches.
Delegation Is Selected.
Burial will be at Smithf1eld, his
boyhood home, tomorrow. He will
lie beside his son. Ensign Edward
Smith Pou, naval aviator killed in
the World War.
The most impressive delegation
from the House in recent years to
attend any funeral service will &C
company the body of Representative
Pou to his late home in North Caro-
lima.
The House leader Representative
Joseph w. Byrns of Tennessee; Rep
resentative Smell, Speaker Rainey, two
ranking Democratic member from the
rules committee, Representatives
Bankhead of Alabama and OConnor
of New York. and the entire North
Carolina delegation will be included
with the official representation from
the House
This announcement was made by
Speaker Rainey after adoption of the
resolution providing for Joint funeral
service in the House this afternoon.
The official delegation from the House
TO the funeral named by Mr.. Rainey
is composed of Representatives Weaver,
BulWinkle and Clark of North Caro-
lima and Representative Martin. Re
publican, Of Massachusetts,. the rank
ing minority member on the Rules
Committee.
Sacrificed Speakership.
A White House message, accom-
panied by flowers, was received by
Mrs. Pou. Vice President Garner and
Speaker Rainey were among the many
notables who called personally to ex-
press condolences.
Twice Pou sacrificed his perogative
of seniority for the speakership be-
cause of his health. He stepped aside
for the election of Jonn N. Garner,
now Vice President, as Speaker in
1881 and again for Speaker Rainey
In 1888.
Representative Bankhead will be-
come chairman of the important
House Rules Committee, succeeding
Representative Pou.
Recognized as one of the leaders Of
the Democratic party, Bankhead will
now hold the third most powerful po-
sition in the House, ranking next to
the speakership and leadership.
Bankhead has served Is years in
the House and ranked next to Pou
on the Rules Committee, which formu-
lates the legislative program of the
House.
Elected to the House in the Sixty
fifth Congress, Bankhead has served
continually from the seventh Alabama
district. He is a brother of Senator
Bankhesd of Alabama and the father
of Miss Tallulah Bankhead, stage and
screen actress.
Bankhead's home is at Jasper. Ala
Pou suffered an attack of influenza
about two months ago. but insisted
upon remaining on duty. He handled
many of President Roosevelt's recovery
proposals and led the fight for num-
Der of them during the special session
last Spring and in the present session.
Only last week he was ordered by
his physician to take rest, and yes
terday it was announced at his Office
that he was in better physical condi-
ton. He died at 7:30 this morning.
Mrs. Pou, a son. George R. Pou of
Raleigh, N. c.. State highway COM
missioner. and daughter, Mrs.
Thomas Anthony Walden of Wash
ineton, were present. Another
daughter, Mrs. Edwin Fuller Parham
of Henderson, N. c., returned to her
home two days ago, when her fathers
condition appeared to be improving
Born in Tuskegee, Ala.
Immediately after the announce
ment of the death. Vice President
Garner and Speaker Rainey, both
of whom served more than 80 years
with him in the House, called at the
Pou apartment.
Pou was the only member of the
House to regain Guardianship of a
committee he formerly controlled
when the Democrats recaptured the
House in 1880. He had been chair
man of the Rules Committee from
1912 to 1920
Pou was born at Tuskegee. Ala,
September 9, 1868, but his family had
lived for years in North Carolina. He
went to Smithfleld as a boy, was
educated at the University of North
Carolina and became lawyer He
entered politics in 1885 as chairman
of county executive committee. In
1887 he married Miss Carrie H.
1hrie. In 1888 he became a presi-
Dental elector, and for 10 years was
solicitor.
During his congressional career he
first attracted attention when he
supported President Theodore Roose-
welt in his big Naval construction
program.
Ed Pou was one of the most lovable
When President Wilson came in,
Pou became his adviser on legislative
matters. He had a great file of letters
from the wartime President thank
ing him for his assistance on many
important issues.
Vice President Garner said today
and courageous characters I've ever
known"