Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-03-03
Capital Sidelights
BY WILL p. KENNEDY.

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There are career men in the secre-
tariat of members Of Congress as well
as among those who hold the impor-
tant posts in keeping the wheels of
legislation moving. Veteran House
employees include such men as William
Tyler Page. author Of THE Ameri-
cans Creed" secretary Of the George
Washington Bicentennial Commission,
authority on the Constitution, former
clerk Of the House and an employee at
the Capitol for more than half q
century. There Is another 50year
man in the person Of William
("Andy'') Smith, in charge Of the Con-
gressional Record. with an Office in
Statuary Hall. There are such others
as Joseph j. Sinnott, doorkeeper
both of the House and several Demo-
cratic national conventions; Bert w.
Kennedy, former doorkeeper during
Republican majority; Joseph G. Rod
gers, former sergeant at arms, and the
two reading clerks, Patrick J. Haiti
gan and A. E. Chaffee, to name only a
few.
But somehow folks do not think of
the secretaries and clerks to members
as career men. They rather look at
them as they do elevator boys and
members Of the Capitol police force
there holding a job to help them work
their way through law school or some
other special cou-se-just making
stepping stones in their career But
there are some devoted workers who
have made and are making congress
sional secreraryship their life work and
profession and who take special
courses to make them more efficient.
Among these there is considerable
rivalry to be known as the best secre-
tary" in the House Office Buildings.
These are not boys or girlS-groWn
men and women. with record of &C
tual achievement behind them-known
throughout the entire Government
service where a request from them
gains immediate attention for their
Congressman.
To give but one example-there is
Eugene T. Kinnaly, now secretary to
Representative John w. Mccormack
Of Boston, Mass. Gene" has often
been called 1.-The best secretary"-and
he, at the age of As, with a wife and
child, has just gone through law school
burning the midnight oil" and passed
the bar examinations-just to fit him.
self for better service. Gene" has
been serving the people Of the twelfth
Massachusetts, district for more than
II years, and none has ever had any
thing but kind words and helpful
service from him. He has done count
less favors for hundreds who never
met him-and he has helped to give
scores Of young people good start in
life.
Mr.. Kinnaly graduated from the
Boston High School of Commerce in
the first class in 1908. The late Rep
resentative James A. Gallivan, one of
the most picturesque. charming per-
sonalities in Congress during the last
quarter Of a century and one of the
brightest minds Harvard ever sent to
the legislative halls, selected Gene
Kinnaly as his legislative assistant
and no member of the House ever had
a more devoted ally. He served GAL
Ivan from July, 1918, until Gallivan's
death in April, 1928-since then he
has been doing the same kind Of
efficient service for Representative
John w. Mccormack, who is recog-
nized as one Of the busiest and most
hardworking members"
In spite Of his exacting ONCE labors,
Kinnaly. with the encouragement Of
Mr.. Mccormack, has devoted his eve
nings to the study Of law and grad
uated from Columbus University in
1882. He passed the bar examina-
tons last month, and intends to con-
tinue his splendid association with
Mccormack, who Is proud Of his
secretary.