Evening star., 1936-12-06
Capital Sidelights
BY WILL p. KENNEDY.

The Smiths still have it-leading In
the nomenclature of the incoming House,
with one new member, making them f1ve.
compared with four of that name in the
Congress whose term ends on January
4. The Smith standard bearers are: j.
Joseph Smith. Democrat. of Connecti-
cut: Clyde H. Smith, Republican, of
Maine: Howard w. Smith, Democrat, of
Virginia; Martin F. Smith, Democrat, of
Washington, and Joe L. Smith, Demo-
crat, of West Virginia.
The Aliens and the Johnsons are tied
for second place. each with four lnem-
bers. but the Aliens are gaining ground.
They had only one member in the pres
ent House and incoming they have four.
The Johnsons picked up one new mem
Der. The four Aliens are: william F.
Allen, Democrat, of Delaware; Leo E.
Allen, Republican, of Illinois; A. Leonard
Allen, Democrat, of Louisiana; Robert G..
Allen, Democrat, of Pennsylvania. The
four Johnsons are: Dewey w. johnson,
Farmer-Labor, of Minnesota; George w.
johnson, Democrat, of West Virginia;
Luther A. johnson, Democrat, of Texas.
and Jed johnson, Democrat, of Okla
homa.
The Hills and Taylors still retain their
tied rank in third place with three men,
bers each. There are two each of the
following: Cannon, Clark, Coffee, Cole,
Ford, Gray, Hancock. Kelly Kennedy,
Lewis, Mahon, Martin. Mitchell. Muir
dock, OBrien, OConnell, OConnor,
ONeal, Patterson. Reed. Robinson,
Rogers, Thomas, Vinson and White.
In connection with the Tooth ami
versary of the American patent system,
which has just been observed in the
Capital and throughout the Nation. Rep
resentative Jennings Randolph, Demo-
crat, of West Virginia calls attention
that the first patent issued by the United
States Government was in the form of
a certificate to James Rumsey, who sue
cessfully demonstrated his invention of
a steamboat at what is now Berkeley
Springs, w. Va, in 1884.
In letter to Secretary of Commerce
Daniel C. Roper, Representative Ran
dolph writes: II believe that Mr. Rum
sey was the inventor of the first sue
cessful steamboat At that time there
were no general patent laws in force,
each State regulating for itself the rights
and franchises granted to inventors.
Both Maryland and Virginia. in 1874,
granted patent rights to Rumsey, and on
September George Washington issued
certificate of patent which believe to
be the initial step taken for such pur-
pose.
"Rumsey's successful trial of a boat
propelled by steam took place at Bath,
now Berkeley Springs, w. Va, early in
1874. Only short time later he dem
onstrated to Washington a model of his
steamboat and it was at this time Wash
ington issued the certificate, following
the success of the exposition. 1t is note
worthy to quote from Washington's let
ter to Hugh Williamson under date of
March IS, 1785, in which he stated:
'Rumseys newly invented boat is con-
sonant to my ideas and warranted by
the principles upon which 1t acts.
I am not at liberty to explain myself,
but If model or thing in miniature IS
just representation of greater OBJ
ject in practice, there is no doubt of
the utility of the invention-all my
doubts are satisfied I believe this shows
that the very first patent came to Rum
sey and also that George Washington
was most anxious to encourage inven-
tive genius in America"
How a couple of old-home- town boys
have made good in the big outside world
Of national politics was emphasized at
Lynchburg, Va, recently when Col.
Edwin A. Halsey. secretary of the Senate
and an employe of the Senate for 80
years, presented the first silver half
dollar. commemorating the sesqui-
centennial of Lynchburg to Senator
Carter Glass, who has been politically
eminent for 81 years. The coin bears
the likeness Of Senator Glass, who was
Secretary Of the Treasury in wilson's
cabinet and offered the same post In
Roosevelts cabinet. He was selected for
this honor because of his endeavors for
establishment of the Federal Reserve
System and his initiative and co-opera-
ton in enactment of banking laws, so
that stabilized currency has become uni
versal. Col. Halsey emphasized that this
is "the only time in the history Of our
country that any single living citizen
has been thus distinguished"
Senator Glass and Col. Halsey have
worked together for more than IS years.
The Senator has been leader not only
in politics, but in education, also as q
newspaper publisher, on the board Of the
University Of Virginia, and has been
honored by Yale, Princeton and q dozen
other universities and colleges. Col.
Halsey has been on the stats Of Cows.
Mann and Stuart, has been sergeant at
arms Of the last three national conven.
tions. He served Is years In the Senate