Evening star., 1936-05-10
Capital Sidelights
By viii p. Kennedy.

ny " W r. heHHedy.
Mothers day-with practically every
member of Congress making speeches
extolling the mothers of the land. But
there are those in Congress who do not
need to laud motherhood-they live 1t.
There's Mrs. Isabella Greenway, who
had a son and daughter by her first
marriage to H. Monroe Ferguson Of New
York and a son by her second marriage
to the World War hero, Jack Greenway,
memorialized by Arizona in Statuary
Hall.
There is also Mrs. Virginia z. Jenckes,
whose paternal ancestors have lived at
Vincennes, Ind, for four generations
and whose daughter, Miss Virginia Ray
Jenckes, Is her secretary.
There is Senator Mrs. Huey P. Long,
whose daughter is her secretary.
And among the members most closely
blessed in association with mother is
Representative Jennings Randolph of
West Virginia, whose youthful mother
spends much time in his Office and whose
wise counsels he greatly appreciates.
y
What cost legislation-the paying pub
lie seldom attempts to compute the cost.
1t isn't just the salaries and office ex-
penses of members and their clerks and
secretaries, janitors, mail service, char
women, elevator men, messengers, etc.
Each new law passed increases the cost
of government because 1t calls for ad-
ministration and enforcement costs, and
oftentimes it sets up entirely new
agencies.
In the making of each law the costs
do not only include the salaries of the
members and clerks the stenographic
reporters fee. the cost of printing hear
ings, oftentimes the issuance of sub
poenas and the cost of service-but also
very considerable expense in the actual
printing of the bills, the reports thereon
and then the printing of the act itself.
All along the line costs are pyramided-
so that legislative vacation is an actual
saving to the taxpayers.
Take for example the tax bill now
before Congress-and here unusual ef-
fort has been made to hold down the
costs-to such an extent that the veteran
doorkeeper Of the House. Joseph j. Sim
mott, has frequently been heard warning
pages and others against too free dis
tribution Of copies of the bill-remind-
ing them that each copy cost IS cents.
AS a matter of fact, the bill is for sale
by the superintedent of documents at 80
cents and the accompanying report at
cents per copy. That official has had
some $4,000 copies printed and has
already disposed of nearly half this
supply. One large trust company bought
some TOO copies and many large business
interests put in their orders for big
quantities. The Joint Committee on
Printing ordered 1000 copies of the hear
ings, with 800 pages; 1000 copies of the
bill, with 236 pages. and 1000 copies OF
the report, with % pages-just for use
in the legislative chamber and for the
offices of members.
The public seldom considers these in
cidental costs of law making.
80
The best Boy Scout in Is large counties
of West Virginia with a population of
277,00 has been visiting Washington as
the guest of Representative Jennings
Randolph. who is making it an annual
custom to thus entertain and honor the
outstanding Boy Scout in his district.
This year the young man is Joseph 7.
Hess, jr., of Martinsburg, who is accom-
panied by DR.. M. H. Porterfield, who is
president of the council of Boy Scouts in
the Shenandoah area. Representative
Randolph, who used to be Boy Scout
himself, enjoys these visits just as much
as his guests.
Boy Scout Hess was introduced to
Speaker Joseph w. Byrns and Vice Presi-
dent John N. Garner-with whom he
had his picture taken. The Vice Presi-
dent told him he had helped the Scouts
In his home district by having a park
made for them. Mr.. Garner said that
what impressed him most about the
Scouts is that it brings to the boy re-
sponsibility early in life. At the Reci-
procity Club luncheon, Mr.. Randolph in
troduced this boy. who, when asked how
Washington impressed him, said: Next
to Martinsburg I like washington best
Of any city"
Here's q sample of the sort of young
women who are daily doing q good job
on Capitol Hill-Miss Constance Shu-
maker Of Atlanta, Ca, who is with"
Representative Robert Ramspeck, chair
man Of the Civil Service Committee.
Miss Shumaker was selected to entertain
Marvin H. Mcintyre. the Presidents
secretary, when he was guest Of honor at
the banquet of the Little Congress. AS
souvenir she cherishes an autographed
copy of the message" President Roose-
welt sent to the Little Congress. She has
q wholesome enjoyment Of outdoor sports
horseback riding, swimming and tennis
especially. She confesses that as
little girl she was ambitious to be tight
rope walker and trained for It on
jogging board and the backyard fence.