Evening star., 1936-07-12
Capital Sidelights
BY WILL P. KENNEDY.

uACaS 11Olllc ny 1ScpIcScilLdLlVe u. buel
Snyder. who became interested as a
member of the House Appropriations
Committee, Is now being sent broadcast
throughout the United States He points
out that the reservation consists of ap-
proximately 500 acreS-2O0 acres occu-
pied by buildings and grounds main
tained as parks: ITS acres maintained as
farm land for the benefit Of inmates of
the home and the remaining acreage left
in its natural state as woodlands, as an
attractive natural feature for the pleasure
and benefit of the members
The dairy herd of Holstein cattle,
rated as the first accredited herd of the
United States by the Department of
Agriculture, produces approximately 800
gallons Of milk per day, all consumed
in the home, at cost of 33h cents per
gallon for the highest type of grade A
milk, valued whosesale at IS to rs cents
per gallon.
A golf course is maintained at no cost
to members Of the home, entirely by vol
untary subscription, but open to use by
all members of the home.
Employment with compensation is Of
fered to approximately all members of
the home who desire work within their
physical capacity.
The Soldiers Home Is the outgrowth
of the dream of great soldier, Gen.
Winfield Scott, in which he visioned an
institution that would perpetuate the
gratitude of the Nation, but would be
self-sustaining. In February, 1S4S, he
transmitted to the Secretary of War a
draft for 100000 as part of the tribute
levied by him on the City Of Mexico for
the benefit of the Army and asked that
1t go to the credit of an Army asylum.
The sum of $18,791 remaining from the
same levy. with an unexpended balance
of $4,000 from an appropriation by Con-
gress in 1647 for returning wounded and
invalid soldiers from the War with
Mexico went into the fund for the Sol
diers' Home, authorized by act of March
8, 1851. More than SO per cent of the
operation and maintenance cost of the
home since 1851 has been derived from
the pay of enlisted men of the Army
and with the single exception of the
s54,000 has never been taxpayers money.
Praise from Sir Christopher is praise
indeed''-now we have former Senator
Hefiin. Of Alabama, who only few short
years ago couldn't ind language At to
print In which to express his views about
Tammany Hall, calling Tammany lone
of the most wholesome and powerful po-
litical organizations in the world-and
Tammany," he emphasizes, will give
good account of herself In the Novem-
Der, election and roll EN- up strong for
Roosevelt and Lehman" He predicts
that the President will carry New York
by a very substantial majority" Mr..
Hef1in has had good job under the
New Deal.
Who can match this record of service
54 years and 6 months, with never one
word of complaint about his efforts, but,
on the contrary, praise from the highest
sources. william Tyler Page came as q
boy. with little education to serve as a
page IN the House. Today he Is one of
the best authorities on fundamental
documents Of the Government, on the
Constitution; during the World War he
won q national competition by writing
The Americans Creed: he has written
speeches and done extensive research
work for Presidents and legislative lead
ers; he was executive secretary of the
George Washington Bicentennial Com
has suggested important changes in legis-
lative procedure and in legislation. He
is next friend" to every member of the
House and especially big brother" to
new members. He Is scholar, q Chris
tian gentleman, a friend to his fellow
man. an inspiration to youth, wise
counselor-an ideal American citizen.
He Is an institution In the House.
There are two old buddies in the House,
from Colorado Edward
T. Taylor, second only to Representative
Adolph j. SABBATH of Illinois in length OF
service, and Representative John A.
Martin, now serving his second stint"
after an absence of 20 years from the
legislative halls, and IS years ago
pioneer for liberal and humane legisla-
ton which he has now helped to put
through in the social security act.
Taylor has represented Colorado con-
secutively for 40 years-l2 IN the State
Senate and 28 in Congress- record un-
equaled in the history Of the United
States Government. He and Martin
served together four years in the Colo
RADIO General Assembly, and they were
both elected to Congress in 1908, where
they served four more years together.
Then Martin voluntarily retired and
went to practicing law. He came back to
Congress In 1882.
Taylor says of Martin: HE has spent
practically his whole life In q constant,
genuinely sincere, courageous and ef.
.fective fight for unfortunate humanity
and for the welfare Of our State"