The Washington times., 1936-01-04
NOW
FeW HighHghtS
On Congress
HOUSE ROWDY
Nv HELEN ESSARY

his shoes sh1ned. MS collaA
brushed and a button-hole bouquet
In the lapel of his morning coat
The House, the Rowdy, wore
his colored shirt, his Christmas
necktie and the suit the tailor
back home had made him. He
laughed and shouted above the
"whack, whack, whack" Of
Speaker Byrns' gavel. Chewed on
the butt end of an unlighteo
cigar. Talked back to the teacher
and gave a rough-and-tumble
showing of a cross-section Of
this gr-r-r-eat-t land Of ours.
Once, the Senate almost for
got to be a gentleman. Went
natural and snickered out loud
when Senator George M. Rad
cliffe, of Maryland. explained
that his absent colleague the
week-old bridegroom, Willard Ty'
dings, had been unaVoidably
detained"
Senator william Gibbs Nc
Adoo, also a recent blithesome
Benedict-for the third time
thereupon stepped over to Sen
ator Radcliffe and patted him
on the back.
Senator Schwellenbach, of Wash
lngton, who married his secretary
Q few days ago, got to Senate
school on time.
The proletariat, lined UP three
deep against the walls of the pub,
lie galleries, looked down on this
display of legislative human ma
ture. And felt that times were
getting better.
The Presidential candidates on
the Senate floor, Borah and Van
denberg, were extraordinarily cor
rect in their behavior. Presiden
tial candidates are always thus
before the convention time. Both
gentlemen looked very sweet and
innocent. Senator Vandenberg was
nicely nodded into a long black
broadcloth coat, and striped trou
serS. His permanent smile was be
coming, and he shook hands
warmly all about the place.
Senator Borah, the rugged in
dividualiSt, did not Succumb to
Suave garments. But, inadvertent-
", no doubt he did call himself
to the attention of the gallery with
Q pretty Happy Birthday, Dear
Senator" speech to Carter Glass,
Of Virginia.
Senator Shipstead had little
difficulty in separating Senator
Benson from Senator Joe Robin
son so that the new gentleman
from Minnesota could be men
toned in proper order. Mrs. Cara
way, the Lady from Arkansas
looked milder than last year il
such were possible Il often wonder
why Mrs. Caraway doesn't speak
out some time for legislation tc
the advantage Of her own sex
She has q swell opportunity. But
she just sits and sits and sits
And appears to be doing what she
Is told. Though I understand
she is pretty smart)
The still sprightly Senator Jim
Ham Lewis, who almost died last
summer in the Soviet Russia
which he dislikeS, mentioned
routine matters once or twice. The
page boys lined up in a row
against the wall to swear allegi'
ance to the Constitution. Raised
their hands in token Of honesty
as incoming legislators do. The
hairs on the top Of some senator
ial heads from Townsend plan
constituencies seemed fewer than
last session. Other senatorial.
WaiStlineS more nearly jutted
against the desks than before the
summer adjournment. Otherwise
the Senate seemed as calm as II
did yesteryear. There was nc
applause. No open rebellion. The
Senate, as I said before, went
back to school a gentleman.
The House, so lightfooted oh
servers who rushed along Cap1to
corridors when the Senate ad
journed noticed, had as much fur
getting started as a flock Of two
year-olds at the race track barrier
There were too many people anc
too many kinds of carryin' or
under its broad skylight. AS usua
the big room seemed to neeC
ventilation and little quiet.
However, the hubbub and thu
bad manners had meaning.
The cheers of the Administra
ton enemies when Minorit.
Leader Smell mentioned the lover
whelming SpinelesS majority o
the Administration boys proved
that the Republicans have fount
their vocal chords again. Tn
roars of the Democrats when MI
Smell said in his pleaSantest voicO
that his opposition to last night
address of the President of tn
United States was not partisan
proved that the Democrats hav
not lost their sense of humor ii
they have lost some other assets)
In the midst of the uproa
somebody read a telegram from
Representative McKeough. Tn
Chicago gentleman said he Gel
ta1nly was sorry he couldn't com
to the party, but he was at tina
moment celebrating his silve
,Sveddin1 anniversary. (noYoes