Evening star., 1937-12-05
Capital Sidelights
BY WILL p. KENNEDY.

fOr the nrSt time IN the history OF the
United States Government, the records
of the House of Representatives are being
thoroughly overhauled classified, COL
lated, filed and indexed for ready ref
erence. This work is being done under
the direction of South Trimble, clerk of
the House, who claims that these records
constitute the most complete Govern
ment files in existence, dating back to
the First Congress. Many important and
priceless records have been uncovered,
the very existence of which was not
previously known. These documents are
on every conceivable subject, and show
complete history of the Government.
Direct personal supervision of this i'm
portant job has been intrusted to H.
Newlin Megill, who has been on the job
daily for the past three months and ex-
poets to be another two or three months
before completing the task.
Harry Megill is deservedly one of the
most popular Capitol employees. having
advanced himself steadily since he first
came to Congress as page boy "on the
bench" 18 years ago. He now holds
post of great responsibility and trust
having been designated by name as no
one else ever was to take over the most
important of the clerk of the Houses
duties in the absence of that official.
This designation was in conformity with
the rules of the House, and notice of
his appointment was read to the House
and when approved was entered in the
Journal-the official record. This was
first done in the Seventy-second Con-
gress and Mr. Trimble has repeated the
performance at the beginning of sue
cessive Congresses, and he will do it
again on January a. In earlier years
these duties were performed by the chief
clerk, but some 25 years ago that Office
was abolished. and then when occasion
arose William Tyler Page, then clerk.
would for the time being assign journal
clerk for that particular duty Mr..
Megill is now designated and authorized
to sign the enrolled bills going to the
State Department. in the absence of the
clerk; and to sign all papers that may
require the official signature of the clerk
of the House; and to do all other acts,
except as are provided by statute. that
may be required under the rules and
procedure of the House to be done by
the clerk. Harry came as a rather
diminutive, eager but gawky. gangling
boy-but his ready smile and his pas
sion to be Of service soon attracted atten-
ton. He was promoted to serve as page
at the Speakers desk, and when MIR.
Page was appointed clerk he took Harry
into his Office as his personal page, in
the Sixty-sixth Congress. Mr.. Page--a
self-cultured gentleman of the old
school, who knows more about Congress
than any man in the Capitol Building,
and who is still a special clerk of the
minority-has been Harry Megill's ideal
and exemplar. guiding star. model, guide,
counselor and friend. Harry is endeav-
oring to pass along to future generations
his best imitation of how Tyler Page did
things in his prime especially his kind
illness and graciousness and his exact
ness in the intelligent performance OF
his duties.
There Is so much in these hectic days
that We don't know about our neighbors
and our fellow States. Occasionally a
member of Congress will tell his col
leagues-and the world besides. Such a
one Is Representative Hampton P. Full
mer, Democrat, of South Carolina. He
tells us:
South Carolina has a sword of state,
which hangs from the front of the Sen
ate rostrum during daily sessions of the
Senate, and is carried by the sergeant
alarms on all state occasions. 1t was
made in Charles Town Cnow Charleston)
and bought May S, 1704, for s129.
The mace is the emblem of authority
of the House of Representatives. When
ever the House officially attends in the
Senate chamber, and upon state occa-
sions, the mace is always borne at the
head Of the procession. 1t was made IN
London in 1865, and is solid silver with
gold Furnishings. 1t is possibly the only
mace in use in the United States which
antedates the Revolution. 1t was used
by the Commons House of Assembly
until the Revolution.
South Carolina is called the Palmetto
State" and the palmetto tree earned its
place in the State flag this way: In
1776 Col william Moultrie, who designed
the flag, was defending fort on Sui
livan's Island, near Charleston. The fort
was made of soft palmetto logs. The
British attacked. The cannon shots, in
stead of passing through, sank into the
soft logs and were stopped. In appre-
citation the palmetto tree was added to
the State flag and the fort was named
for the gallant colonel, subsequently
general. The State statutes prescribe
that Clemson College shall manufacture
State flags and sell them at approximate
cost.