Evening star., 1937-04-11
Capital Sidelights
BY WILL p. KENNEDY.

unique volume Is just now being
studied by members of Congress-the
only text book of it's kind in existence
and being sold by the hundreds of thou
sands in chain stores, department stores,
hotels, book stores. Army and Navy sup
ply agencies, at 10 cents per copy, and
being distributed throughout the entire
world under the American flag and on
battleships and merchant vessels on the
seas. The first order for the Army
and Navy was 5000 for each Branch of
the service. The first edition was 125,0OO
and soon exhausted and the second edi-
ton of 250,000 is going like hot cakes.
Representative Charles Kramer Of Cali
fornia has introduced a resolution in the
House proposing that each member of
Congress be given $500 copies of this book
to be distributed to schools and libraries
throughout their districts.
This is THE Story of the Constitution. -
by Representative Sol Bloom, director
general of the United States Constitution
Sesquicentennial Commission. 1t is a
volume Of 1872 pages with an attractive
binding and special cover design by
Howard Chandler Christy illustrating
the signing of the Constitution.
1t tells the story of the formation and
ratification of the Constitution with his
torical accuracy and in plain everyday
English readily understood by every one
1t is devoid of all controversial subjects
1t is hoped that it will go into every
home and give the American people
complete understanding of the meaning
and purpose of the Constitution. 1t is
an A B G primer on the fundamental
law and organization of the Government,
with an alphabetical analysis of the Con-
stitution, the literal text of the Declara-
ton Of Independence and of Washing
tons Farewell Address" questions and
answers pertaining to the Constitution
and history of the Great Seal-all for
10 cents.
Many members of Congress are point
ing to this cheap volume of which they
have already bought hundreds of copies
themselves, to illustrate that this Gov
ernment should print books it wishes to
get into the hands of the people for edu-
cation and the development of patriotism
that can be sold for 10 cents or 25 cents,
instead of such volumes as are printed
and bound for sale at the Government
Book Store for SO or SIS. BY printing in
large quantities the price can be placed
within the means of the people and the
objective will be achieved in getting them
to the largest number of people.
X X
The House is saving itself consider
able expense, while doing the decent
thing about a veteran employee. j.
Haltigan, famous reading clerk, whose
voice at national conventions has been
heard all over the country Mr. Haiti
gan is seriously sick, but no one is going
to be put IN his place no matter how
long he is absent from his duties at the
Speakers desk. Speaker Bankhead has
given that assurance There is only one
other reading clerk, A. E. Chaffee. He
and Haltigan have been teamed up on
the job for nearly 20 years
Chaffee can't do the work all alone,
and so the House is trying out candidates
for an "understudy" job, who would
eventually succeed either Haltigan or
Chaffee, and who after sufficient train
ing and experience will get regular ap-
pointment. The reading clerk gets $4,000
and the understudy when chosen will get
$500 or perhaps s4,0OO-and a career
job. While continuing Haltigan indefi-
nitely on the pay roll, the House is get
ting substitute reading clerk service
gratis-the best possible substitute serv-
ice, because for the past two months 14O
picked men, from every State in the
Union, have been giving their best in
competition for q lifetime job. They
have been glad to give their services free
for the chance of making good.
X X X X
Out of the 140 allowed to take the
tests. A. E. Chaffee certified 10 to a
secret committee of House members who
are sitting in as judges-they come from
Maine to Texas, from New York to Cali
fornia, from Alaska to Florida The COM
mittee in elimination contests has re-
duced the number to 81 for the final test,
and eight of these have had their DAYS
OF special service-reading the roll call,
reading the journal and plain reading,
such as bills under consideration.
All of this comes under South Trimble,
clerk OF the House, who has set q dead
line of May for completion of the tests,
after which the secret committee of
members will select of q flnalists for
the job. This has been the biggest try
out ever in the history of either branch
of Congress.
u
AS an illustration of how ridiculous
the sit-down strikes would be if carried
to logical conclusion, House cloak
room wit said: Some of the new thought
ers say the workmen have an acquired
property right in their jobs and the
workshops through long service. But
how long would the House have stood
for it if Bert w. Kennedy (of Michigan.
too, if you please), who, after nearly so
years of service on the House floor, and
formerly House doorkeeper, was let out
at the opening of this Congress to give
the Job to a younger man-John Andrews
OF Massachusetts-ha defended his posi-
ton by doing . ht-down ut the Speak
er's desk7".