Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1937-11-28
Capital Sidelights
BY WILL p. KENNEDY.

It's out-the Democratic Congressional
Reglster-secOnd annual edition. spon-
sored by the Democratic National Con-
gresslonal Committee. 1t carries portraits
of President Roosevelt, Vice President
Garner, the Democratic members of the
House and officials of that body. new
feature is a synopsis of the work of each
OF the standing committees prepared by
the committee clerk. Another feature is
an article on the Mace, symbol of author
ity, by Kenneth Romney, sergeant at
arms Maps showing the political COM
plexion of the United States were pre-
pared for this publication by Capt. Victor
H. Harding. The chairman of the Con-
gressional committee is Representative
Patrick Henry Drewry of Virginia, and
the secretary is a veteran Washington
correspondent, Charles S. HAYDEN, who
for 20 years was a member of the press
gallery. There are As members of the
committee representing the "A States
that have Democratic representation and
the Territory of Alaska. The States not
represented are Maine, Vermont New
Hampshire and North Dakota. This book
contains also beautiful pictures of i'm
portant Federal buildings and murals in
the National Archives Building showing
Thomas Jefferson and his committee sub
hitting the Declaration of Independence
to John Hancock. the presiding officer,
and Of James Madison submitting the
original draft of the Constitution to
George Washington and other members
of the convention.
THANKSGIVING day was celebrated at
the House end of the Ce pitol-the mem
bers were in session, as House Leader
Rayburn put it-"by the courtesy Of
Representative Ralph E. Church, Repub-
lican. of Illinois, who has been persistent
in making points of order and Directing
to unanimous consent requests for ad-
journment, and who has come to be called
the most unpopular member because
he is determined that, having been called
into special session, they stick on the job
But they fooled him by recessing instead
of adjourning over the week end. There
was special Thanksgiving sentiment, how
ever, due to the fact that one of the most
popular employees dropped in for visit
after long and serious illness-J. Craw-
ford Shanks, disbursing clerk. He has
bSSit olSh SllANC OIlODCl o. MI oIldIlhS
came to the Capitol in 1915 and was for
eight years secretary to Representative
Norman H. Gould of New York and half
that time was clerk to the Library Com
mittee, then he was secretary to Senator
WadsWorth and since January /, 1928, he
has served as disbursing officer. South
Trirnble. clerk of the House. says he is
an indispensable man on that job" He
is in charge of disbursing about $4,000
600 year, with pay roll of l 450 to 500
employees, exclusive of members of Con-
gress, and all operating expenses. mainte-
nance and upkeep items for the House
OF Representatives, except the salaries
and mileage of the members. which is
handled by the sergeant at arms The
pay roll of employees is about 100000 a
month.
Members of the House are now weigh
ing in daily for their legislative duties
David Lynn, architect of the Capitol has
placed a large scales in the members
rest room-and it has become popular
pastime to guess each others weight
Representative Virginia E. Jenckes,
Democrat of Indiana, proudly displays on
the wall Of her Office a framed photo
static copy of the original certificate of
membership in the Society of the Cincin-
natl which George Washington personally
signed and issued to Capt Henry van der
Burgh. her paternal great grandfather,
who was captain in Washington's army
After the Revolution he was appointed
circuit judge of the Great Northwest He
cfoh oa to-
cennes, Ind, and was an important leader
in development of that vast area.
December IS has been tentatively set
by Senator Joseph c. OMahoney of
wyoming for hearings to start before a
subcommittee of which he is chairman
to see if there is justification for another
appeal to the United States Supreme
Court looking towards the release of Tom
Mooney-prisoner 1921 in California, for
more than 20 years. Whether or not
Mooney will be released to come here to
testify before the Senate subcommittee
will not be disclosed until the hearings
open. It is the first time that State
Governor has been memoralized by Con-
gress The Governor of California is
Frank Merriam, Republican. The Cali
fornia courts and the United States
Supreme Court have denied pleas for
MONEYS release. In the last session a
joint resolution was introduced by Sen
ator James E. Murray and Representative
Jere j. O'Connell, both of Montana, as
a result of which Senator Ashurst, chair
man Of the Judiciary Committee ap-
pointed q subcommittee to investigate.
Representative O'Connell has big mar.
tyr" posters Of Mooney on his Office doors.