The Washington times., 1937-01-05


noon.
While old.timers whisper porten-
tously down front about yester'
days committee assignments and
about great things to come, the
rockies will be sworn tremblingly
in. Will creep away to find their
seats in back rows, and be forgot
ten for days, maybe for years.
In the House, wives and chill
dren Of new members may sit be-
side father on the long Sunday
school benches designed for Rep
resentatives. May watch him jump
up nervously raise his right hand
and swear before God to serve his
country honestly.
The Senate does not permit the
families of lawmakers ION the
floor" But it does reserve special
places in the galleries for the
friends and relatives OF the re-
S.cruitS.
, For days and weeks during the
past long congressional recess,
painters, carpenters, electricians
and cleaners have been doing
over the Capitol.
In order to install air condition
ing, many interior walls have been
opened, closed, replaStered and re
painted.
The mahogany of old chairs and
desks has been rubbed until it
shines like mirrors. Sweet clean
illness and order awaits the COM
ing of the conquerors.
Even the dear old cuspidors are
In their proper places. Aren't they
q romantic relic of the vulgar
young days and how unfortunately
practical they still appear to be?
But never mind, children, the dis
tinguished gentlemen will learn
better some day.
Perhaps, though, tobacco is a
gentler relaxation than snuff.
Snuff boxes of the rough-and.
ready founders of the Republic are
now on many lawmakers desks
of the House and Senate.
The sand blotters, those salt
shaker bottles from which the
warriors shook sand over their ink
written notes, also are treasured
by the present generation on Cap,
itol Hill.
The desks of Calhoun, Clay,
Webster, Davis and Sumner, thun-
derers of generations past, will
Rdorn the Seventy-fifth Congress.
Senator Carter Glass will again
compose his sharp attacks behind
the desk Of Henry Clay. Senator
Frederick Hale, of Maine, will
have the desk of Daniel Webster.
And Senator Pat Harrison, OF Mis-
sissippi, will plan the destruction
of the Republican remnant from
Jefferson Davis desk.
One corner of the Senate Build
ing is looking very fresh and hand
some. These are the rooms where
Col. Edwin A. Halsey, the Senate
secretary, collects and dispenSes
facts of congressional history and
procedure.
Colonel Halsey, who is a his
torian of talent. has offices with
: real individuality. In his great
mahogany highboys are docu,
ments of priceless value.
Deep red velvet drapes the
Venetian blinds at his windows.
The prisms of a huge chandelier
that the first Roosevelt ordered
out Of the White House because
its tinkling glass made him
nervous, break the light into
bright colorS.
In a glass-topped cabinet in
Colonel Halsey's anteroom is
George WaShington's first inaugu'
raj address done in his own hand,
and Washington's farewell letter
to General Won Steuben, who
helped win the Revolutionary War
This is the generals last message
as commander of the Continental
Army. When he wrote it he
thought he was retiring from pub
lie life.
Before the House and Senate
meet in joint session at 2 o'clock
tomorrow to hear Mr.. Roosevelt
read his annual message, the
presidential electoral votes will be
opened and counted. The votes,
which are actually certificates wit,
messed by notaries and sealed, will
be earnestly inspected and read.
Here's ceremony should per.
sonally like to see.
Up to this time I have never
laid eyes upon that vague but
vital personality, the Presidential
elector. AS far as I have been
able to understand, the Presiden-
tial elector is the person for
whom you vote on certain first
tuesdays in November, not be.
cause you want him, but because
YOU want him to want the PreSi-
dent you want.
Last month certain happy elec-
tors discovered to their astonish.
ment that some millions Of people
wished them to cast their votes
for Mr.. Roosevelt.
So they signed their names
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