Evening star., 1937-06-13
Capital Sidelights
BY UILL p. KENNEDY.

The House is ready, next week. to pass
bill designed TO place very definite
check on "one of the most devilish
causes of human wreckage that exists
uncontrolled today"-traffic in marihu-
ana, the growth of which in recent years
has been phenomenal according to
Representative Frank H. Buck. Demo-
crat, Of California, a member of the
Ways and Means Committee.
The pending legislation through taxa
ton would render extremely difficult
the acquisition of marihuana by persons
who desire it for illicit use"-it is a COM
bination of the Harrison narcotic act
and the national firearms act. While
opium and coca leaves are not grown in
the United States, marihuana is and a
portion of each plant may be used
legitimately.
Marihuana is dangerous narcotic
drug found in the Towering top, leaves
and seeds Of the hemp plant-cannibas
sativa L, The plant has number Of
industrial uses, but only to a negligible
extent in the medical profession. "Illic-
lily, marihuana is used principally by
smoking it in the form OF cigarettes,
which are now readily obtainable
a
lively cheap price Representative Buck
points out. He explains that the toxic
effects Of these cigarettes are self-satis-
faction, merriment. often uncomfortable
laughter, leading to state where ideas
are lacking in continuity and control of
thought and power of directing it are
lost. aLrge doses produce a tendency to
wilful damage and violence and many
crimes have been committed by persons
under its influence. 1t is used by GRIM
inals to fortify themselves for the COM
mission Of crimes The saddest and
most pitiful aspect of the marihuana
trade, however, is that it is being placed
in the hands of high school children in
the form of cigarettes sold by itinerant
peddlers These children are thus start
ed on the road to becoming drug addcts,
and testimony before Congress was that
MANY have been driven to crime and
insanity
Frank Wheeler Mondell, former House
leader, gentleman OF the old school. Is
still going strong as he nears his seven
ty-seventh year-and still treasures his
old, true and tried friends. He just
threw" his annual reunion reception in
his beautiful home on Sixteenth street.
Among the prominent guests was Philip
P Campbell of Dickens character ap-
pearance. who was a czar in his day as
chairman of the Rules Committee OF the
House while Mondell was leader. Mon
dell was a dapper figure. always careful
ly groomed and wearing a buttoner
meticulous always in his exact choice of
words almost pedantic in his speeches
on the floor always extremely courteous
"a character to be long remembered,
af1ectionately.
Although former leader, Mondell
seldom visits at the Capitol-Why?-be
cause he is a practicing attorney who
recently received one of the largest fees
paid a Washington lawyer in many
years, and he bends backward" to give
no chance for any one to accuse him of
lobbying-he's not that kind of a lawyer
Mondell is a self-made gentleman.
His parents both died before he was
seven. He has known rugged ways
mining and railroad construction, en-
gagged in development Of coal and oil
properties. He was one of the founders
of Newcastle. Wyo, and sheriff and
Mayor in the days when he had to wear
holster at his belt, more than so years
ago. He was member Of Wyomings
first Senate, has held many important
Federal Offices. came to Congress first
in 1895 and quit Congress IA years ago
but his traditions still live.
Gus Cook, supervising engineer and
every ones friend at the Capitol, is again
Grating up one of his special pets-the
plaster replica of the Capitol Building
to be sent out to the Great Lakes Ex-
position and few other worlds fairs,
as symbol of the f-governing power
of the worlds greatest Nation.
Apropos of the legislation to extend
the life OF the Civilian Conservation
Corps, Representative Fred L. Crawford
Of Michigan told his colleagues that off,
cial crop reports for his home State
show that there are only 81 men avail
able for each 100 farm jobs offered at
$30.75 month with board, and that fur
ther Department Of Agriculture figures
show that for each 100 jobs available
there can be found only 70 men. More
than 80 per cent Of the worlds popula-
ton Is still engaged in agricultural pur-
suits, he emphasizes.
I'VE nre headed straight for Federal
tax plateau Of more than $4,000. .0O0,0
annually by l948-for Federal taxation
'n1S'" h' 'n.let''