Evening star., 1938-01-02
Capital Sidelights
BY WILL P. KENNEDY.

JUST as the regular session of Congress
is about to open, Representative Allen T.
IreadWay Of Massachusetts,. ranking
minority member on the Ways and
Means Committee and Republican dean
OF the House, pokes some New Year good
wishes at the Democratic majority-that
they may be able, for the good of the
people. to improve on their record in the
last two successive, if not successful. do
nothing sessions" Contrasted with four
administration measures OF such urgent
importance that Congress was called into
the extraordinary session-not one of
which was enacted and only two of which
We're considered. Mr.. Treadway points to
Wnat the special session actually did:
W Passed an appropriation Of 1900 to
pay salaries OF Senate and House pages;
'2l appropriated 1925 900 to pay railroad
mileage Of members: 90 loaned four
paintings to the Constitutional Sesoui-
centennial Commission; - amended the
Cooperative Credit Union Act; 90 ex-
tended the time for building a bridge in
Alabama.
AS member Of the special subcom-
mlttee considering tax revision, Mr..
lreadWay takes special poke at Chair
man OConnor of the Rules Committee,
Who in "a valiant effort to paint a glow
ing picture of the accomplishments of
the special session. made the following
ridiculous statement: The progress
made toward tax relief alone would
justify the existence of the special ses-
SION" The Republican tax leader ex-
plains something that few Of the voters
would be apt to realize: 1T was not
necessary for the Congress to be in ses-
sion for the tax subcommittee to carry on
lts work. The committee was granted
authority at the last session to sit during
tne recess OF Congress- and 1t would have
been able to make still greater progress
nao the special session not been called.
1he members of the subcommittee could
nave devoted the entire day working on
tax revision rather than spending each
afternoon on the floor Of the House {"
He emphasized that the total tax burden
OF $4,000, ,00O.00 - Federal, State and
local. about half of which will be COL
lected by the Federal Government, will
ultimately fall on the consumers In the
buy" N''
One of the active members Of the
House District Committee, Representa-
tive George Bates OF Salem. Mass, prom
ises to give more time to the engrossing
task OF giving the National Capital good
legislation during the coming session.
He has given up the job of Mayor of his
historic home city. which he had held for
nearly 20 years, to devote his entire at
tentlon to congressional duties. All dur
ing the first and special sessions of the
present Congress he retained the mayor
atty, committing back and forth over the
week end to af1ix his signature to i'm
portant papers in the Mayors office and
TO advise with municipal department
heads. He promises that he will give
as earnest study and devotion to the
municipal problems OF the National Cap
1tal as he did for so many years in his
home city.
1t is common saying df not true)
that you newspaper men get in every
where" The big majority of the more
than 500 members of the Capitol press
galleries will find the doors barred
against them when the President is at
the Capitol on Monday to address the
House and Senate in Joint session. Only
96 special day. cards have been issued
to those who must actually work in the
gallery over the Speakers rostrum-all
others will be kept out of that gallery
The reason for this is to facilitate the
working conditions for those who must
be on the job, SO that they may not be
crowded and jostled and disturbed by the
conversation OF several hundred others
who might be called lust sightseers."
All those who hold press gallery cards
will be admitted to the section of the
gallery space, comprising four large
rooms which are adjacent to the work.
Ing gallery. This arrangement makes 1t
possible to give better news service to all
the people Of the country on such spe-
cial days.