Evening star., 1938-07-24
Capital Sidelights
By JILL p. KENNEDY,

Another name is to be added to the list
OF Capital builders, those who have taken
outstanding part in putting through
Congress legislation beneficial to the de-
velopment of the seat of Government
This time it is Representative Vincent
j. PalmlsanO, chairman of the House
District Committee and member of the
National Capital Park and Planning
Commission, whose work has received
of1cial approval. Frederick A. Delano
chairman OF the commission. has writ
ten the following commendatory letter
to Mr. Palmisano:
The National Capital Park and Plan
ming Commission has learned with much
pleasure OF the number of bills favorablv
Affecting the District of Columbia and
environs passed during the last session
OF Congress. AS you recall much of the
legislation was recommended and in
dorsed by the commission which has
placed on me the pleasant duty of ex-
tending to you the commissions thanks
for your cooperation and your very ef-
fective service. With Congress adjourned
until next January. it is the hope of the
commission that you can attend with
fair regularity its monthly meetings We
need and welcome your advice and CO.
operation"
Two House members. both World War
veterans-Representative Melvin J. Mas,
Republican. of Minnesota. who was a
Marine Corps aviator and Representa-
tive Aime J. Forand, Democrat. of Rhode
Island. a former congressional secretary,
who was in the Motor Transport Service
boast that their State capitols have
claim to fame which no other State
is able to challenge. These two capitols,
or statehouses. at st. Paul. MINI. and
Providence, r. l.. are included in the four
important buildings in the world that
have marble domes. The others are the
Tai Mahal at Agra in India and St.
Peters Cathedral in Rome.
Signal honor is accorded by Represent
ative John w. Mccormack, Democrat, of
Massachusetts, to the Ancient and Hon.
orable Artillery Company of Massachu-
sets as "the Oldest military organization
on the Western Hemisphere, which has
made historic contributions to progress,
both in times of peace and in war;
This company, he explains. has just COM
pleted 300 years OF outstanding service.
1t was chartered by the Governor and
General Court of Massachusetts Bay
Colony in 1888. the first military organi-
zation chartered in America. and one of
the very few with continuous life
throughout the world. The first COM
mander and organizer was Robert
Keayne. He set high standards and
established traditions of patriotism and
good citizenship which a distinguished
line Of able commanders has zealously
followed. Its membership. he said. have
always exemplified the highest type of
American citizenship"
Il y *
The small private chamber in the Cap
itol-just off the historic chamber now
visited as shrine by tourists, which was
the original Senate chamber and sub
sequently occupied for many years by
the United States Supreme Courts not
going to have dts claim to fame blighted
or forgotten if Col. Chesley w. Jurney.
sergeant at arms of the Senate, can
prevent 1t. That room is now his private
office and In was in that ante chamber
that the Supreme Court first held its
session in Washington and handed
down some of its most momentous de-
ClSlOnS. ne mas just nunR IN MS once
letter dated February l. $685. from the
late Frank Key Green, marshal of the
Supreme Court. which says:
Relative to the meeting of the court
in Washington in 1900. The clerks min
utes show that the last day the court
sat in Philadelphia was Friday. August
Is, 1900, the last day of the term for
1900. The court then adjourned until
February 2, 1901, in Washington, D. c.,
the time and place appointed by law.
There was no December term at that
time. The court met on February 2,
1901. but as there was only one justice
present 1t adjourned until the next day.
On February 3 there was no quorum.
February quorum appeared; the
court met for business in hand John
Marshall was presented and took the
oath and took his seat"