Evening star., 1938-01-23

coroed them, Mrs. Maud Wood Park
established this committee In the hope
OF providing medium through which
Woman's organizations might take an
active part in government. The mem
bership is made up of delegates from
national womans organizations &C
lively supporting at least one legisla-
tive measure before Congress. The
constitution provides that the aims
and major program Of each such
group shall not be in conflict with those
OF other member organizations.
Legislative Committee.
When five or more member organi-
cations have taken a position on a
congressional measure. their repre-
sentatives on the committee may con-
stitute legislative committee. Each
such committee elects its own officers
and conducts its business independent
ly Of the Woman's Joint Committee.
The province of this committee is to
keep members fully informed Of the
facts.
Seven such subcommittees are ac-
tive at the present time They deal
with food and drug legislation, block
booking and blind selling of motion
pictures, opposition to the equal
rights amendment, child labor legisla.
ton, anti-lynching. appropriations
Tor the Women's Bureau, the Chill
dren's Bureau and the Bureau of
Home Economics, appropriations for
the Office of Education and Federal
suffrage for the District of Columbia.
1t happens that the major interest
OF the League of Women Voters, which
Is one of the active member organiza-
tions, the merit system, is not of suffi-
cient interest at the present time to
other groups for committee to be
formed. This is true of several other
measures in which some single Or
CARNATIONS are vitality interested. The
regulations Of the Joint committee re-
quire that at least five groups must be
interested In measures upon which
work is being done.
Check on Congress.
During the time that Congress Is in
session the women's joint committee
meets once a month. Reports on the
situation of bills, data on factors af-
1ectlng the action, announcements of
hearings-these are all noted in the
minutes. Later copy is sent to each
interested group, and the decision as
TO what policy they may wish to take
Is left entirely in the hands of indi-
Vdual members. Each group has its
own way of handling legislation. One
may work effectively through pressure
on legislators, another operates more
readily through units in the various
States.
Bills are not passed unless con-
stttuents express opinions about them"
Mrs. Harris T. Baldwin, chairman Of
the committee, said. when Senators
say that they are not hearing from
their constituents. any one Of the ma
tionally organized groups represented
IN all parts of the country can see to
1t that they do hear"
Such groups are also in a position
TO ADVISE the members of Congress as
to what their constituents attitude is
on given bill. This involves taking
q poll on the proposed measure. Al
though this is laborious piece of
work, it can be accomplished in a
relatively short time when so many
club members take part in il.
Mrs. Park First Chairman.
Mrs. Maud Wood Park, we'll known
as suffrage leader and also the first
president of the League of Women
Voters, was the first chairman of the
"Womens Joint" as the members call
1t. She was followed by Mrs. John D.
Sherman Of the General Federation
Of Women's Clubs. The other chair
men have been Miss Helen Atwater of
the American Home Economics As
soctation, Miss Harlean James of the
American Association of University
Women. Mrs. Elizabeth Eastman of
the Y. w. c. A., Miss Clara Noyes of
the American Nurses Association,
Mrs. Glen L. Swiggett of the Amer
lean Association of University Women
and the Mrs. Harris T. Baldwin, who
was recently elected to the post.
At present the other officers are
: Mrs. William Kittle, vice chairman;
Mrs. Katherine Ansley, secretary, and
DR.. Julia Green, treasurer.
The Womens Joint Congressional
Committee has never received any
funds except annual dues of $40 from
each member organization. These
have been ample for its routine ex-
penses, the most important item of
which Is the cost of the mimeo-
graphed reports of the meetings sent
to members.
This is a front door" lobby. Only
facts are presented to members of
Congress and the status that the Or
ganization has attained is indicated
by the fact that committee repre-
sentatives are welcome on the Hill.
They know what they want they
don't waste any time and they 70
straight to the point" said one legis-
1ator IN summing up the work of the
committee. And" he added sig
nifcantfy, then they leave"
Antiques were studied at the last
meeting Of the Capitol Hill History
Club at the home Of Mrs. Clara M,
stine, with Miss Phebe Slime as as
Ststant hostess. Papers were read on
Home Interiors of Today and Yes
terday" and on "The Development of
Wall Papers" Roll call was answered,
with short reports on interesting an
tiques.
The next meeting will be held with
Mr.. Joseph c. Hemphill at the Broad
moor Apartments.
4 X 4 +
The Excelsior Literary Club met
Tuesday for luncheon with Mrs.
Harvey Beaver, 4104 Harrison street
NV. The subject discussed was.
"Outstanding Clubwomen." Among
those who spoke were Mrs. Robert s.
Hall, president; Mrs. Beaver, Mrs.
Herbert Adams, Mrs. Alice v. Creque,
Mrs. Grace De Laney, Mrs. D. ]. DON
ovAn, Mrs. Matte I. Ewing, Mrs.
Arthur Hayford, Mrs. George Hill,
Mrs. Clarence Langley, Mrs. Adam ].
Penrod and Mrs. Julia w. Webb. Mrs.