Evening star., 1938-05-04
WASHINGTON OBSERVATIONS
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.

Washington is glutton for slogans.
A year ago court packing dominated
the political language of the Capital. A
few months ago it was Reorganization"
and dictatorship that rolled most
freely from local tongues. Now it's ear
marking" 1t means that President
Roosevelt's fight for unrestricted control
of pump priming and relief funds seems
likely to dominate discussion, on and
off Capitol Hill, for most of the remain
ing session. Backs are up on both sides.
1t may we'll be that the situation will
become hot enough to keep Congress on
the job away past earlier adjournment
calculations. The issue involved is es-
sentially the same one that lay at the
root of the court and reorganization con-
troversies-namely, grabbing of more
presidential authority The ear
marking squabble comes home to House
and Senate even more directly than the
raid on the Supreme Court and the
attempt to bring independent Federal
agencies under White House control be-
cause F. D. RS fight for unlimited
authority to spend thrusts at the power
which Congress traditionally wields over
the national purse. One of the ear
marking controls on which 1t is believed
to be adamant is curb on P. w. A..
funds for competing Government power
plants. It's more reasonable about
money set aside for new post Offices.
How vitally necessary it is to acquaint
the country at large with disfranchised
Washington's political ignominy is
graphically illustrated by the strange
metropolitan press-the great daily
newspapers of New York City-about
the Districts momentous vote in favor
subject were published on the sad, bad,
glad Isle of Manhattan, they were
tucked away so inconspicuously that
PLY, such Indifference on the part Of
the Nations most populous community
is not reflected in Congress. There,
men and women representing every
section of the country and all party
Affiliations are frank and prompt in
recognizing the impressiveness of Wash
lngtons stentorian demand for self
determination, especially for national
representation. 1t has been this OBJ
servers experience, in touring those
regions of America where men are men
and women have votes, too that the
average citizen out in the United States
has only to be acquainted with the
District of Columbia's helpless and
humlhating status to become an en-
thusiastic supporter of it's claims.
* X
Out on exclusive Massachusetts avenue
there are rapidly rising the walls of what
is destined to be one of Washington's
most imposing public buildings. 1t is
the new home of the Apostolic Delega-
tion, the head of which is the Most Rev.
A. G. Cicognani, Archbishop of Laodicea.
In conformity with the general plan
Of Washington, the structure is of a
classical type inspired by the style given
to many OF the buildings in Rome during
the Renaissance. The exterior is of
selected Indiana limestone. The facade
terminates with strong cornice char
acteristic of the Italian palazzi An
effective ornament crowns the principal
doorway-the papal coat of arms carved
from single, solid block of limestone
A large plaque within the entrance will
carry the names Of the donors, the
American Catholic hierarchy, clergy and
religious orders. On the ground floor
broad corridors give access to the chapel
and chancery. The second floor pro-
vide6 tor pub0e receptions and oth3