The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-12-10

V.
 fore a congressional committee has immunity from damages if he ap- pears voluntarily (without being called by subpoena) and makes nbelouS statements.
 As most of the Dies witnesses < have been volunteers, a Favorito victory would put a serious crimp in the committees operatoins and lay number of the witnesses open to damage suits.
 Congressional Chaff
 With a strong yen for the social whirl and not overly energetic, Rep. D. Worth Clark, Idaho's new Democratic senator, is lucky in having one of the ablest secre- tarieS on Capitol Hill. Miss Lulu Shank, besides being an ace secre- tary and astute politician, is also 8 licensed pilot Florida's dapper 38-year old Senator Claude Pepper receives the heaviest fan mail In Congress, sometimes as many as 1000 letters a day Rep. Walter Pierce, lone Democra- tic survivor of the Republican sweep in Oregon, has been preen- ing himself for the role of patron age boss of the state. But the White House has no intention of giving him that power .. COP insiders predict that if Represen- tative James Wadsworth of New York does not retire from the floor leadership contest, he will be beaten by Representative Joe Mar tin of Massachusetts better than two-to-one.
 Senator's Wife
 One of the best Latin Ameri- can diplomatic stories is about the present which the foreign minis ter of Venezuela gave to Mrs. Frances Parkinson Reyes, author of articles for women and wife of the former senator from New Hampshire.
 Mrs. Reyes, making a tour of Latin America, was introduced to the Venezuelan foreign minister by the American minister. After asking him what message he had for her "to take back to American womanhood," Mrs. Reyes re- marked:
 "You know, Your Excellency. when visit 2 country, like to take back to America something typical of the country, if pOs- sibIe . mementO of femininity. Have you such . token for mel"
 The foreign minister suggested that Mrs. Reyes look over the na- tioQal museum, where she would doubtless find something indigen- ouS to Venezuela. So Mrs. Reyes inspected the museum.
 You know, Your ExcelIency," she enthused, 'T saw beautiful emeraIds in the museum. Are they typical of Venezuela"
 His excellency, however, declined to take the hint. After pressing her as to just exactly what she wanted = aside from the emeralds he finally said:
 'T think | know exactly what would interest you. It Is defin- itely indigenous to Venezuela. I will see that 1t Is brought to your ship tomorrow when you sail"
 So next day, just before the ship left, Mrs. Reyes present ar rived. Carried on the backs of four stalwart natives, it consisted of a very heavy dug-out canoe. Senator Reyes
 When the present arrived in Washington, before Mrs. Reyes return, her husband had to send a special truck to the customs house. Finally he got it unpacked and surveyed the dug-out rueful- ly.
 'Tf she wanted a canoe," he said, why didn't she say so?"
 Merry Round
 The town of Laramie, Wyom- ing, boasts of having reared both Sheridan Downey, California's new Democratic Senator. and As- sistant Attorney General Thur man Arnold In the State De- partment, the last lights to be turned out at days end are in the office of Under Secretary Sumner Welles. His colleagues rate Welles a poor executive because he as- sumes too much work himself, in- stead of passing it along to sub ordinates The Argentines work fast. Last June Congress passed an act permitting Latin Americans to enroll in West Point and Annapolis. Already there are two young Argentines at Annap- oils.
 (Sopyright. 1888, by United Fea-
 ture Syndicate, Inc.)