Evening star., 1939-02-12
Capital SideIights
BIZ Will P. Kennedy

Government employees can look for
ward to more enlightened and better
understanding on Capitol Hill of their
legislative needs-and conditions of serv-
ice-because Chairman Ramspeck OF the
House Civil Service Committee. long a
sincere friend of the merit system, has
completed arrangements under which
the Civil Service Commission has sta
toned an expert from it's staff with the
House committee as contact man. He
is Robert l.. Bailey, who is available IN
full-time service to all House members
and their secretaries Chairman Ram
speck announced this new move for CO.
operation and improved legislative serv-
ice. He said: II have found him to be
a very capable and very affable gentle
man. He is there for your service, for
the purpose of enabling you to give bet
ter service to your constituents on mat
tiers affecting the civil service"
This extends contact system that
has been developing in recent years at
the Capitol The Veterans Administra-
ton has headquarters in the old House
Office Building in charge Of Earle D..
Chesney and with branch Offices in the
Senate Office Building, where Margaret
B. Dawson and Evaline c. Livengood are
on duty, and in the House Office Build
ing, where Agnes M. Richardy, Mildred
c. Lawler and Mary H. Geary are at the
service of members.
The House Naval Affairs Committee
gives deskroom to Comdr. I. c. Bogart,
who has been there for five years as con-
tact man on all information pertaining
to the Navy. Similarly the Military At
fairs Committee has as contact man Maj
J. D. Mcintyre. These contact services
are of great assistance to the individual
members of Congress and make for bet
ter legislation.
The House Office Building gymnasium,
supported by the volunteer subscriptions
of members, has just been reorganized,
because its original sponsor and chair
man, Representative James M. Mead of
New York has moved to the Senate as a
member. The reorganization meeting
unanimously made Senator Mead an
honorary life member, thus getting
around a rule that Mead some years ago
insisted upon-that the House gym was
exclusively for House members and en-
ployes. Mr. Mead was given vote of
thanks for his constructive work in Or
ganizing and placing the gym on a firm,
pay-as-you-go basis.
Representative James P. Dick) Rich
ards of South Carolina, formerly presi-
dent of his State college athletic associa-
ton, is the new director Of the gym af-
fairs. Peter Henderson, the former Army
drill sergeant, who is physical director
and adviser to the members on their
physical well-being, was commended for
his efficient and Conscientious work as
supervisor" Associated with Representa-
tive Richards will be Representative
William P. Lambertson of Kansas, a
player on all congressional baseball teams
and a member of the famous victorious
Republican team of 1888, and Repre-
sentative Emmet O'Neal of Kentucky of
Center College athletic fame-who has
the distinction of belonging to family
team, comprising brothers and cousins,
who were renowned for interstate base
ball achievements. South Carolina sup
plies the battery for the congressional
team-Representative Richards as pitch
er and Representative Thomas S. Nc
MILAN as catcher. Other members who
take the most active interest in the gym
nasium are: Representatives Matthew
w. Merritt, New York; w. Sterlin Cole.
New York; A. Willis Robertson, Virginia; !;
Charles A. Halleck, Indiana; Louis G.
Rabaut, Michigan: Richard M. Simpson,
Pennsylvania, and Albert Thomas, Texas.