Evening star., 1939-04-02
Capital SideIights
By Will P. Kennedy

An old-home-town boy, born in the
shadow of the Capitol, who has Travelled
the world afar and made good in the
service of his country, both in war and
in peace, has been back on his native soil
during the past week-welcomed by
friends for many years, including high
Government officials. About the turn of
the century William w. Corcoran and
his brother. Robert Emmet Corcoran, in
herlted some so pieces of property, in
the area facing the Capitol, much of it
the sites where now stand the Senate and
House Office Buildings Before the war
the World War-William was popular in
washington society, including the diplo-
matte corps. He was recognized as one
OF the best horsemen hereabouts, where
horsemanship has long been a fine art,
and with Commissioner Melvin E. Hazen
helped organize the annual horse show
Came the War-and Corcoran enlisted
in 1914 in the French Army. He came
back home as an instructor in the Amer
lean Army and was stationed for time
as instructor in the Springfield (Mass.)
Armory-about six months in 19l7-and
then went back to France. After dis
tingulshed service he came out of the
war with IS per cent disability.
Sponsored by the late Senator Henry
Cabot Lodge, Mr.. Corcoran entered the
career service of the State Department
and has held consular posts in Algiers,
Mexico. Jamaica, Spain and is now on
leave as Consul at Gothenburg, Sweden.
Some l8 years ago the press of the Old
World and of the New World alike her
aided an heroic achievement by Mr. Cor
coran with such editorial captions as
Lest We Forget Such Noble Spirits"
Fully clothed, although suffering from
severe war injuries, he jumped off an
English Channel steamer into lev water
on December 81, Iceland rescued a g.
year-old French boy who had fallen over
board. While the public clamored to
know the name of the hero, Mr. Corcoran
did not identify himself, until one day
the boys mother recognized him on the
street In Boulogne The French
government gave him life saving medal.
the much-coveted decoration Medaille de
Sauvetage. which very few foreigners
have received.
Congress has had Just one Speaker
for day'-and though he held the Of
flee for that brief period, and it was the
last day he served in Congress, the House
had his portrait painted and it hangs
with those of other Speakers in the
Speakers Lobby in the Capitol. Schuyler
Colfax of Indiana, who had served as
Speaker in the Thirty eighth, Thirty
ninth and Fortieth Congresses. resigned
on March 3, 1873. to be sworn in on the
next day as Vice President, having been
elected on the ticket with Gen. U. S.
Grant. Representative Theodore NJ
Pomeroy of New York. who was COM
pleting his fourth term in Congress, was
elected Speaker for a day." Pomeroy
did not seek reelection, but was later
Mayor of Auburn, N. Y; member Of
the State Senate and first vice president
and general counsel of the American
Express Co.
In the collection of portraits of Speak
ers is only one who later became Presi-
dent, James K. Polk, and 1t was painted
by relative, Rebecca Polk. Nathaniel
Macon, North Carolina, Speaker in the
Seventh, Eighth and Ninth Congresses,
did not pose for his portrait. The one in
the Speakers lobby was taken from an
earlier portrait and the story is that an
amateur painter was told that Macon
strongly resembled certain person who
was persuaded to make the sitting as
substitute model Some of the portraits
are copies in oils from old crayon draw
ings. They were included in batch of 10
for which commissions were given under
authority OF an act OF March 3, 19l1-the
last day of the Sixty-dfth Congress.
-
The honor roll for attendance In the
last session Of Congress as completed by
Hans Jurgensen, jr. tally clerk, shows
q perfect record for Representatives
Ralph E. Church, Illinois; Paul Brown,
Georgia: Jere Cooper, Tennessee; Cas-
sius G. Dowell, Iowa; Luther A. johnson,
Texas, and Chauncey w. Reed, Illinois.
There were also four other House men,
bers who are not In the present Congress
who had perfect attendance records
Brooks Fletcher, Ohio: Forand, Rhode
Island; Omstead, North Carolina, and
sauthon, wiscondn.