Evening star., 1940-03-31
Capital SideIights
By Will P. Kennedy.

What member of Congress has de-
veloped most and works hardest for his
constituents? This is often a subject of
cloakroom and pressroom discussion
and it bobbed up again during the past
week. On the Democratic side Repre-
sentative Clifton A. Woodrum of Vir-
ginia seems to be popular choice. He
has been working especially hard since
he has virtually taken over the brunt of
the work OF the chairman of the Appro-
priations Committee during the long ILL
ness of Representative Edward T. Taylor
OF Colorado. Among the Republicans
Representative Everett M. Drksen OF
Illinois stands out both for development
as legislator and for hard work. Both
Mr.. Woodrum and Mr. Dirksen are
among the most earnest men on the
Appropriations Committeeman both
are working earnestly for the people to
reduce the cost of government Both also
are recognized among their colleagues as
able and convincing speakers on subjects
OF party controversy, and are usually
called upon to make party keynote
speeches. In this regard Representative
Dlrksen shares honors with Representa-
tive James w. Wadsworth of New York,
who Is often referred to as good presi-
Dental material. It is not generally
known, however, how hard Dirksen
works. Generally he. reaches his Office
between and 8 am, and keeps driving
until the work Is DONE He does much
OF his correspondence, doing his own
typewriting. The early and late hours
and typing are hangovers from his ex-
perlence as newspaper reporter before
coming to Congress. AS a reporter Mr..
Dirksen trained himself to industry and
persistency, which stand him in good
stead today. Also he has an advantage
IN his secretary. John Gable, a veteran to
congressional work. Both Mr.. Dirksen and
Mr.. Gable are well known throughout the
offices of the Governments extensive ad-
minlstrative establishment. They are
an efficient team. They do not merely
phone to Government Offices for what
they want. They take the surer course
of going after it themselves. In his habit
of doing his own typing, Dirksen has a
rival in Representative Louis Ludlow of
Indiana, also former newspaper man.
who insists that he can write bet
ter than he can dictate, Viewing
Congress as a whole, it is safe to say
that only very small percentage of
constituents realize how hard the indi-
vidual members of Congress toll The
slow grinding of the legislative ma
chinery as witnessed In the Senate and
House chambers gives no insight to the
really hard york and long hours in COM
mittee hearings and tedious office work.
Representative Sam Hobbs of Selma.
Ark, told his colleagues an Easter story
with suggestion as to how Washing
tons taxicabs can render a superservice.
One Buddy Kynard, taxi driver in his
home town, he said, found an egg on the
rear seat of his cab, put it in his fur
lined glove for safe-keeping and placed
1t in the dash box of his car. The result
was, according to Hobbs that on Christ
mas morning baby chick emerged from
the eggshell, and Selma started the latest
practice in the poultry world-hatchinR
by taxi. He thought Congress should
take notice and that If the many taxi
cabs here will perform the same service
that "broners and fryers will soon be
plentiful"