Evening star., 1941-02-16
Capital Sidelights
By Will P. Kennedy.

Down in the cataconbs of the Capitol
is short and stocky, white-haired
gentleman who for more than l8 years
constantly has been on the alert so that
not only Congress may have all the light
and power it needs for its law-making
Job, but that there also may be an ade-
quate supply for the entire group OF
legislative buildings, also the Library of
Congress end the United States Supreme
Court. He is Robert L. Holcomb, cleo
trical engineer, in charge of the opera
ton of a plant adequate for the needs
of a city of more than $4,000 people. He
came to his job at the Capitol with
extraordinary commercial experience.
Starting with the electrical department
of the Arnold print works in North
Adams, Mass, he later was in charge
of the North Adams plant of the Berk-
shire Electric Co.; next with the General
Electric CO. in Pittsheld; then success
sively with Sampon and Allen. electrical
engineers and contractors in Lynn,
Mass. with Stone and Webster in Boston
and with the Potomac Power Co. IN
Washington. He works directly under
David Lynn, architect OF the Capitol,
and during his entire service the longest
shutdown was due TO a cable failure
which lasted less than 20 minutes. The
Capitol electric power plant has $4,000
kilowatts capacity normal rating) and
for two hours can carry 10000 kllowatts
load. 1t generates $500 volts. alternat-
ing current. which is transmitted over
high tension cables to subStationS in the
entire legislative group-the Capitol,
Senate Office Building, the Old and New
House Office Buildings, the Library of
Congress and the United States Court.
Those subStations are principally for
lighting purposes, with well over $4,000
outlets For example there are more
than $4,000 outlets in the bookStackS OF
the Library of Congress and $1,000 fix
lures in the New House Office Building.
There also are transformer substations
in the legislative buildings. in the
Botanic Gardens, and in the legislative
garage for the motors to drive all the
air-conditioning equipment, the ma
chinery in the repair plants of the
Capitol and the pumps that regulate
the flow of water in the ornate foun-
tain between the Capitol and Union
Station. Mr. Holcomb's service also
takes in all the outdoor lighting within
the 113 acres in the Capitol reserva-
ton up to the borderline of the streets.
In addition, he looks after the electrical
work in the District of Columbia Court
House, the Court of Claims, the Court
of Appeals and Columbia Hospital, all
of which come under the architect of
the Capitol. Up to three years ago he
also had charge of providing light, heat
and power for the Government Printing
Ofice-until an additional building was
erected which would have required an
expensive enlargement of the Capitol
plant.
The House paused in its important
legislative program during the past
week to pay tribute to its greatly
beloved sage of the wheel-chair,"
Judge Joseph Jefferson Mansfield of
Texas, who is entering upon his 25th
year of continuous service and has just
reached the age of 80. Advancing him
self through his own efforts from farm
and nursery laborer, railroad baggage
master and freight clerk, he established
the first newspaper at Eagles Lake,
Tex, where he was later mayor, or
ganized two companies of the National
Guard, was county prosecuting attorney,
superintendent of schools and judge. He
now is chairman of the important
Rivers and Harbors Committee of the
House, having been a member of that
committee longer than any other man
in the entire history of Congress. This
was emphasized by his colleague Repre-
sentative Kleberg, voicing the love and
respect of the Texas delegation. Repre-
sentative Pittenger of Minnesota added
the congratulations and esteem of the
Republican members.