Evening star., 1941-08-31
Capital SideIiehts
By Viii p. Kennedy.

The more than 500 picked newspaper
men in the Capitol press galleries are
encouraged by the fact that a. former
newspaper reporter is acting House
leader. Representative John j. Cochran
of Missouri has been designated to that
post by unanimous action of his COL
leagues. To some this may seem a sine
cure, an empty honor, since the House
IS enjoying a series of three-day recesses
for month, under a gentlemens agree
ment that no business will be conducted
Yet all in all. it is post of high diStinc-
ton. rejecting the esteem and confidence
of his colleagues-and in these days when
world conditions may change over night
with grave danger TO this Nation, his is
position of responsibility. Jack"
Cochran, probably knows the ins and
out of legislation on Capitol Hill as we'll
experience with Government depart
ments and agencies for more than 80
years. He was a Woodworking and able
congressional secretary at both ends of
the Capitol. House and Senate. He was
aide to Representatives William L. Igoe
and Harry B. Halves, who represented
ST. Louis in Congress for IA years, and
being with him at the time of his death.
Then he was secretary of the Senate
Foreign Relations Committee. He now
is serving his ninth consecutive two-year
term in the House. In primary contest
with 56 Democratic candidates he re-
ceived the second highest number of
votes and for reelection led 13 party
candidates. He was defeated for the
Senate by Senator Truman, by only about
40 600 votes In Congress he has been
chairman of two very important COM
mittees-expenditures in the executive
departments tan audit committee) and
the Committee on Accounts (the house
keeping committee, which makes him a
sort of chatelaine of the House,. He is
one of the most popular members and is
an ardent fisherman. with membership
on the committees for conservation of
wild life and migratory birds.
*A A**
In these days of national peril, Senator
Claude Pepper of Florida calls attention
to the benefaction to Nation ana State
made by a distinguished idealist well
known In official life in the Capital-Col.
RAYMOND Robins. A decade ago the
colonel and Mrs. Robins donated their
historic estate of more than 1000 acres
at Chinsegut Hill. Fla, to the Nation as
forest reserve wild life refuge and agri-
culture experiment station. The Semi
mole Indians had used the old hilltop
for sending signal messages in the Ian
guage of smoke. In wheel chair, Col.
Robins was invested with the hood en-
blematic of the doctor of laws degree
conferred by former United States Com
missioner of Education DR.. John J.
Tigert, now president of the University
of Florida himself Rhodes scholar, and
DR.. Wilmon Newell, provost of agricul-
ture, both of whom have had an out
standing part in educational and agri-
cultural development in the Federal ad-
ministration The ceremony was pictur-
esouely staged under Altar Oak, a giant
old live oak tree.
81 4
Objections of the sportsmen Of the
United States to the proposed regis
tration of firearms, or permitting the
requisition of firearms Of any individual
under the so-called Draft Property
Act-which led to its defeat in the House
Is explained by Representative Paul j.
Kilday of New York. who led the oppo-
sition. He has placed in the Congress
sional Record . letter by c. B. Lister,
secretary treasurer of the National Rifle
Association of America. IN protest against
the proposed infringement Of the ytsht
to keep and bear arms"