Evening star., 1944-08-07
Maverick Wants Capitol Guides
Taken off Fee Basis
After Seeing System
Work, He Fovors Civil
Service Operation

|
for abolition of the guide-fee sys-
tenn at the Capitol, and for its re-
placement with plan under which
tourists would be escorted without
charge by guides appointed as civil
service employees.
Mr.. Maverick advanced this pro-
posal after a tour of the Capitol
yesterday With a Star reporter, in
which he had a closeup view of the
fee system, which was discussed in
a news story in The Star yesterday.
He discovered the Sunday take"
Of the guides Is about 50 an hour
for a two-hour period. when the
tours are limited to Government
employees who pay fee of Is cents.
Ordinarily, the guides get Is cents
from each person for their lectures.
System Called IAN Outrage"
1T is an outrage to charge Amer
leans fee for touring the halls of
the legislative branch of their Gov
ernment," the Texan said.
The guide business was f1ourishing
y uoy. ollC VI Vic oCNCll IllCLl Ill
the guide corps was starting the
rounds of the building about every
eight or ten minutes with approx
imately 60 persons in each party
With the full six-day work week
in effect for the duration, this was
the only day on which the Govern
ment employees could visit their
Capitol Library of Congress and
other historic spots.
A campaign Of persuasion by Gov
ernment agency heads and civic
leaders only recently brought about
the opening Of the Capitol on Sun
days.
Two Hours for Visitors.
Sightseeing in the legislative halls
is limited to two hours-from 2:30
to 4:30 pm.
Mr.. Maverick has another pet
peeve, other than the fee charging.
He wants the Capitol, Library of
Congress and Supreme Court (Which
is closed on Sundays open from
early morning until sundown for all
to visit.
| While observing the arrival of
civilian workers for the Capitol tour
yesterday. Mr.. Maverick commented
on the treatment of servicemen, who
are barred from the afternoon tours.
There are free tours for members
of the armed forces from II am.
to 1::30 pm. Sundays but they are
not permitted in the Capitol during
the afternoon tours.
AS scores of soldiers and sailors
and members of the women's
branches of the armed forces were
turned away by guards. the former
Texas legislator burned"
How Do You Like That"
That is enough to make one
fighting mad" he thundered. How
do you like that, huh?"
How do you think those boys
feel, coming back from fighting
to keep this place intact and being
told they can't walk through these
halls while civilians-whom they
have also been fighting to keep
intact-are passed in in droves?"
A majority of the service personnel
were literally decorated with over
seas service ribbons and awards for
gallantry.
A young soldier furnished the per-
feet answer to Mr. Mavericks
query on how do they think they
feel -"
With his wife and small daughter
he was stopped by a guard as he
sought to enter at pm. He wore
the ribbon signifying he had served
in the European theater of war in
three major campaigns.
You can't 60 in. soldier. Only
Government employees" chanted the
guard.
Listen, bud" snapped the CT,
who do you think I'm working for?
This amt a Western Union uni
form I'm wearing"
Scores Disappointed.
During the time Mr.. Maverick and
The Star reporter watched the flow
of visitors to the Capitol scores of
service personnel were turned away.
Genuine disappointment was writ
ten on the faces of all of them.
Something is going to be done
about this" Mr. Maverick promised.
The whole thing is wrong-terribly
wrong"
In addition to paid guides he
wants the buildings of Capitol Hill
open all day Sunday to all corners,
with band concerts all day long by
service bands playing in shifts.
Flags and decorations should be dis
played, he asserted
The whole of Capitol Hill is a
dead place on the one day of the
week when service people and ci-
villains can get up here to see it,"
Mr.. Maverick declared.
Tens of thousands--eventual
millions-of troops will move through
Washington. Let them see it." he
said.
Patriotic Spirit Stressed.
when a soldier or sailor comes
back and passes through the Capital
and actually sees and understands
the mechanics and seat of his Gov
ernment it will do more for the pa
triotic spirit of the citizens of this
country than any other speeches
ever made"
1T will be the only opportunity
most of these people will ever have
to visit Washington and see the
real symbols of their Government.
They will 60 back home with
thoughtful consideration and relate
to tens of millions of other young
Americans the things they have
SEEN"
THE cost will be practically Moth
ing in comparison with the billions
spent on the war. We certainly
have the money. Let's get together
and do it," the Texan concluded.
At present the guides are ap-
pointed by the sergeants at arms
of Senate and House, each of whom
names six There are five vacancies
in the corps now.
COP Nominating Session
DIT 0ff ~ Wr..1.A@