Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1944-10-08
Capital Sidelights
By Will P. Kennedy

created under Rule 10 in the House Man
ual, and its duties, defined in Rule II,
given Jurisdiction over subjects relating
ito the District Of Columbia other than
appropriations therefore" It was e.
tablished as standing committee
January n, 1908. "in order to simplify
District business, to save the forming
Of many committees, to promote con-
sistency and uniformity In thu laws re-
lating to the District" Philip Barton
Key Of Maryland, on whose motion the
committee was established, was its first
chairman. The present form of the
rule was adopted In the revision Of 1880.
The jurisdiction Of the committee has
been extended or curtailed from time
to time. For example, in the second
session, Fifty-first Congress, its jurisdic-
ton included the Congressional Gene
terry, and in the first session, Fifty
seventh Congress, 1t had Jurisdiction
over the Government Hospital for the
Insane.
Representative Key was q cousin Of
Philip Key. who previously had served
IN Congress and whose great grandson,
Barnes Compton, was on the District
Committee in the Fifty first Congress
when Jeffords was clerk. This first
chairman Of the HOUSE District Com
mittee served in the British Army during
the American Revolution, was taken
prisoner In Florida and conveyed to
England. Released on parole, he re-
turned to Maryland In 17S5, and 10 years
later was in the House Of Delegates.
Two years before he became first chair
man Of the District Committee he pur-
chased 1000 acres near what now is
known as the village Of Norbeck. He
was elected to Congress as q Federalist.
Originally the House District Com
mittee consisted Of nine members. It
has had many distinguished chairmen.
In 1861, the Thirty-seventh Congress, the
noted Roscoe Conkling Of New York
Cater Senator) was chairman. His
father. Alfred Copkling. had been elected
40 years earlier as an anti-Jackson
Democrat. His brother, Frederick Au-
gustus, served In the same Congress, and
had been q colonel IN the Shenandoah
campaign. Roscoe Conkling was ap-
pointed Associate Justice OF the Supreme
Court Of the United States In 1882 and
was confirmed by the Senate. but he
declined to accept.
There are "a men who served in previ-
Gus Congresses who are endeavoring
to stage q comeback in the present
election. including Clarence J. Mcleod
of Michigan, one-time chairman of the
House District Committee, who came
into Congress as the baby" member fol-
lowing World War /, and Robert r.
Rich Of Pennsylvania, noted for his
frequent challenge: where are you
going to get the money!" Others are
Matthew M. Nicely. West Virginia, who
served in both House and Senate and
as Governor: Luther Patrick, Alabama:
Frank G. Havenner. California; Her
man P. Kopplemann, Connecticut;
Philip A. Traynor, Delaware; John 8.
Wood, Georgia; Edward A. Kelly, Illi-
nois; Kent E. Keller, Illinois: Arthur
H. Greenwood. Indiana: James Domen-
Michipan. Franz uoot M,as,~ss.
John B. Sullivan, Missouri; Berkeley
1. BUNKER Nevada. cn.r,s. . pahsrt
son. North nakots. .1ohn = u,,rt.-
Ohio: William r Tbom oh,o. phi,,r
G. Ferguson. Oklahoma. Robert : cor
bett. PennsyIyania. and I@v,s n rh,,,
wisconsin.