Evening star., 1946-06-02
Capital Sidelights
BIZ Will P. Kennedy.

The regulation Of the weight Of 4 loaf
Of bread, by = 10 per. cent reduction,
under . war food order from the De-
partment of Agriculture, although it
overrides State laws in eight States and
4 weights and measures statute in the
District of Columbia, is no new ex-
perience in the National Capital. In
the early history of the city, the Council
made monthly "assize OF bread" For
January, 1908, loaves of bread were re-
quired to be: From -four worth IS a
barrel, single loaves n .ounces and
double loaves 81 ounces. For septem-
ber, 1905. from flour at $3.50 to IS a
barrel, . single loaf 30 ounces and 4
double loaf 90 ounces. In March, 1910,
from flour worth $7.25 barrel, 4 single
loaf 10 ounces and double loaf SO
ounces. In November, 1917, from hour
at SO to $ll q barrel, ! single loaf IA
ounces and double loaf a ounces. For
August, 1919, from -four worth $3.50 to
s. . barrel, q single loaf q ounces and
q double loaf Is ounces. For January,
1870, the same value for -four and the
same weight loaf.
Representative Reid r. Murray of
wisconsin, lifelong agricultural
student. university professor and asri-
cultural extension agent for the State
university, for Winnebago County, for
the Northern Pacific Railway Co., and
for the First National Bank of Oshkosh,
amazed some OF his Republican cloak
room satellites by stating that the pres
ent boast that "the United States is
feeding the world" must be newly-won
honors. He insisted that he could prove
that the United States since 1926 has
not been able to feed Its own people,
and that I'VE have been importing more
food supplies than We have exported"
Miss Joan M Rabaut, daughter Of the
Singing Congressman" Representative
Louis c. Rabaut OF Michigan, Was q
guest artist of the House on the occa-
sion of memorial exercises for deceased
members. She accompanied her father
on the piano. Miss Rabaut began her
musical studies under the Dominican
sisters of st. Clare School, Detroit;
took q course in syncopation with Prof.
Jack Allen; studied harmony with
Prof. Bendetson Netzorg ut Marygrove
College. Several Of her compositions
have been published. Representative
Rabaut has been a church soloist
for many years and has sung at many
political and social gatherings In Wash
ington.
Establishment OF IN astronomical OBJ
servatory in Washington was suggested
in 1916 by the frst superintendent Of the
Coast Survey, r. r. Hassler. President
Madison and his Secretary of State, A.
J. Dallas, gave their support and MIR.
Hassler submitted detailed plans and
selected site for an observatory north
of the Capitol. John Quincy Adams,
while President Monroe's Secretary of
State, in October, 1923, urged that
Harvard College establish an observa-
tory at Cambridge, and offered to con-
tribute $1,000. In 1925, in his first mes
sage to Congress, he urged the estab-
lishment OF q national observatory,
adoption Of = uniform standard Of
weights and measures. the establish
ment Of . naval academy. nautical
almanac and 4 national university.
The first fixed astronomical observa-
tory in Washington was erected on Cap
itol Hill in 1884 by 1t. Charles wilkes,
before he led his scientific expedition
to the Pacific. In June, 1888, informa-
ton was received Of James Smithson,s
bequest OF upward Of 100000 to found
the Smithsonian Institution. John
Quincy Adams promptly renewed his
opportunities for establishment Of an
astronomical observatory as an agency
Of that institution.
Secretary Of the Navy Branch in 1880,
his successor, Dickerson. in 1888 and
again Secretary James X. Paulding in
1888 recommended such an observa-
tory.
The United States Naval Observatory
finally was authorized by Act OF Con-
gress. approved by President Tyler
August 1S, 1S42.
ingenious ldeo