The Washington Tribune

THE WASHINGTON TRIBUNE, FRIDAY, JUNE 16, 1933

Federal News Notes

FLASH: The writer of this column was wrong when he said that he would be dropped on July 1 1933. He should have said June 30. So much for that!

WISDOM

By John (State Dept.) Taylor

We know that game in hearts and spades

Is easiest to make

Because in playing major suits

You've just ten tricks to take.

The clubs and diamonds make you work,

You have to get one more.

So why in contract should they give

Your side a smaller score?

Rewards in bridge resemble life's-

The ones of greatest size,

Instead of just for working hard,

Are paid for being wise.

Johnny, who is one of the writer's friendliest enemies, was a deciding factor in the State Department's winning of the Bridge trophy recently awarded to them.

Congressman Oscar DePriest whose friendship the writer enjoys, was doubtless a wee bit surprised to receive from him a card, on June 10, 1933, congratulating him on the 35th anniversary of his marriage. The card should have gone to his secretary, Morris (H.O.B.) Lewis, whose two daughters, Caro and Dorothy, have recently become two of the writer's best friends and most severe critics.

The family, at this writing, was planning to leave for Glencoe (their country place 28 miles out of Chicago) Saturday morning, June 17. Morris (Congressional Library) Lewis, Jr. will stop over with friends at 1716 Fifteenth Street, until his family's return in November.

One of my readers writes in to inquire: "Did you know that Albert (State Dept.) Rice's brother-in-law is assistant District attorney in charge of all gambling prosecutions, especially numbers?"

The answer is "Yes, if you mean Frank W. Adams." I saw it in the Tribune last week.

Is it true that a well known Agriculture Dept. messenger was a participant in that fracas Monday night on the E. Madison Hall during which three people were shot? The Newshawk knows.

Which recently retired War Department messenger, who lives at 749 Park Road, Northwest, also has an honorable discharge from the U. S. Navy?

Is it true that State Department messengers are calling "Judge" Holmes a snake in the grass and a cowardly hypocrite? What dirty trick did he do, to whom, why? The Newshawk knows and will explain in detail in due time.

Is it true that a certain D.C.R. messenger was caught red-handed pimping on another one and is due for a sound whipping in the very near future?

Why is Morris (War Dept.) Robinson asking for his release from the Commerce baseball team?

Is it true that he has requested the president of another club to permit him to coach his team?

Who was the fellow in to see John (Commerce Dept.) Charleston last week in connection with getting assistance from his organization, the American Federation of Government Employees? What did Charleston say?

The writer takes this occasion to publicly thank James (State Dept.) Jackson for the season pass given to him to any dance given at Lincoln Colonnade or Suburban Gardens sponsored by the National Amusement Bureau. Now if someone will give a season meal ticket and a season's use of a room, I could write a column which would do credit to the 20,000 or more Federal Employees of color in the service.

Is it true that a certain Interior Department messenger, who has exceptional dramatic ability, has taken unto himself a young lady from Florida who pounds the typewriter for a livelihood? The Newshawk knows.

In compiling a list of well-known and influential Federal employees, the names of G. P. Oger, T. Brooks, Marcel Rojier, and Louis Delmont were given me for the Interior. They are in the Geological Survey, Indian Office, and Secretary's office, respectively. What about Preston Harris, Ernest Woolfolk, and Bob Bates?

Will someone get this line to the attention of Lorenzo (Smithsonian Institute) Gant. I would like to have him get in touch with me as soon as possible.

I wonder if my good friends Morris Lewis, Jr. and James Mahoney, both of the Library of Congress, will try to contact two of their co-workers, M. Aquila and Dr. Harry Honesty, for me and ask them to call me at their convenience?

Although it is a fact that Ed. Rouser and Palestine Peters have retired from the mail room of the Division of Foreign and Domestic Commerce of the Commerce Department and Andrew Menkins is scheduled to leave in the very near future from the same place, Wharton Moore, the Administrative Assistant, of that Division, assured the writer that no vacancies existed there. Incidentally, what is the matter with Menkins? The Newshawk knows.

What Agriculture Department messenger who lives on Elm Street, is all hot and bothered because of his graduation from high school last week? The writer, who finished high school in New Orleans in January 1926, can tell him that it don't mean a thing if you ain't got that swing.

Miss Ethel (P.B. & P.P.) Washington, cool and lovely, was observed at the drill with the ever loving Mack.

I wonder if that certain State Department messenger who has a secret crush on a certain elevator conductor knows that she's heading for a wedding?

Bill (State Dept.) Hester, the Old Maestro of the Bluebirds Orchestra, did right well at the Howard last week. Take Al Rice's advice, be nice, remember publicity pays. It can make you or break you, ask Cab, he knows. Now, swing it "Gate."

What messenger in the State, War and Navy building has a habit of bringing his children to the building to show off before the white folks?

If George (Post Office) Steele, of 1722 Second Street, Northwest, whose son recently graduated from some New York College as a civil engineer (turning down a job of $500 a month before finishing school) will contact me in the very near future, I shall be very glad to take up the matter which he has mentioned to one of my reporters.

Young Steele graduated from Dunbar with high honors.

Paraphrasing Betty (Federal Merry-Go-Round) Nowell: "There seems little hope for the bureaus whose abolishment is asked by the President. After all $25,000,000 is a sum to turn heads, especially now."

The Bureau of Public Buildings and Parks, one of the bureaus affected by the reorganization is said to have assured its personnel that none would be dropped. The report is misleading. I have learned from reliable sources that drastic reductions will be made not later than July 15 and some notices are being given now.

An unauthenticated report has it that the Government Printing Office will lose at least three hundred employees, Commerce two hundred, Internal Revenue about fifty, State Department about thirty, Labor Department approximately thirty, and the War Department about twenty-five. Treasury, the Industrial, Control group in Commerce, the Reforestation group in Agriculture, and the Veterans' Administration at the Veterans Bureau will be the only ones hiring.

N. Howard (State Dept.) Stanton, who is regional representative for the Southway Tours, would have you know that World Fair visitors may have at, and connected with the Southway Hotel at South Parkway at Sixtieth Street, eight entertainments and comfort features for $7.50 for three days as follows:

Cab service from depot to Southway Hotel; two night's lodging in Southway Hotel; two club breakfasts in hotel dining room; two bus trips from hotel to fair grounds; three admission tickets to fair; three bus trips from fair grounds to hotel; cab service from hotel to depot.

It seems that the rates are quoted on a basis of two persons occupying each room.

David (Commerce) Peters, who won by one vote a ring symbolizing the most useful member of the Owl's Social Club for 1933, is going to make the trip to Chicago along with Brooks (R.F.C.) Muse, Albert (Treasury) Sterling, Alvin (Coastguard) Webb, Eugene (Internal Revenue) Radcliffe, John (P.P. & P.B.) Henry, the writer and others. Come along, we may go up in the "Mayflower." Ask any Owl Club member what the "Mayflower" is. Don't ask David Peters.

Send your Federal News Notes to the writer at 1421 Eighth Street, Northwest. Telephone Potomac 2886 or Metropolitan 9403.

Unless unforeseen circumstances intervene, this will be the next to the last issue of Federal News Notes.

POSTSCRIPT: The writer observed "Wop" Taylor, ex-Federal employee, now of Miner Teachers' College, serenely wandering about the drill. It is too bad that the Federal Economy law affects D.C. school appointments, "Wop." This columnist (with appropriate apologies) extends his heartiest though belated congratulations to Company D, 25th Regiment of Armstrong High School, for its victory in the annual competitive drill of the colored High School Cadet Corps of Washington.

Do you want to be successful? Then work and save. Be fair and temperate.