Capital Comment

Washington.

Hitler’s determined drive to rearm Germany has set in motion a series of reactions which in themselves may become the immediate cause for another world war. In taking steps to rearm Germany, Hitler fired the gun which has started a worldwide rearmament race. This race is going on merrily while European statesmen run in circles, plotting, discussing, failing to see that the shortest distance between two points is a straight line.

Reports reaching Washington from confidential sources in Europe show that the leading powers will not permit Germany to outdo them in the matter of armaments. And in this grand race, the United States is taking quite a part. On one hand is the War Department appropriations bill which was passed by Congress and approved by President Roosevelt, authorizes one of the largest peace-time expenditures of its kind in the history of this country. Close to $400,000,000 is provided for the War Department’s use in the fiscal year beginning next July. On the other hand is the House passage of the McSwain bill to take the profit out of war. How consistent these two steps are remains to be seen.

Of the entire House membership, there are only thirty-six who were in the House when war was declared against Germany eighteen years ago. One of these is Representative Adolph J. Sabath of Illinois, dean of the House. He is the only present member of the House who was a member of the powerful Committee on Foreign Affairs which reported out the resolution to declare war against Germany.

In recalling that event eighteen years ago, Representative Sabath says that for nearly two days and nights the Committee on Foreign Affairs had considered and seriously debated whether the conditions actually warranted such a grave and momentous step as declaring war. “Not until President Wood-row Wilson and the State Department had furnished the committee with indisputable and convincing evidence of Overt acts and of willful disregard of American rights by Germany, her connivances with other nations, and her undisguised boasts and threats of what she was going to do to America after the defeat of the Allies, was the resolution reported by the committee and passed by the House,” he said.

Edward A. Filene, Boston department store owner, believes that the National Industrial Recovery Act which expires in June should be reenacted by Congress with such modifications as experience during the last two years has shown to be necessary. Appearing before the Senate Finance Committee, the Bostonian said there was no alternative for NRA except “whatever Dr. Townsend, Father Coughlin and Huey Long propose.”

For versatility few members of Congress can approach the record that is being held by Representative William I. Sirovich of New York. He is a physician, surgeon, playwright, art critic, politician and a good public speaker.

Dr. Sirovich gave up his active practice in medicine and surgery to become a candidate for Congress some ten years ago. He did this because the Democrats needed a strong candidate in the Republican stronghold in which he lived. The political boys felt that Sirovich could deliver the vote. He was elected and has been coming to Congress ever since. His district includes Fifth avenue and Greenwich Village.

At present Congress has under consideration old age pension and pure food and drug legislation. These two are among the pet legislative hobbies of Representative Sirovich. He began to talk about such legislation when he was elected to Congress some ten years ago. The records show that he was among the first to do so. On one occasion, while talking about old age pensions, his speaking time on the floor of the House was extended indefinitely.

Representative Sirovich believes that the arts and sciences should be given greater recognition by the government. With this in mind he recently introduced a bill for a new executive branch of the government to be known as the “Department of Science, Art and Literature.” In the bill, the New Yorker even quoted the Constitution to the effect that, “The Congress shall have power to … promote the progress of science and useful arts…” etc., etc.

One of the interesting things about Dr. Sirovich is that he always wears a red carnation in his button hole. Senator Copeland, another doctor, also always wears a red carnation. These two have other things in common. Both are interested in pure food and drug legislation. The food and drug bill now under consideration was written by Senator Copeland. The two New Yorkers do considerable writing. Dr. Sirovich, it is understood, is about ready to start a novel and another play.