and CANNON were two of the greatest chairmen of this highly important committee in all its long history.

Mr. CANNON and Mr. Thatcher were good friends from the beginning of their congressional careers; and their friendship, through the long period which has since elapsed, grew stronger and ever stronger. Both had-among other common interests—a love and appreciation for the best in literature; and, touching Mr. Thatcher's occasional writings, his friend was lavish in his praise.

It may be noted that Mr. Thatcher had served, during the construction era of the Panama Canal, as civil Governor of the Canal Zone and member of the Isthmian Canal Commission, the body which had immediate charge of the work. In these posts he had rendered distinguished service; and later came his congressional career. He sponsored and brought about the enactment of much important legislation for the benefit of the canal enterprise, and its employees-both United States and alien citizens; also for the advantage of the entire isthmus, including legislation for the establishment and operation of the Gorgas Memorial Laboratory in the city of Panama, an outstanding institution for research touching the cause and prevention of tropical disease. He is now the sole surviving member of the indicated Commission. He also rendered important service in the Congress in the field of national parks and parkways; and is yet interested in these subjects, and able to give civilian aid in these connections.

Because of his capable and useful congressional service, his membership on the House Committee on Appropriations, and his fine achievements with respect to the canal and the isthmus, the Congress, by specific enactment, and with complete unanimity, named for him the splendid new bridge across the canal at Balboa, C.Z., as Thatcher Ferry Bridge, which not only honors him, but as well serves to perpetuate historic memory and justice to the Thatcher Ferry, on the same site, which the bridge supplants. In the Congress he had obtained the legislation for the establishment and maintenance of the ferry, a fine, toll-free utility-as is the

bridge—which, during the 30 years of its existence, performed for the zone and the entire isthmus a notable and indispensable service.

Mr. Thatcher has practiced law in Washington since he left Congress, and has also continued his activities, to the extent possible, in behalf of matters of public concern. I include, as a part of these remarks, his magnificent tribute to his greatly esteemed and beloved friend.

CLARENCE CANNON: MEMORIAL TRIBUTE

(By Maurice H. Thatcher)

I

When this, our CLARENCE, passed away
From mortal life to deathless day-

Alas, the loss! the people wept;

The trust they gave him he had kept;
And they, in grief, kneeled down to pray.
How great was he? Ah, time will say!
His toils for good no check could stay;
And his brave conscience never slept-
He loved the State.

Truth's path he trod-led where it may;
His zeal for light nought would allay.

He never was unskilled, inept;

Less than the best he'd not accept;

He wrought in strength, with knowledged

Teacher, lawyer, statesman, chief—

Thru calm and storm, and cloud and shade; And, minus pause or aught relief,

His rugged, sure ascent was made.
Exemplar rare, and patriot,

His life a pattern doth provide
For those who seek the nobler lot-
A norm the nation's youth to guide.
Steeped in the parliament'ry lore,

And knowledge of resolves and bills,
He won a rank as few before,

Or since; and his especial skills Earned rich reward and potent yield

In guarding well the Nation's purse. Thus, long he strove within his field

To find the cure, and void the curse. By reason of his varied acts

We must account his labors great; He knew the fictions and the facts And how the problems to equate Friend of his fellows, loyal, true—

He fought for that he thought was best.

We pay him laud for what is due

For efforts that were wise and blest.

He strove with ever-tireless aim;

His life was one of self-denial;

His wisdom brought him wealths of fame-
But at the price of rack and trial.

He dared to do what seemed the right,

And knew the worth of valiant deeds;

He chose to walk within the light,

And from the flowers plucked the weeds.

Full-rev'rent in his biding thought,

And e'er sustained by faith and hopeThe vital goals he sensed and sought, And wide-expanding was the scope. He knew the need for discipline;

The face of virtue was his chart. His home he loved, and all therein, With all his ardent soul and heart.

Accept this, Clarence, from a friend

Who knew thee long, and knew thee wellA former colleague, who would amend

Death's dark decree, its force dispel, If in his power. The loved helpmate,

And those that bear thy blood, shall be Shrined in the love of friends who wait At portals of eternity.

Tribute by Representative Osmers

Of New Jersey

Mr. Speaker, many of us have been greatly saddened by the unexpected passing of our distinguished colleague, Representative CLARENCE CANNON, of Missouri.

One of the most impressive tributes to him has appeared in the Hudson Dispatch of Union City, N.J., a leading daily newspaper.

Because of our great admiration for our departed friend, I include the editorial which appeared in the Hudson Dispatch of May 13.

UNITED STATES LOSES FISCAL WATCHDOG IN CANNON

Ever since Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal administration came into power during depression days of the early 1930's and that fuzzy-minded proponent of the crackpot economic theory that prosperity depends on a policy of tax, tax, tax, and spend, spend, spend-Harry Hopkins-rode high, wide, and handsome over the advocates of a commonsense recovery, our Federal Government has been guilty of such profligacy in financial matters that, despite backbreaking taxation the national debt has catapulted to the stratospheric amount of $308.5 billion.

The deficit-spending practices that Washington has indulged in for more than three decades have led the country to a point where more than one-tenth of the current $98.9 billion budget has to be allocated merely to pay the annual interest on the Nation's everrising indebtedness-an amount well over three times greater than the entire costs of running the National Government in 1929, 1930, and 1931. If ever a people have lived in a fool's paradise for a generation and a half, it is we Americans existing entirely upon credit, with no thought of ever paying what we owe-merely meeting constantly increased interest payments.

Since this country found itself inextricably enmeshed in the trap of deficit financing—and the complexion politically of the successive guilty administrations has made no difference, what with Democrats and Republicans equally unwilling to run the Nation's affairs on a pay-as-you-go basis, there have been mighty few men in Congress who have had the courage to fight against the ostrichlike scheme of living beyond our means. Those who