National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1883-09-28
SEATING THE HOUSE.
Squeezing in the Seats and Desks for the New
Members Of Congress.
New Carpets, New Coat Hooks, New Von-
tiIHting Apparatus, aud other Novelties.

The hall Of the house Of repr esentatives last
eveningpresented view offspring house clean
ing as managed by the American housewife.
The old carpet and desks have all been re-
moved, and the scene was one of emptiness,
the tread Of the chance visitor echoing and
re-echoing among the rccesses and from the
lofty and pictured ceiling of the room where
our laws are made by representatives of tho
sovereign states. The superintendent said
that the old desks will be re6nished in ash,
with bright blue cloth covers. Thirty.two
new desks have been received, and will be
placed in position, when tho proper time ar
rives, for that number of new congressman
who will be included in the forty-oighth con-
gress under the recent apportionment.
"How much carpet is required to cover the
floor of the house?" queried the reporter, adj
dressing the superintendent, who stood near
by. ,ooo,-,,
replied
''What color2"
cred" he answered, land of velvet finish
That bright color with the lightash desks and
chairs, will give the apartment bright and
cheerful appearance"
"How will you manage about making room
for the thirty-two new members"
ave will extend each of the seven floor
ranges" he replied, pointing to the additions,
(which will allow room for sixteen desks at
each end of the semi-circle Ono end is on
the republican side, and the other on the
democratic"
"Going to make any other changesp
ave will scrape the floors, clean the brass,
and repaint where necessary"
The long lines of hooks in the cloak rooms
will also be increased by thirty-two, but they
have not been put up yet Under each of the
old hooks may still be seen the little slip
bearing the name of the statesman who was
last entitled to hang his coat and beaver
thereon. They all look moro or less battered
and worn save one, which is new and bright
as though never used.
"That is Alexander ii. Stevens's hook, said
tho superintendent but it was never used
by him. When he arrived NJ the capitol in
the morning he was always carried to his
seat by two men, and his great coat or wraps
were left below. These names will nearly
all have to be changed, because so few of the
old members were reelected. This row"
(pointing to a corner twas devoted to the
Wisconsin delegation, but rs an entire new
delegation of nine members has been elected
the old names will all be scraped Off"
Returning to the hall the reporter was told
that several aisles ON the floor will be closed
up in order to make room for the increased
number Of desks. The galleries are receiving
coat of paint, new carpets, and are UNDER
going thorough renovation, while the state
designs on the ceiling will be cleaned
thoroughly giving tho hall of representatives
in its entirety n fresh and clean appearance.
The wind" supply was next investigated by
the reporter, who descended to the engine
rooms. Engineer Lannan was met, and in
reply to questions stated that sixty cubic feet
of air per minute for each congressman and
spectator will be forced into the chamber
during the sessions.
passing thought suggests that this sup
ply would account for many Of the long
winded speeches inflicted upon congress- and
the reporter asked Mr.. Lannan how he regu-
lated the relative humidity Tor moisture) of
the air supplies.
He reolied that it was regulated by mix
ing chamber, containing coils full of water.
The air passes through the mixer and gen.
crates vapor from an evaporator, which re-
stores the moisture dried out by heating the
air. The average relative humidity of the
air supplied being about 4740.
"Will you increase the supply of air sup
piled in view of the increase of thirty-two in
the next house" asked the scribe.
"We always regulate the supply" he said
e to conform to the number of people in the
hall. We take an observation of the number
every morning, and the supply is regulated
by the revolutions of the fans which are gov.
erncl by system of indicators in my Office
The house boilers were all tested yesterday
by being submitted to water pressure of liz
pounds. The average pressure of steam used
during the winter is forty pounds, so the test
of 10 pounds was satisfactory When tn,
full pressure was applied small streams o
water and little columns of spray indicated
where tho leaks were, and as force of work
men went to work with hammer and chise
to stop them the reporter left the din in hi
rear.
The superintendent of the capitol grounds
put force Of laborers to work yesterday re
pairing the dilapidated wooden covering o
the main stairways on the west side of tn
capitol building The covering will be re
placed in neat manner with new boards
Several of the old trees in the west park will
he cut down before the new congress assem-
bles and other improvements made. TIL
postoftce of the house of representatives ha
been thoroughly remodeled during the vacs
ton. A number of new boxes have bee
added, swelling the total number to $40.