Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-11-22
WHERE S0LONS MEET.
New Committee Rooms, New Carpets
and New Corksorews.
READY FOR THE SESSION
Preparations Made at the Capitol
Seats for the New SenatOrs-Rooms
Arranged i'm tho Terrace - Senators
Who Prefer Esthctic Rugs.

IN IL THINGS are ready, SO far as the
INV Capitol is concerned, for the statesmen
1&N-moribund and otherwise-who are
"a due on Monday. December 1. Busy
Officials have had their hands full OF work ever
since the belated close o: the last session, and
nothing but the most persistent industry could
have brought about as many decorative and
comfort-giving improvements as now await the
great annual legislative coming.
Scrubbing brushes and cleaning compounds
have been vigorously applied in the Senate
chamber, but the principal change is in ;he
rear row on the republican side. Four new
desks have been added, and those that we're
previously in the same row have been squeezed
together as closely possible in order that
persons entering the chamber at either the
main or eastern doors may not have to climb
over somebody.
SEATS FOR NEW SENATORS.
The present arrangement is, however, in
evitable unless some of the new Senators from
Idaho and Wyoming will sit on the democratic
side In the vicinity of Senator Blair. As things
are screen will have to be placed behind the
chairs on the northern extremity of the rear
row or the two Senator's from Idaho will be
stiff necked throughout their respective terms,
because the wintry Drcezes which sneak in at
the eastern door Will just strike two rear collar
buttons. The new desks are like all the old
ones, of mahogany, and when time has had
Chance at them they will be Just as DARK
their predecessors; now they look stiff and new
and are light tinted. The four additional chairs
are leather upholstered and straight backed.
but when the Wyoming and Idaho solons arrive
they may prefer the long-backed cane-seat re-
volyInS chairs. and If they so express them
selves to the sergeant-at-Crms their desire will
be gratIted. At present nine republicans use
the cane-seat 'revoIvers'; thirteen democrats
do likewise. An effort has been made to GUST
all the leather-seated chairs and the campaign
looking to that end will be renewed this winter.
cRowDISG OUT THE SOFAS.
1t was not so long ago that the inner walls of
the Senate chamber were pretty unanimously
proPped up by sofas. bat only four of those
resting places remain. the others having been
removed to make room for the ever-iowing
stream Of new Senators which republican legis-
latures delight to elect There is room for
several sofas on the democratic side but Ser
geant-at-Arms Valentine evidently came 10 the
conclusion that II would be unfair TO give more
than two sofas to the democrats while the re-
publicans could not possibly accommodate
more than that number ON their side; the effect
would be somewhat loPsIded and decidedly in
artistic.
THE SENATORIAL CARPETS.
The carpet in the chamber has been cleaned
cleaned without having be>---aaen up; cleaned
by men who paraded over its surface on their
knees and who used scrubbing brushes and
some sOapy compound and steel scrape-s The
lobby carpet has been similarly treated Where
the pages feet beat continuous tattoo while
they wait for useful occupation a double LAYER
OF carpet has been put down and this Is ex-
pected to withstand the wear and tear of tine
next three months.
New carpets have been put down in the east
southeast and wess galleries, some OF 1t maroon
colOred, some OF it dark red In the press gal
lery no changes have been made. but. as IS the
case all over the building. everything has been
thoroughly cleansed and renovated.
NEW TIME N AN OLD CLOCK.
Nobody seems to know whether it was asso-
citation or something else, but it is an indisput-
able fact that the Senate clock had become ir-
regular in its endeavor to keep the time or
TO give it away. During the recess the ser
geant-at-arms had clock expert put $50
worth OF new works in the old case and IN fu-
ture there viii be neither more nor less than
slxtg minutes III each @: the twenty-iour hours
Nice new curtains ere mp in the marble room
and III the Vice Presidents room, and the
Stuart portrait OF Washington in the latter
apartment Is surrounded by a heavy frame
which has been brilliantly regilt
TIE sERGEAST-AT-AHM's ROOMS.
But Of all the n.ce-looking rooms the most
Rsthetically nice is that sacred to the sergeant
alarms. A Wilton carpet of a rich crushed
strawberry hue Is just where it ought to be
on the foOr-and III front of the fireplace is a
very pretty rug. Separating the telephone
operator from the line OF traffic is a tall screen
on which gilt buds of the crane variety
surrounded by numerous pink and brown
flowers. 1t is not improbable that the DESIGNS
on the screen Will interfere with the satisfac-
tory working of the telephone, for telephones
cannot easily be operated in the Immediate
vicinity of boiler factory. Most of the fur
niture has been revarnished the leather nm
holstery IS new and there is a wealth OF shiny
round headed nails 4 lfe-size portrait Of
Gen. George H. Thomas adorns one of the
walls.
RUGS on THE FLOOR
Senator Hoar will be delighted when he sees
how nice his committee room looks. A very
large and extraordinarily beautiful rug con-
cesls all of the floor with the exec ption of the
border thing. Il used to be that Senators
were satisfied with carpet, but Senator Ed
munds and Senator henderson, both of them
artistlcaly inclined, wanted the pretty tile
border exposed to view. SO they demanded
rugs Now no Senator who wants to be in the
SWIM would dream Of allowing any floor cover
ing In their rooms other than rugs
The committee on contingent expenses of
the Senate Is going to be salts fed with CARPET.
though. IL Is pretty carpet-gray and old
gold; Wilton. A Brussels carpet has also
been put down in the room of the clerk to the
committee on foreign relations The post
ofhce folks have a nice Brussels too
MUG FOR EACH SENATOR.
Senators who do not shave themselves will no
pleased to learn that reform has been at work
In the barber shop and that in the future there
will be no necessity for their standing in a long
patient line waiting for the razor hourlaher to
yell next. There are now three chairs the
latest addition being very fine specimen of
the upholsterer's art. More interesting than
that, however. will be the revealed truth that
each Senator will i'll the future have a shaw
ing cup and brush for his very
own Heretofore two cups and an
equal number of brushes sutiiced for the
elghty-fOur members of the greatest delbera-
tive body IN the world. not 10 speak of the
numerous employees who were scraped either
before the Senators arrived IN the morning or
else waited until the Senators had gone home
The individual mugs have each been decorated
with the names of their proprietors-nice gold
old English letters.
THE STATIONERY ROOM.
Even the stationery room has been polished
up. A new carpet has been laid and the de-
sign is testimony to the taste of Mr.. Richards,
who made the selection. Mr.. Evans or Mr..
Nlchois would have been satisfied with almost
any Kind OF a floor covering, but Mr.. Richards
was critical, and the result Is a dark conglom-
Grafton OF eye-catching hues tine red idea
apparently predomlnating. There are lots of
DINER new things in the Senate stationery
room Enormous additions have been made