Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-11-16

Usually some one of the branch wires
would be busy. and delay and annoyance
were inevitable.
When the Capitol was built, over hun
dred years ago, none of our modern time
saving conveniences were thought OF, and
nearly all communication between the two
houses was effected by messenger. But
ofte1times Representatives and Senators,
especially those from the same state, need
to communicate in a confidential way, and
in such cases If the roundabout telephone
was already occupied one or other OF them
had to walk over personally to the other
chamber, a distance Of two city blocks,
and then might learn that the man he
sought was not there.
Various improvements.
At the close Of short sessions of Congress
the need Of frequent personal consultation
between the two houses has made it nee
essary almost every hour for prominent
statesmen to leave their own hall and ell
bow their way physically to the other hall,
through the crowd obstructing the lobbies,
and in a hundred other ways the primitive
character Of the communicating facilities
was felt to be great hindrance to public
business. Indeed, it seems unaccountable
that direct telephone was not introduced
long before this.
An improvement still more useful will be
provided in the shape of continuous bulle-
tin Of proceedings in both houses, to be dis
the current proceedings at frequent inter-
walls, like Geographic bulletins from national
political conventions. From 1t members and
Senators can see at glance what is going
on in the other coordinate body, and thus
save valuable time and effort. 1t will be a
special boon to the newspaper correspond
ents, for they will be able to know exactly
where the storm center OF news may be at
any moment, and can accommodate their
movements to the requirements of the hour
A perfect-running chronometer will also
pc established in the private lobby of the
House, where the Speaker can consult the
exact time and open each days session pre-
cisely on the dot of noon. The law expressly
provides that this shall be DONE but in prac-
tice 1t has seldom been followed rigidly. as
no two of the official clocks of the Capitol
keep the same time.
Signals on the Dome.
In addition to all these reforms, a new
electric lighting system has been established
in the Capitol, with plant in both wings
Two engines and dynamos have been placed
on each side, down in the subterranean
vaults, with a total capacity of 5000 lamps
of sixteen candle power each. The engines
of either wing are capable of rendering full
service for the whole building, and they are
so arranged that they can be used inter-
changeably in case of accident or derange-
ment of part of the plant. An attractive
feature of this new system will be set of
powerful electric signals on the summit of
the great white dome.
Heretofore when either house has been in
session at night that fact has been indicated
by lamp displayed from the dome, visible
at distance. But nobody could ever tell
from it whether the House or the Senate
alone or both houses were in session. In
the new signals red electric light will de-
note that the House is in session, and blue
light the Senate, while both red and blue,
with white thrown in for color effect, will
announce that both houses are sitting
simultaneously.
The heating and ventilation apparatus has
likewise been overhauled and improved, the
pictures on all the interior walls have been
retouched and freshened, every apartment
in the historic edifice has been cleaned, the
furniture and carpets have been renewed,
and everything has been put in spick-and-
span order. On the theory that pleasant
surroundings promote good work It may be
expected that the new Congress will dis
tinsuish itself by wholesome and effective
LEGISLATION.