The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-04-04

chine. tank insulator and engine. Asso-
ciated with this are fresh air and steam
heating systems, with automatic fans,
driven by electric motors. From the pic
turesque stone tower in the northwest
section of the capitol grounds, which has
excited so much curiosity in the minds of
tourists. fresh air is brought in, through
the shafts, to be regulated in temperature
by automatic devices, to be exact degree
required at any season. Exceedingly cold
brine is supplied in the sys-
tenn of air ducts reaching
from the terrace to the distributing shaft,
and can be so controlled that in the most
torrid midsummer this chamber is the
coolest place in Washington Whether
cooled for summer, or warmed for winter
in the steam-heating coils, the supply OF
pure air from "all out doors" is forced
under the flooring of the Senate chamber
and its galleries, through diffusing boxes
and the legs of the desks and chairs, while
the foul or consumed air escapes through
ventilators in the ceiling, drawn thence
to the outside by electric fans placed in
a hidden angle of the roof. The legs of
all the desks and chairs are full of tiny
apertures, connecting with the appara-
tus underneath, so that an equable current
of fresh air. heated or cooled to just the
right temperature, is diffused around the
clothing and body of the occupant-the
even pressure of air controlled by patent
regulators, which can be easily adjusted
by the foot or hand. An immense I'M
provement is all this over the old system,
which had been in use nearly half CEN
fury. II proves that at all times and sea-
sons the personal comfort and well-being
of Uncle Sans law makers will be pro-
NOTED by the best modern agencies that
money can buy, and affords greater In
ducements than ever to aspiring states
men to break into" the Senate. Before
these changes the room used to get so
terribly hot at times that the galleries
were drenched in perspiration, especially
those odorous corners sacred to the col
ored man and brother" the senator's lin
en- visibly wlted, and nobody wondered
when one day a grave and reverend seig-
nor deliberately removed his shoes during
a session when the galleries were crowd
ed and stretched his long legs over tne
tops of two or three desks, so that ms
suffering toes were turned up directly be-
meath a colleagues nose.
The Vice President sits aloft in lonely
state on a raised dias, his august back IN
a deep niche, and in front OF him a broad
deliberately carved mahogany desk. I'M
noediately below on either side, are the
seats Of the sereeant-at-arms and the door
keeper; at the lower desk in front sit the
secretary of the Senate the legislative
clerk chief clerk and minute clerk; while
vet lower. on the level of the floor, are
the desks of the official reporters. Ana
stiu the march of progress goes on. Sim
ultaneously with the advent of the splen-
aid new silver gavel, which Vice President
stevenson so gently welded came the dis
! appearance Of the massive silver snuff
box that had adorned the desk since away
back in the days OF Webster, Clay and
! Calhoun What became of the historic relic,
nobody seems to know. The modern
matchbox that was substituted comes
about as near to filling its pace In the
| nublic eve as do some Of the latter-day
! statesmen to filing the places left vacant
nv Conkllng. Morton and other lights Of
! mast generations. The old-fashioned gall
! :eries that formerly surrounded the Senate
| chamber were entirely demolished in the
recent overhauling.an and handsome balconies
| substitute. like those of our best up-to-
! date theaters The antique wooden
/ benches of other days were replaced by
| richly-cushioned opera chairs, rising tier
| above tier, TO the level of the tile-paved,
! picture-lined corridors of the second floor.
/ each chair like those OF the lawmakers
below. supplied with the new tangled ven
| tilating device. In the old days, when
something great was going on. the benches
| were frequently made TO seat as many as
| 800 people, but there can be no more
examining or jamming OF that sort, be-
cause every one OF the 700 new chairs ~
/ equal 10 a reserve seat and when all are