Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-12-04
SENATORS ARE PLEASED
Improvements Made to the North Wing of
the Capitol.

There were many expressions of salts
faction from senators who visited the Capt.
tol today over the improvements to the
Senate wing which have been made during
the recess by Col. Bright. the sergeant-at-
arms and Architect Clark
The work of painting the corridors and
improving their appearance has been de-
scribed in The Star heretofore. A more re-
cent addition to the improvements is the
substitution of Illuminated glass for the
dingy and Notwithstanding panes in the
doors of the Senate chamber and gal
leries. The main entrance to the cham
Der and the lobby entrances now have
solid mahogany door frames, inclosing glass
panes through which the outlines of per-
sons approaching the door can be seen and
collision thus averted between two per-
sons attempting to pass through the door
at the same time.
In the Senate galleries the doors leading
into the corridors are of maple with il
Illuminated glass panes. The effect is ap
preciabe from the floor Of the Senate by
the admission OF more light to the cham
Der.
The Vice Presidents Room.
The room. of the Vice President has been
thoroughly overhauled and refurnshed.
The room now presents an appearance of
elegant simplicity that exctes the admira-
ton of all those who have seen il. The
coloring OF the walls is a ligh. cream and
without any further decoration whatever
The effect is to produce a subdued light in
the room that is very restful to the eye
The floor is covered with a rich Persian
rug. said to be one of the handsomest ever
brought to Washington. The window en-
treasures are shaded by window hangings of
a heavy rich material and by lace curtains
The main door and the glass panes of the
book case are screened by silk curtains of
changeable hue.
The main feature of the new furnishings
in the room. how ever, is magnificent CEN
ter table, serving as a desk. 1t was built
to order for the purpose, and is of solid
mahogany. The desk is probably eight feet
square and the surface is polished to Il
high degree of finish. The dimensions of
this piece of furniture are notably ample.
and the Vice President is said IL be greatly
pleased with it.
Reducing the Hall of Representatives
1t is probable that during the winter s
session of Congress Speaker Reed will
take some steps to promote his plan for
reducing the size of the hall of the House
| of Representatives. He advanced the suP-
gestion a long time ago and has since
elaborated it in a magazine article. His
idea is to have a legislative hall just one
tfird tie size Of that at present in use, and
to utilize the balance of the space for a
working room and a consultation room.
His idea is to take the central part of
the hail. running from the main north
entrs nee to the Speakers desk, for legisla-
tive purposes, and to have rooms of equal
size on either side which can be used for
consultation and for the work which is
associated with the work of the House but
not part of the House proceedings. Let
ter writing and a lot Of similar work is
now done by members at their desks in
fhc hal sNff l,A
that there is almost universal mat ,nton.
except on occasions of rare interest. More
over, there is almost constantly some sort
OF canvasSing or caucusing going on among
members during the sessions of the House.
| usually On Subjects not connected with
the matter under consideration. This in
terrupts proceedings and tests the lung
power of the speaker who wishes to he
heard across the nall. If the writing could
be done In one room. the caucusng and
conversation in another and legislating in
another, it would greatly facilitate bust
ness.
1t is probable that soon after Congress
convenes a bill or resolution will be in
PRODUCED providing either for an inquiry
into the practicability, from an architect
III al point of view. of making such a di-
vision of the hall. or else formally direct
ing that the work be done An inquiry
into the subject will probably be author
lied.
Restoration of the Crypt.
The clearing out Of the old brick parti-
tions from the crypt of the Capitol, which
was begun some time ago. has been COM
pleted and the whole place has been paint
ed. The effect is even more wonderful
than it promised to be. 1t is doubtful if
there is anything more impressive IN the
architecture of this capital city than this
crypt. 1t is solemnly, sOmberly grand. Its
grandeur disclosed for the first time in
twenty years, 1t seems as If it had just
been dug from the earth. where 1t mad lain
buried since an age of architectural splen-
dor. There is nothing ornate about it in
color OF form; 1t is simply forest CT ger
fectly plain columns standing close together
and filling in an immense circle-as large
as the rotunda above-the columns support
ing a network of interlacing arches. The
intersecting arches make sharp angles.
though the swell of each arch is full and
round. The yaulted ceiling thus formed Is
low enough, together with the short, thick
columns, to give the chamber the appear
ance of great size and to render it grandly
somber. 1t would be impossible for any one
to enter this crypt, as 1t now Is. its entire
outline and proportion disclosed for the
first time. without pausing at the entrance
with a sense of awe or wonder. There is
probably no one in the present House. and
but few are in the Senate. who remember
this chamber before 1t was cut up with
occurred since the adjournment of the ex-
ira session. Therefore most of Congress
see it for the first time.
Even the most unobservant among them
start and pause as If oppressed by some
new emotion on seeing 1t. The more i'm
questionable stand long in contemplation
and return again and again. Its dim alses,
bent in circles between the columns. seem
made for meditation and inspire solemn
thoughts. Frivolity would pause at the
threshold, and either enter not at all or else
change to the guise of serious thoughtful
ness. There one might walk and mediate
unOn great things only: the mind might
take on the fullness of the swelling uni
verse and the sombe- shades of the sepul-
chre. H ardly any one, from child to a
sage, could pass through this restored crypt
without feeling some sort OF emotion