The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1899-06-02

of elbow room, the British representa-
tives of the people sit in rows on either
side of a broad aisle, each man having
to be content with what space he can
get on the crowded benches. After all
the laudation of our system of seating
our Congressman, we have suddenly
discovered, he adds, that the House Of
Commons idea is the correct one.
The Congressman have to thank
themselves for the change, he contin-
ues. The desks have proved altogether
too comfortable. Instead of attending
to the business for which they were
sent to Washington, 1t is charged that
the Representatives put in the time
when Congress is in session writing,
reading or chatting while some speaker
is wearing out his lungs trying TO make
himself heard above the buzz of con-
versatlon. The only way to stop the
Objectionable Congressional practice of
opening and answering letters at the
House, 1t was agreed, would be to take
away the desks that spread out, fan
like, from the Speakers rOstrum. Joel
p. Heatwole, chairman of the commit
tee. had this to say of the proposed
change:
"The House of Representatives is a
noisy body. Under the present arrange
ment each member has desk at which
he may transact business incident not
only to the proceedings of the House,
but to his general duties as Representa-
tive. Conversations are constantly car
ried on. irrelevant to and disturbing to
parliamentary proceedings. The size
of the House and the irrelevant noise Is
such that no man of average lung pow
err can be heard throughout the hall. 4
deliberative body, representatives of
the interests of 75,0OO,000 people, ought
TO so conduct itself that every subject
of legislative discussion may be heard
and understood by those who are
charged with the duty of leglslating.
Under the present arrangement this Is
impossible. The committee has there
fore approved plan whereby:
'sThe present hall is to be shortened
from length of 1870 feet, including gal
lerles. to a length of eighty feet in
Guiding galleries.
"The present floor Is to be shortened
from a length of 113 feet to sixty feet.
''The present galleries are to be
brought forward TO conform to the hall
as shortened.
THE hall, as reduced In size, will be
seated with benches or seats, running
parallel with the east and west walls
of the chamber, half of them facing
westward and half facing eastward, ex-
cept the benches or seats In the north
west and northeast corners of the
chamber, which will face southwark
An open space 15x4O feet, will extend
from the Speakers desk nOrthward
and aisles at appropriate intervals will
| extend from the aisles between the
seats. The floor will rise as 1t recedes
from such open space. The chamber
will have a seating capacity of 406. Nc
desks for members or delegates viii bC
provided In the chamber, which will bG
for legislative business exclusively.
"The space taken from the present
hall at each end by the alteration de
scribed will be made into two large re
tlring-rOOms for members and ftteC
with tables, chairs. lockers and othe
furniture as needed. From these rooms
there viii be easy access to the cham
Der through fly doors fitted with glas
panels. Each Of the retirlng-rooms is I,
be eighty feet long and thirty-nine fee
wide. The galleries are to be supported
by rows of pillars extending north ant
south across the retiring rooms. TIL
entrance to galleries at the east an,
west sides Of the chamber as recon
structed will be by a central entranc
to each gallery. each entrance to b
reached by a bridge passagew0- av