Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-02-21
THE HALL OF THE HOUSE
Committees Reasons for Urging Its Reduc-
tion in Size
Benches or Seats for Representatives
Would Face East and West-Seat-
ing Capacity to BE 4O6.

man Heatwole. 1t says:
The size of the House and the irrelevant
noise is such that ordinarily no man of
average lung power can be heard through
out the hall. A deliberative body, repre-
sentative of the interests of 75,000,O00 peo-
pie, 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 legislating. I'm
der the present arrangement this is impos-
sible.
THE committee have therefore approved
the plan whereby the present hall would be
shortened from a length of 139 feet, includ-
ing galleries, to a length of 50 feet, includ-
ing galleries. and the present floor would
be shortened from length of 113 feet to
50 feet; the width of the present chamoer
north and south would remain unchanged,
and the Speakers desk, the clerks dest and
the official reporters desk would remain as
they are.
The present galleries would be brought
forward to conform to the hall as short
ened, while the height of the chamber and
the lighting would remain unchanged. The
hall reduced in size would 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, except the benches or
seats in the northwest and northeast cor
southwark. An open space 15 by 10 feet
would extend from the Speakers desk
northward, and aisles at appropriate in
tervals would extend from the aisles be-
tween the seats.
THE floor would rise as it recedes from
such open space, and the chamber would
have a seating capacity of 4o6. No desks
for members Or delegates would be pro-
vided in the chamber. 1t is intended that
the chamber, as rearranged, should be for
legislative business exclusively and will
have a seating capacity for the full mem
bership of the House.
from the present
hall at each end by the above described
alteration would be made into two large
retiring rooms for members. fitted with
tables and chairs, lockers and other furni-
ture for their convenience. These rooms
would have the same height as the cham
Der except that part thereof under the gal
leries. From these rooms easy access
would be given to the chamber through fly
doors fitted with glass panels. Each of
the retiring rooms would be so feet long
and 80 feet wide.
Extension of Galleries.
1.-THE galleries would be supported by rows
of pillars extending north and south across
the retiring rooms, and the width of the re-
firing rooms, including that part under the
galleries. would be thirty-nine feet as
above stated. That part from pillars to
outer walls, not including part under gal
leries, would be twenty-nine feet wide. The
entrance to galleries a east and west sides
of chamber, as reconstructed, would be by
a central entrance to each gallery. Each of
these central entrances would be reached
by n bridge paSSageWay, extending from
the upper main corridor across each retir-
ing room, so constructed as to insure the
privacy of retiring rooms. These bridge
paSsagevays would be lighted from above
in same manner as chamber and retiring
rooms.
''As to the heating and ventilation of the
hall of the House of Representatives the
committee respectfully submits the plans
and SDeClticdtiO0 nyr-b
of the Capitol and prepared for him by
Prof S. II. Woodbridge of the Massachu-
sets Institute of Technology, and recon-
mend for adoption the system of heating
and the upward system of ventilation
therein described.
Attention is also directed to extracts
from reports heretofore made of investiga-
tions during the Fifty-third Congress by
Mr.. Henry Adams. from the supervising
architects office of the Treasury Depart
ment and Dr. j. j. Kenyoun, from the ma
rine hospital service.
LAS to remodeling the House of Represen-
tatives, the committee recommends a radi-
cal change in hall and seating. The pres
ent chamber is 139 feet long and 93 feet
WIDE including galleries, and is 36 feet high,
while the floor of the House is 113 feet
long by 40 feet wide and has 36O seats for
members and delegates. The galleries will
seat l 1S4 people.
Reasons for Alteration
1t is unnecessary to state that the House
of Representatives is a noisy body Under
the present arrangement 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 a repre-
sentative. Conversations are constantly
carried on, irrelevant to and disturbing to
parliamentary proceedings, and from the
west end OF the present lobby would be sub
tracted room 1512x24 for members and re-
porterS.
From the east end of the present lobby
would be Subtracted a room 1J12X24 feet for
private office for the Speaker, connected
by door with tie Speakers present room
| Ihls would give the Speaker two rooms for
the transaction of business a change which
is very much needed. After cutting off the
two rooms above described, the central part
of the present lobby, adjoining the portico,
| the same being 15I2 by "a feet would re-
main for smoking room for members
The floor would be so reconstructed as to
| do away with all horizontal openings there
| Dy lnSurlng cleanliness. The air chamber
| under floors would be so made as TO insure
| proper distribution of pure air to all parts
| OF the legislative hall and retiring rooms -