Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1899-04-13

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-
versation. The only way to stop the
Objectionable Congressional practice OF
opening and answering letters Mt 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: 4
..The House of Representatives Is a
noisy body. Under the present arrange
ment each member has desk at which
be 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
,f the House and the Irrelevant noise Is
such that no man of average lung pow
er can be heard throughout the hall. A
ieliberutive body, representatives Of
the interests Of $4,000. 900 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 legislating.
Under the present arrangement this Is
impossible. The committee has there
fore approved plan whereby:
.'The present hall Is to be shortened
from length of 139 feet, including gal
leries, to n length of eighty feet, in
Guiding galleries.
"The present floor is to be shortened
from length of 113 feet to sixty feet
"The present galleries are to be
brought forward to conform to the hall
as shortened.
..The hail. as reduced In size, will be
seated with benches or seats, running
parallel with the east and west walls
u 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 15x40 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
win have a seating capacity Of 406. No
iesks for members or delegates will he
provided In the chamber, which will be
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-
firing rooms for members and fitted
with tables, chairs. lockers and other
furniture as needed. From these rooms
there will be easy access to the cham
Der through fly doors fitted with glass
panels. Each Of the retiring-rooms Is to
be eighty feet long and thlrty-nine feet
wide. The galleries are to be supported
by rows of pillars extending north aud
south across the retiring rooms. The
entrance to galleries Mt the east and
west sides of the chamber as recon
,tructed will be by a central entrance
to each gallery, each entrance to be
reached. by a bridge passageway ex-
tending from the upper main corridor
across each retiring-room so construct
ed as to insure the privacy Of retiring
rooms. These bridge passageways are
to be lighted from above"
Arranged In the manner described by
Congressman Heatwole the Hall of
Representatives will be compact room
In which speakers can make themselves
heard without difficulty. while the lis
tenlng members Will be arranged IN
rows on cushioned benches where they
must perforce give attention. The in
different members viii have the retIr-
ing-rooms At their disposal.
II looks little like treating the Con.