Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1900-02-16

by appropriations were made for two
elevators; one for the senate and one
for the house of representatives. That
was the beginning. Four others have
since been added, and it is expected that
two more will be added during the pres
ent year. one for the senate and one for
the house of representatives. Nobody
now objects, because everybody con-
cedes that elevators are public neces-
sity, and that two more will be required
for the accommodation of the general
public.
! In the Forty-sixth congress when the
first appropriations were made, and in
several preceding congresses, there
were two fat men in congress who took
opposite sides of the question of ap-
preparations for elevators. Gustave
Schleicher, of Texas, was a tall man and
very large. He advocated elevators be-
cause it was so hard for him to climb
the long stairways. Philetus Sawyer
was a senator from Wisconsin. He was
not very tall, but he was so fat that he
fairly waddled when he walked. He
said that he would rather climb the
preparation for his own convenience.
Both of these gentlemen were very pop
ular, and both of them had adherents,
and the debate about elevators went on
as though the fate of the nation depend
ed upon the settlement of the question.
Afer elevators We're placed in the cap
itol. however, Senator Sawyer admitted
that they were fine modern conven-
fences, and he gave up the exercise of
elm Ding the stairs.
Gustaye Schleicher, of Texas, was
born in Germany and spoke with pro-
nounced foreign accent. One of his
STRONGEST supporters was Robert Klotz,
Pennsylvania Dutchman, who spoke
excellent English. Schleicher did most
of his work by moving about among
the members talking privately to them
in favor of elevators, but Klotz made
a number of telling speeches in favor of
the project.
Speaking of elevators in the capitol
for the comfort and convenience of
statesmen and of visitors, it is appro-
pirate to say in this connection that,
although the stairs on the east front
of the capitol are long and cause weari-
ness to those who use them, the stairs
on the west front are much longer and
harder to climb. The greater part of
Washington is built west of the capi-
tol, and all of the best hotels are west
of the building. Therefore visitors
usually approach the capitol from that
side. Thousands annually get off of
the street cars at the foot of Capitol
l hill and climb those stairs. They
should not do so. They should remain
in the cars, for they go around the
:, capitol grounds and up the hill. There
4 fore, when you come to Washington
by remaining in the cars you can be
= = carried up the hill, and alight on the
. . level plaza of the east front. Then
= by walking to the senate or house
: wing, entering the driveways beneath
= the marble staircases, you can easily
find one of the elevators already de
;. scribed and reach your destination
y the main floor of the building withou
= exertion or loss of breath
1t is important to particularly re
- member that when you enter thu
i" house wing of the capitol you are a
s. liberty to take either one of the ele
9 yators there. But when you enter th
senate wing you should ask the police
- y man or guide to direct you to the pub
= lie elevator, and thus avoid the EN-
'e barrassmento of going to one of the ex
elusive elevators and being told tina
u you canp6t use it, Some American cit
: izena don ike that sort of thing; bu
.e the writer merely sets forth the exist
;. ing facts, without comment.
"gST SMITH D. FRY.
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