The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1901-05-14

Republican cXtravagance, which hns
been SO marked in all insulur expen-
dltures, in tho purchase Of gorgeous
Transports, III tho Rathbono charges
(at first allowcd for all sorts Of por-
sonal things, and, in short, in almost
every department Of government life,
is now TO bo cxcmplilicd in tho house
Of representatives itself. Whom tho
noxt congress convencs, it will find
itself in scene Of regular magnii-
ccncc, we'll worthy of tho imperial
reign on which wo had entered. Tho
oak desks tho cano seated chairs, so
characteristic of democratic simplio-
ity will havo given pIuco to mahog-
any furnishings and hcavy leather
chairs tho ceiling will bo richly and
newly frcscoed by tho leading artists
Of tho day, and altogether tho grand
hall of the house will bo reduced TO
a place whose tawdry frippory will
DO moro "in consonance with our now
place in The world"
Nor will this rcfurnishlng DO con-
fined to tho chamber itself. Tho
committee rooms will bo fitted up in
q style not cxcelled in the hundsom-
est private residences. Tho rugs,
curtains, portieres, tables, desks and
chairs will be Of the finest and most
expensive quality. Tho rooms will
be fitted with great plate glass mir
rors and froscood III tho best art.
Most Of the rooms have mirrors and
arc handsomely frescocd, but this
90 as nothing to what they will
'ly rugs, lounges, curtains
,.ny furniture.
,A,a is result Of IN nppropri-
alton mado last year for ronovating
the house, rofurnishing the chamber
and furnishing some now committee
rooms in the space formerly occupied
by tho congressional library. A COL
mittoo consisting Of Congressman
Cannon, Dalzoll and Richardson was
appointed to suporintond the work.
Probably all Of tho members Of the
house supposed that tho committee
rooms might bc fitted up better than
tho old and with creator attompt at
splendor, but it is doubtful if any Of
them looked for anything moro in
the house itsclf than it has had for
SO many years. 1t was presumed
the old desks would bo supplanted by
now ones of simitar design and ex-
cellenco. But far otherwise is TO be
the case.
Tho leading furniture makers of
tho country wero invited by the com.
mitteo to submit plans and estimates
for rofurnishing The house. A num-
Dor Of them responded, as tho con-
tract has considerable advertising
value rs we'll as Immediate profit.
This week the subcommittee mot and
carefully considered all the designs
and bids submitted. In many they
found good features, but mono wero
exactly in accordance with tho ideas
Of tho committee. As tho place
could not bo altered without c. ane
ing tho estimates tho committee re-
| jectod all Of tho designs and bids.
Tho architect of tho capitol was givon
the ideas Of the committee and di
rectod to put them into shape and
send them to each Of tho bidders,
with request for new bids
| Tho committee has decided that
tho now furnishings of tho house
chamber will bo Gin harmony with
tho dignity" Of agreat representa-
tive body, and shall be far richor
than those of any Legislative body in
all tho world. Instead of oak or pine
desks tho mcmbors arc to have ma.
hogany dosks; tho old cano-seat
chairs are to be replaced by substan.
tial ones Of mahogany and leather,
and tho frescoing will be gono over
A now parquetry floor will bo put ir
, and gorgeous now carpet laid.
Tho committee has decided upon
change in tho arrangement Of desks
which will greatly altor the appear
ance of the chamber and may not b,
viewed with favor by tho member
; until they got to tho now ordor o
things. Formely the desks wor