Omaha daily bee., 1902-05-14
BITS OF WASHINGTON LIFE.
Moving Scenes and Incidents sketched
on the spot.

MOvfnE Scenes and Incidents Sketched
on the spot.
In history and romantic fiction the baths
of ancient Rome are pictured as the high
est achievement of art and skill, which
modern sanitary science and the plumbing
craft have been unable to reproduce. But
history is prone to drawing the long bow
and that exercise constitutes the chief
charm OF fiction. Even granting ancient
Rome pre-emlnenee in the bath line, its
days of glory are numbered. and In a few
weeks the baths of the American capitol,
built by and for the patricians OF congress-,
will max the Roman article look like three
worn dimes.
The new baths take up a goodly amount
Of space in the sub-basement Of the capt.
toll. They are a time-honored institution
and are maintained at the governments ex-
pense for the members. Care, however,
has been taken not to give undue promi-
nence to the fact that the taxpayers pro-
vide sumptuous baths where their repre-
sentatives can go and recover from the
effects Of state dinners or wilder dissipation
without more interruption than is abso-
lutely necessary from their official duties.
The house baths are particularly luxurious.
The halls are carpeted with velvet which
makes the floor covering Of the committee
rooms appear like burlap by comparison.
The tubs are heavy porcelain, the plumbing
is silver-plated and all the other furnish
ings are in keeping with this elegance. The
attendants are said to be the most expert
In the country and, while they are not car
ried on the pay roll as "rubbere," mas
seurs, chiropodists and manlcures. theirs
is the work Of those specialists, Just the
same.
At present on the house side a marble
bath tub Is being Installed that Is marvel
GUS in its elegance. The stone from which
1t was hewn was imported from Italy. The
tub was followed out by hand and its
interior has been polished until 1t shines
like a mirror. 1t is said to have cost over
81, 900. This marble tub is placed in a
room which has a wainscoting Of Italian
marble. The plumbing appliances are
said to be the finest ever placed on a bath
tub In this country.
Senators Teller and Plat of Connecticut
were in the lobby discussing the opening Of
certain Indian lands to settlement, relates
the Washington Post. They disagreed as
to the value Of the lands.
Ibid you ever see these lands which the
government proposes to buy?" asked Sen
ator Teller.
mo-" said Senator Plat.
Have you ever been west?" persisted
Senator Teller.
Mr.. Platt's answer was not very positive.
He had been west, he said-"that is," he
added. part OF the way west"
you remind me-" said Teller, "of the
woman who lived In Portland, Me. Some
one asked her II she had ever Travelled
west. oh, yes.' she promptly answered; I
have been to Boston"
Since the warm weather began there has
been a startling array OF brilliant waist
coats in the senate, when the average age
Of the members Of that body Is. considered,
together with the somber dignity which
they are wont to sustain. The other day
Mr.. Harris Of Kansas, populist and 81 years
old, took his seat and threw his coat open,
revealing a pale-blue creation embellished
with old-gold stars embroidered In silk.
Mr.. Allison OF Iowa, the same day, wore a
yellow waistcoat Of such a brilliant hue that
it would feaEe the ordinary young man who
had just passed his majority. Mr.. Allison
is 70 years old, but he carries his age
lightly. Senator Pettus displayed beneath
his long froek coat a glimpse of red and
blue checks on a brown background that
carried one In imagination out to the race
track. Senator Fairbanks Of Indiana, who
usually presents a funereal appearance, got