Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-11-24
CAPITOL IMPROVEMENTS.
What the Members Will See wne"
Congress Reopens.

~~ra,. co,veneS next month Senators
80 REPRESENTATIVES, will find the Capt.
toll as modern and clean anu d'ti"
tive as extensive Improvements ana
the liberal application OF soap ana
naint can make it. In order TO make
,ho annual summer housekeeping OF
tho bie white building an artistic as
we'll as a material success it has been
necessary to employ. in addition 10
those regularly on the rolls, large
force Of decorators, mechanics and Ia
1orers whose efforts. under the direc-
ron Of Elliott Woods, superintendent
ri the Capitol, have resulted in making
the winter quarters OF Congress as
spic and span as even the most fas-
r,dious member of the national legisla-
1ure could desire.
One problem which taxed to the ut
most the ingenuity of Mr.. Woods was
a quick lunch" proposition. not alone
calculated to meet the democratic taste
OF the ordinary mortal, but designed
also to satisfy the more finical ana eN-
pensive ideas of the members OF tht
House of REPRESENTATIVES. Under the
rehabilitation and Encouragement Vi
The House restaurant, it is believed
that both the service ana the Io"d
be vastly improved. and II Is conn
IDENTIFY predicted that a patron VIII De
anil. hereafter to have his order filled
on the same day that it IS maze WIN
out the customary tip IN advance VI
presenting to the waiter s""i II
AFFIDAVIT that the victim VIII, AFTER the
ordeal is over. reimburse him for MS
time and trouble.
When the House decided at the last
session that there should be chahse
in the manner and method of conduct
ing the House restaurant, the COM
,nittee on Accounts was directed TO de-
wise something definite in the way OF
reform and to suggest a scheme 1or
h.tterment. The result of its delib-
,.rations was embodied In the following
report:
For some time past, or during inc
present Congress, at least, 1t mas petfi
manifest that the House RESTAURANT
has not been conducted Satisfactorily
10 it's patrons or it's manager
The restaurant or luncheon rooms.
being primarily for the convenience Oh
members and employees the House'
should be conducted to their sAlSfac-
ZION as nearly as possible without rel
,rence to the other patrons, and at the
same tirae be protitable'to its manager.
This we find to be impossible by the
methods now in vogue, because 'ie
losses sustained on account oil PERISH
able food and on account or wages pau
TO cooks and walters on dull as wen as
busy days render it lmpracticaple u
conduct the business with the success
that encourages proper maintenance
The manager of the restaurant claims
10 have lost during the present session
IF Congress about $4,000, and we nave
reason to believe that he has suffered
come loss. Deterioration in food anC
service resulted. and has been fnors
noticeable with the decline In patron
age during the present Congress. hu
by the elimination Of the elaborate MI
Of fare and by the adoption of the SIM
oler plan of luncheon rooms. such II:
are found in the business centres of GU
large cities. our inquiry leads us e
believe that If the rooms now ustd h1
he House restaurant are always u
make them conform to the require
ments of modern luncheon rooms I'M
members of the House would ma I'M
charges fully in accordance with thei'
desires and real necessities, ana AT th'
same time that the manager. relieved
Of losses on account of pcrishable foo'
and unprodurtive labor. would un
doubleday he able to conduct the bust
ness proItahly.
The Committee on Accounts opposed
with considerable emphasis PROPOSE
ton that the House of Representa-
government employe appointed for thu
nurpose. remarkiug that your com
mit,ee is unanimously and most EN-
phatically opposed to the House engas
ing in the restaurant business. and VI
further believe that If the iuncheoi
rooms such as we have Suggested
cannot be run with any greater degree
Of satisfaction to the House than
present. or with profit to their man
urer. their doors would better d.
closed altogether
Superintendent Woods soon after thf
adjournment began careful study ol
the luncheon problem. and. with the
assistance of Mr.. Coffin. the manager
~ rhc House restaurant. designed ano
perfected improvements which they
are convinced will meet the require
ments Of the hungry legislators and
visitors at the Capitol great arch
way has been cut in the wall between
what were formerly tine two separate
dining rooms. and a steam table in the
centre will afford excellent facilities for
promptly feeding the hungry in al
rarts of the restaurant. Besides this
the hill Of fare will be much less Ella
borate. and it is the present intention
to have all the dishes enumerated or
the bill Of fare ready to serve imme
diately. beginning at noon, thus doint
away with the long delays incident up
on the preparation OF special orders
A number of small tables will be in
stalled. and there will be providet
many little modern conveniences abou
the room where members in hurr,
can help themselves. new feature
which is expected 20 prove eminentl,
satisfactory is the construction Of :
number Of private dining rooms. 1t l:
realized that parties of members are
oftentimes anxious to discuss private
matters while at luncheon. This priv
lege has been prevented by the public
character of the restaurant. No ex
pense has been spared in making thu
remodelled eating place as nearly idea