Arizona republican., 1905-04-10
The Congressional Palace.


 without any fuss or noise, has provid- ed for the construction of a palace for the personal comfort of the members of the house of representatives. The dispatches announcing the passage of the bill attracted no attention. How different it would have been twenty years ago if all the political parties represented in congress had joined in taking five millions of dollars from the national treasury for the purpose of constructing a congressional club house! But every congressman needs an office, and why shouldn't your rich old Uncle Sam provide the accom- modations? We are indebted to the Washington correspondent of the Hartford Times for a description of the wonderful building which is soon to face the south side of the national capitol.
 In 1t there will be a sumptuous pri- vate apartment for every member Of the house of representatives and there are 3S6 of them. besides several dele gates, commissioners, etc, who have seats on the floor of the lower branch of congress. It is the custom now in the finest hotels to provide a bathroom with every sleeping room. and Uncle Sans new congressional hotel is to have ample bathrooms, we are told. Fronting a length of 476 feet on the capitol grounds, the facade of Uncle
 
 what official in appearance, but the interior will be as homelike as the Waldorf-Astoria itself Marble halls. Venetian stairways, mosaic floors, and the most luxurious furniture will be provided for the gentlemen from the backwoods, no less than the city men who happen to be chosen to congress. The great dining room in the north east corner is to be "one of the finest in the country" with the kitchen di- rectly above it, instead of below, so as to be free from odors. There is to be telephone in every room. a barber shop, and every feature of the up-to- date hotel. In the basement will be not only a special branch of the Wash ington city postoffice, but a railway station. made possible by the fact that the new subway of the Pennsylvania railroad passes close to the building under First street east.
 Like all first class American hotels there will be a splendid rotunda, or office. This will be decorated in bronze. marble and plaster There will also be a large assembly hall which can be used by members of both parties for caucuses. No less than twelve elevators scattered through this great structure Git will be nearly five hundred feet square) will save the na- tional lawmakers from ever going up or down stairs. We should not omit to mention the fact that in this build ing, which will be conducted like social club in some respects, there will be no rule forbidding the serving of wines and liquors in the restaurant This is the privilege accorded to all clubs and hotels, and Uncle Sam will not be eccentric in this matter.
 Of course it will take an army of attendants to care for this great car Gvansary. and these will be supplied "by the government" that is. the con- gressmen will vote the money for their own personal benefit. Theoretically rooms in this building are to be called offices. Really they will be, for most of the members, homes. Here the weary member may rest on his luxu- rious divan during a session of the house. knowing that he need not miss roll call, because at the summons of the electric bell he will be able to go to the house of representatives across the park before all the names on the list of members shall have been called. What more natural than that, after devoting many evening hours to writing letters to his constituents he should feel too weary to go elsewhere for a lodging, and should decide that he knew no more comfortable place to spend the night? Surely there will be no impending hotel porter or po- 1iceman to open his door and disturb his slumbers. Hereafter, obviously, 1t will be still less difficult to persuade Mark Smith to leave his law practice for exile at Washington on behalf of Smith and Statehood"
 This establishment is going to cost at least million dollars-probably a good deal more-and $1OO,OOO a year will not begin to pay the running ex- penses. It will be not only a comfort, the members, and it will enable the