The French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1896-1912, 1906-09-20

w. AASAChS All G1l0 CHdI-
lotte Observer.
\ glimpse at the luxuries generous
~ furnished to themselves by Con-
sressmen out of the peoples funds
may explain why Congressman are
;" anxious to retain their jobs. which
pay them only $1,000 a year., and
demand nearly as much in order to
secure reelection They receive
more than $1,000, when comfort and
luxury r considered. In no coun-
Try IN the. world is the legislative
body housed with such imperial dis
regard of expense. Congress is not
satisfied with the Accommodations that
served for nearly a century, and is
building two marble palaces adjacent
to the Capitol, where prodigal ex-
penSe is used to add TO
the bodily comfort of the lawmak-
arS.
Each of these palaces will cost
about $7,OOO,000 furnished. The fur
nlture has not yet been selected. but.
1t VIII be OF the finest and richest des-
eruption. The buildings are of the.
most ornate and lasting construction.
butt largely by day labor under the
direction of the superintendent of
the Capitol, who has every incentive
TO please his only masters, the Sen
ate and House. These great expen-
dltures are made by Congress with
out regard to other branches of the
government. The President, for ex-
ample, has nothing to say for or
against the expense and could not
stop 1t If he would. If Congress saw
lit to make the pillars of these pal
aces OF Jasper and chalcedony, there
W"uld be no n to say it nay. Under
the circumstances it is perhaps in
order to stand aghast at the modera-
ton of men who have the United
states Treasury at their disposal.
Old Capital Not Bad.
Until the new buildings are ready.
congressman and Senators must
struggle along under the hardships
OF life under the DOME" as the
Capitol IS sometimes described. Of
course, there is no comparison be-
tween present conditions and those
which will prevail when the palaces
OF legislation have been completed
and stored with their treasures of
1,erSlan rugs, marble baths, statues.
frosted globes, fountains, mural
paintings, mahogany desks, feather
touches, velvet carpets, and so on.
But public men manage to extract a
little comfort from their present sur
roundlngs, after all, assisted as they
are by an army Of flunkies and q
force OF workmen who are forever |
altering, repairing and improving
the ancint Capitol.
The Congressman from POdunk. or |
Smiths Crossroads, is a little taken
aback when he first. experiences the
pleasure of life under the dome. This
Is because he was not fully "onto the
ropes" After he is sworn in. he is
m4shty>apt In Tearing all about the
perqulsltes. He discovers that the
stationery Aaom is open and hat
bea1ttfm Christmas gifts NAV be par
chased there for a trihe. He finds a
credit of 1925 at this place.l ready TO
be blown In. He is obsequiously ad-
dressed by old, diplomatic servitors.
VINO take his overcoat and hat and
show hlm the way to the barber shop.
There expert BARRIERS greet him cor
daily, shave him, cut his rustic locks.
give him an electric shampoo and a
massage and hand him over to. the
keeperof the baths.
Revel in Marble Baths.
These baths are the joy of a Con-
gresham serving his first term. Hell
frequents them oftener than he ever
daliIed with the tub and tea kettle
n the old home kitchen of a Satur-
lay night. He finds the same kind
Id servants ready to help him.. He
assisted in divesting himself of
5 garments, and his faithful help
an old darkey who is, carried on
b roHs as a "laborer'-wraps him
Ia big, creamy Turkish towel. He
Feeds along the warm marble floor
1.-THE gigantic basin called a bath
q It is a solid block of whitest
mbie, yoluptiously carved into a
oa and fitted with cleaning silver
fasts, through which gushes filter
edit OF cold water. The attendant
loo after the water supply, produces
a bh cake of expensive soap for
thePther and proceeds to initiate
him
III
man from Podunk never ex-
period a bath like that before. He
eiosRis eyes and imagines he is
lord a harem in Stamboul. The
GROW gurgle of the water, the ex-
PeFtsanipulation nfthe attendant.
Inc St of altar of roses, and the
SOFT light of fluffy blankets and
'0weh a downy couch hull him to
sleep.le is never disturbed He ;s