The Washington herald., 1907-12-26

New members OF the House. and minor
ity members who have had no quarters
in the Capitol they could call their own,
are anxious TO get into the new House
Office building, allotments Of space for
which will probably be drawn for on
January 9.
But among the members Of the big
committees there is a determined re-
sistance against being uprooted from
long used and convenient quarters. and
the matter has not yet been entirely set
tied by the committee in charge Of the
new quarters, OF which Mr. Mann. Of
Chicago. is chairman
For long time there has been talk of
giving to the Speaker the rooms now oc-
cupied by the Ways and Means Commit
tee when the new building was completed,
but the members Of the Ways and Means
Committee think they would rather be
on the House floor. where they can drop
IN and out at will and without wasting
several minutes time. Then there has
been talk of fencing of part of the lobby
back Of the Speakers room and giving
him more room. and there has been talk
OF providing more space closer TO the
Chamber for the minority leader. who is
now on the third floor. half the length OF
j the building from the House
Too Far Away, They Say.
But all these plans seem TO be going
awry, because the committeeman do not
want 20 move. It's a nice, new build
ing. and all that" they say, but so far
from the House floor; so why not stay
here?"
According 10 present plans. rooms in
the new edifce. which contains one room
for each Representative. and for fourteen
of the big committees VIII be apportion-
ed on January 9. after the recess. The
present plan is for the the drawing
Of lots IN the same way seats are now
given out each member to retain his
quarters as long as he is in Congress.
providing he cannot make a trade, aud
the rooms 10 be chosen from point OF
seniority after that
The big building, which is bounded by
b, c. First streets and New Jersey ave
nue. southeast. has a total frontage Of
LIZ feet 6 inches, and is built about a
hollow square averaging 800 feet in dame
ter. On the B street side IL shows three
stories above ground. harmonizng with
the Capitol, Library. and new Senate
Office building while on G street. owing
to the rapid sloping Of the ground. it is
five stories high.
Entrance for Trucks.
On the c street side is a truck entrance.
and practically all the supplies for the
Capitol will be taken in there. hauled to
the tunnel at the northwest corner Of
the building, and shot through into the
Capitol basement.
An told the big building will have cost
$4,000 when completed which will not
be for some time yet, for the rooms on
the p street side have not been finished.
and there Is still much masonry work TO
be done in the rotUnda and main stair
ways.
The first excavation was commenced on
the site on July Is. 1904; the first concrete
foundations were laid April u, 1905, and
the last exterior stone was set at $50
p. m November last In its construc-
ton l6,l50000 bricks were used. Il .5O7 bar
rels Of cement. 2.s4S tons OF steel. 142. .0A
square feet Of copper. (for the rooO. and
there IS a total OF 1,546 windows and doors
in the building.
Everything is arranged for convenience
but as it will stand when the members
are first quartered there. nothing will in
dicate any extravaganza in the way of
furnishings. The Office rooms are ar
ranged in double row. with a corridor
twelve feet wide between them on the
first, second. third. and fourth floors.
Offices of Good Size.
Each Office room is 231z feet deep by Is
feet wide. and there are 397 OF thenl-one
more than there are now members of the
House. Each room is fioored with cement
as are the corridors. and the walls are
done in bun plaster. with what is known
as sand finish. The baseboards and a
small picture molding Of wood are painted
white, while the doors are vanished ma
hogany. In each one Of these rooms the
government will place for the use Of the
new member who doesn't want to pay
Office rent down town the following
equipment: one Representatives. mahog-
any roll-top desk for the Representative.
and another, with a typewriter desk
equipment. for his secretary. with chairs
TO match; mahogany table, Of the STYLE
so common in committee rooms: one deep.
comfortable leather-Upholstered chair.
mahogany combination filing case and
cabinet. and four stTaight-back mahogany
chairs. also upholstered In leather On
the floor VII he placed an American
made rug, and there will be curtains
waste-basket and the other Accessories
necessary for an Office.
Fine Electrical Equipment.
The electrical equipment in the buiIding
is probably without superior in the coun-
Try. To begin with, each room will be
placed on four circuits. so there will be no
danger Of the Representative ever being
plunged into darkness when he Is hard
at work for his constituents. These wires
are all carried in what is known as the
heat fue, to distinguish II from the ventI-
lation fue, so repairs may be made ar any
time without disturbing the occupauts
There are two chandeliers. a bracket over
the marble washstand and one over the
telephone. Then there are four plugs,
in the DASHBOARD. so no matter where The
furniture is placed the Representati,,a
may put in desk lamp.
Then there are about 200 nusb b,t-
tons Ia the building. with which the mem
Der may summon various kinds of ar
tendants. In each room also there will
be an electric clock. connected with a
parent timepiece. and ali regulated bv
the custodian of the building. This IS
the biggest system OF its kind in the
world.
Careful of Temperature.
The heat fiue will bring into the room
huge volumes Of air warmed TO lust the
right temperature. To avoid drafts. and
to counteract the effect Of the broad
nlafa-glasS Windows IN oo,1 ,.,