Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1907-01-30

The question of expansion faces our
congressman at Washington, and this
without going outside of the city it.
mind at rest for it is not an issue of
annexing more territory but has to
do with the annexing of the new con-
gressional buildings to the capitol
building. There has been in course of
construction for several years now
two new structures for use of the
members of the house of representa-
tives, and senators, and now the pro-
ject is on foot to extend the front of
the capitol building and connect these
two structures which stand on either
side. The material used would be
marble to match the face of the pres
ent capitol building and would make
of the capitol building a vast and
magnificent structure far beyond the
dreams Of the designers of the orig
;nal structure.
The two apartment buildings, as
they are called, for the house and
senate members, are splendid struc-
lures, and when completed will have
cost $2,500,000 apiece. They flank the
capitol on either side several hundred
feet distant, and this space it is pro-
posed to fill up by extending the CAPT.
tol structure itself.
These wings already are for the ex-
elusive use of congressman, and will
be devoted wholly to the personal con-
venience and comfort of their legis-
lative occupants, who will be sur
rounded by every imaginable luxury.
In effect, they will be huge hotels,
each of them occupying more ground
than the Waldorf-Astoria in New
York, though not so tall; and the din
ing rooms will be on a great scale and
very handsome-though guests will
be at liberty to have their meals serv-
ed in their rooms, by messengers on
the government payroll and in uni
form, if they so desire. Also, there
will be magnificent barber shops; and,
indeed, the only regular hotel feature
lacking will be bedrooms, all of the
apartments being intended for day.
time use merely-a fact which, never
theless, will not bar occupants from
utilizing their quarters for sleeping
purposes if they WISH
The two buildings. which are of
white marble, are exactly alike in re-
spect to their exterior, and will not
differ much so far as their interior is
concerned. Thanking the capitol at
either end, they form with the latter,
an harmonious architectural whole,
the great dome dominating the group
as the central feature. 1t would SUI
flee, then, to give description of one
in order to convey a satisfactory idea
of both-save for one or two differ
ences relating particularly to the num-
Der of rooms. In the southern flats
allotted to the lower house, there will
be 40 rooms-one for each represen-
tative. On the other hand, in the
northern flats the same amount of
space Comprising the whole of the
three floors) will be occupied by 80
apartments.
Now, at the present time there are
in the house 391 members and dele
gates; so that 10 rooms will be left
over for a future margin. In the sen.
ate there are $3.50 that quarters for
eight additional senators from possible
future states will be available. But,
it will be observed, the smaller mum.
Der of senators makes it practicable
to supply them with much more com
modious quarters; and, so, while each
representative will have only one
room, there will be for each senator
an apartment, in the proper sense OF
the word comprising a room for him.
self, a slightly smaller room for his
secretary, and bathroom.
These senatorial apartments, OF
course, will be very handsomely dec.
Grated and furnished A small army
of uniformed messengers will be al
hand to furnish the requisite service:
~Wr's~'|lrrs,~<lc.,~.Qnr..-r,q
HE SIMPLY HAD TO LIVE.