Gainesville daily sun. (Gainesville, Fla.) 190?-1938, 1908-09-24

Congress- convenes Ia December the
two magnificent Office buildings de-
signed for the use Of the members
VIII have been completed The oiisces
of the Representatives were III fact
used last spring, but the Senate ON
ces begun a year later were not ready
FOR occupancy. and the Senators will
have their FIRST experience la them
this winter. The latter Office build
Ing lies to the north OF the Capitol
and is connected with Il BY an under
ground passage It Is a beautiful
white marble building which win cost
the Government four millions of dol
lars. II viii have every modern con-
venience Of Az ONCE building. The
Interior IA finished In marble and ma
hogany, and while the ofhces Win be
elegantly furnished. the general effect
will be severe, rather than luxurious
For many years there has been much
complaint about the crowded quarters
allowed the Senators In the Capitol.
Senator Guggenheim Of Colorado, who
is rich enough 70 puy the Capitol II
1t were on the market, had two little
dark rooms ia the basement last win.
ter They were the ones vacated by
Senator Clark OF Montana, who was
the richest man who ever sat IN the
Senate, OF course older snd ADLER
Senators Jared better. and among
these there are not a few who are
grumbllng about leaving the old and
convenient quarters IN the Capitol,
They protest that they win be farther
from their work and more inaccessible
TO their constituents. Others who
have been housed IN an old brick
building originally erected for ho-
eel across the street from the Capitol
are delighted at the prospect OF
change The senate as whole, o.
ten spoken or AS the "miliionaire's
club" Ia not such pampered, luxury
loving body as II Il often represented
70 be. The majority Of the men are
there for work. and about all they
demand IN an Office lie light and air
and desk. II would not do to furn-
ish them common oak furniture. but
II a vote were,t taken It would probably
develop an agreement Of opinion that
Il Is as hard to write a speech on a
magohany desk as on pine table
As for that, the offices are plain IN
spite Of their richness, and Il Is only
IN she rotunda and some Of the au
dlencc rooms that there Is any con,
splcuous decoration The House Of
Representatives Offices on. the oppo.
site Of the square In front Of the
Capitol are also grouped in a splendid
white marble building. and as that
body h 20 much larger than the SEN
ate the building Is erected on All four
sidcs Of a court, instead OF on three
sldns only. as Is the case with the
senste Offices. Some Of the readers
of this letter perhaps had occasion
ten or twelve years ago 70 look up
the member from his district II 50,
ne win remember the small corner
SET aside IN the reception hall for
thls purpose. II was marked on from
tho rest OF the chamber simply BY
the backs OF the sofas which furnished
Il There were two or three tables IN
A. When n member Of the House
received card he came to this cor.
ner, and the visitor stood IA the pres.
cnce Of al the other visitors and re.
lated why he had come The contrast
between this and the new quarters,
though Il has been modified By some
years occupancy. % reception rooms
In the Capitol building. IL neverthe.
less very conspicuous both 20 mem
bers % congress and % their visitors.
During the last week Of September
and che firat week IN October four
conventions o. national and interna.
ti0nal Importance will be held m
Washington. As an important con.
venilou here y the occasion Tor not
only convention work but for much
sightscelng and extensive entertain.
ing Il viii be realised what q busy
gormlshs the Capitol win have Already
and for many weeks pas, preparations
have been IN proercss for ne lnterna-
tloaal Congress on tuberculosis
whose sessions begin september 2Sgh
and last until October Sth pis