The Washington herald., 1909-02-21

The reconstruction OF the hall OF the
House Of Representatives is directed in
resolution reported to the House yester-
day by Representative Mccall. of Massa-
chUsetts. chairman OF the Committee on
Library.
The work is 20 be done under the super
vision Of the superintendent OF the Cap
itoi, in accordance with the plan sub
mitted by him some time ago. and win
cost, approximately. SS50Oo0. Under the
new plan the seating arrangements win
be changed completely.
The report OF Superintendent Elliott
Woods. OF the Capitol building and
grounds. was submitted by Mr. Mccall.
and explained in detail the proposed
scheme.
Three schemes. designated as A. B. and
c, are included in the report, but the
committee decided upon the second. This
plans the Encouragement by making the
room smaller and moving It south. The
hall IN the rear OF the Speakers desk
viii be done away with, leaving only the
lobby used by the members. The hall VIII
be rectangular In shape. but will be
much smaller than the present chamber.
The seats viii be arranged in circular
rows, similar TO the present plan. but the
desks viii be removed. thereby drawing
the seats closer together and saving a lot
OF space
Individual Seats.
Individual seats will be used. and writ
ing desks. large enough 10 hold several
volumes. or for the ordinary use OF men,
bers.
In making his report. Mr.. Mccall said
his committee had spent considerable
time considering the three schemes sub
mltted by Supt Woods. but that IT finally
was agreed TO retain the rectangular hall.
one Of the plans OF Mr. Woods was for
"A hemicycle. similar 10 Statuary Han.
but this plan was not approved, 1t being
considered unUise 10 have two hemi-
cycles so close together.
The poor acoustic properties Of the
present chamber was called 70 the atten-
ton OF the Representatives by Mr. Nc
Call. He said that it was believed that
this would be changed in the proposed
plan. He quoted from Ambassador Bryce
and President Woodrow Wilson. Of
Princeton University. who both said It
was practically impossible 20 have intelli-
gent debate because OF the large amount
Of space wasted.
The resolution viii be called up some
time next week. and members OF the com
mittee believe II viii be passed.
CriticiseS Present Plan.
In writing of the present plan Of the
hail. Ambassador Bryce said:
1T is more than thrice as large as the
English House OF Commons. with a floor
about equal in area 20 that Of West
minister HsI-lSs feet long by GO feet wide
and s. feet high The proportions are 50
good that IL is not until you observe
how small a man looks at the farther
end, and how faint ordinary voices sound.
that you realize its vast size.
When you enter. your first impression
IS Of noise and turmoil. e noise ike that
Of short, sharp waves in a Highland
Loeb, fretting under a squall against
rocky shore The rising and dropping Of
desk Ids. the clsping OF hands to call
the pages-keen little boys. who race
along the EangWays-the patterinE OF
many feet. the hum OF talking on the
floor and in the galleries. make I'D a din
taps Of his hammer, or the orators strain
ing shrilI throats. find Il hard 10 make
themselves heard.
Voices Harsh.
7 never heard American voices sound
50 harsh or disagreeable as they do here.
Nor IS it only the noise that gives The
impression Of disorder Often three OF
four members are on their feet al once.
each shouting 10 catch the Speakers
attention Less favorable conditions for
oratcry cannot be imagined, and one $
noc surprised 20 be told that debate was
much more animated and practical in the
much smaller room which the House for
merly occupied
Not only is the present room so big
that only a powerful and Well-trained
voice can Ill Il. but the desks and chairs
make speaker feel as If he were ad-
dressing furniture rather than men. while
few Of the members seem 10 listen 10 the
speeches.
1T is true that they sit in the House
instead Of running out into the lobbies
as people do in the British House Of
Commons. but they are more occupied
In talking or writing. or reading news
papers than in attending TO the debate.
To attend is not easy. for only a shrill
voice can overcome the murmurous roar.
and one sometime finds the newspapers.
IN describing an unusually effective speech.
observe that Mr. SO-and-so's speech drew
listeners from all parts OF the House.