Omaha daily bee., 1909-10-11

already furnished with handsome rugs in
many cases, and the wall paper has been
made to harmonic with these rugs.
In the house building the rotunda has
been painted, the rooms and corridors
have been improved and the entire build
Ing has a more finished appearance than
IL did last spring.
In the capitol building itself, reports
the Washington Post, there are many
repairs and Improvement under way,
all Of which will be finished by Decem-
Der. Two new electric elevators are being
installed~in the senate wing, one to replace
the old hydraulic lift which was designated
for the exclusive use of the supreme court
and the members Of congress, and the other
an entirely new elevator, which will be
used by the public. This new elevator is
situated just opposite the old public eleva-
tor at the east entrance of the senate wing.
II mas been found necessary to install this
additional elevator because the senators
wished the old public elevator to carry
them down to the subway leading to the
office building. The WORK on the elevators
Is still going on and will not be finished
until just before congress assemblies.
The senate restaurant in the main build
Ing, long a musty and overerowded place In
which to eat, has been thoroughly over
hauled' The private dining room for sena-
tors has been enlarged, and so has the
public dining room, although on a smaller
SCALE New decorations and new furniture
will. 1t is said, help the senator's to enjoy
their luncheons more than they have in
the past
several Of the committee rooms In the
main building have been painted and deco
rated, including those of the committees on
judiciary, public buildings and grounds, and
irrigation. The redecorating of the COM
mittee rooms in the senate end of the
capitol, however, is a usual summer task
for the superintendent. New chairmen take
command of some of the committees each
year, and 1t is a safe bet thai in nine cases
out OF ten they will not be pleased with
the scheme Of decoration worked out by
their predecessors, so their rooms have to
be done over for them, no matter IL these
same rooms have been newly decorated,
painted and papered only a few months be.
fore. 1t costs money to appease the appe-
lite of the senators for red or blue or yellow
as the case may be, but the expense OF
these improvements are never a subject for
inVective In the house when economy holds
the floor, because it's an unwritten law
that each house shall take care Of its own
expenses.
President Taft's abiding interest in the
welfare Of those people under the American
Rag In the far east led him to consent
with alacrity when the architects and deco
rators suggested that the Philippines could
furnish tasteful wood for the decoration OF
his office in the White House. The parouet
floor is to be of Tuscan-CaIoa wood. a dark
green wood which is grown in the islands
The furniture for the presidents office and
for his new private room will be covered
with the hide of the carabao, or white
buffalo, imported from the Philippines.
Especial attention has been given the
decorations and furnishings OF the presI-
dents office and private room. The walls
OF the former, an oval shaped room. re-
sembling the Blue room in the White
House, are to be gray-green, with metallic
erect. over a cream enamel low wainscot
around the room will be an embroidery of
stars and stripes In gray-green and gold
The treatment OF the window draperIes
Will show originality as well as marked
fitness for their surroundings While this
room will be somewhat formal. IT is ex-
pected that its general appearance will an
peal TO the official and unofficial visitor
alike as an office in every way b%efittins
the dignity OF the chief executive.
The presidents private room, which ad-
Joins his office, is an apartment Of much
smaller dimensions. 1t is to be used. as
It's name indicates, for semi-prlvate con-
ferences. The tone will be rose red. The
furniture will be somewhat Of the %lounglns
type, and in that respect will differ mater
tally from that of the presidents office.
which, though comfortable. will be smart
and businesslike, A rug, darker than that
Of the walls and draperies, will cover the
floor.
The furniture Of the old cabinet room
will be transferred to the new hamber
In place Of the dark, sombre green which
obtained in the old quarters, a wall COW
ering and draperies Of a light golden tone
will take its place and give the room a
much more cheerful appearance. A rug
Of the same tone will contribute toward
making this council chamber a lit place
for its distinguished occupants.
The office Of Secretary Carpenter will he
quite spacious. Its walls and draperies are
to be a soft mellow green, with metallic
effect, The rug will have a dark red
ground, with the wall tone picked out In
the border. Mr.. Carpenter will use the fur
niture from his former office, which is