Omaha daily bee., 1909-11-09

chalrmen Of committees were forced TO hire
their own offices. 1t was in response to
this demand for more space that the two
new office buildings were authorized. When
congress meets next month it will find both
OF these buildings practically completed,
although the house has been using its
building for two years and the senate
building was occupied last winter. These
two buildings. standing northeast and
southeast Of the capitol and between the
capitol and the library, are constructed OF
white marble. The four legislative build
ines. taken together with the Union sta
ton, form on capitol hill, in Washington,
the most imposing group of modern build
inEs in the world.
Each office building affords a private Of
flee for each member of the respective
houses. and each building is connected with
the capitol by IA subway. There Is some
rivalry between the senate and house as
to the attractions of their particular buill-
ing. 1t must be conceded that the senate
building is more magnificently furnished
and decorated. The house has a system Of
shower baths. The senate countered with
a complete Turkish bath outfit, and now
the house is about to get even by the in
staIIation OF a huge swimming pool. The
capitol has two restaurants, one in each
wing, and each office build shelters a com
Portable cafe.
The striking beauty Of the white marble
office buildings has accumulated the dingy
gray of the sandstone with which the
capitol is built. II is probable that some
time within the next twenty years the
recommendations Of superintendent Elliot
NJ. LII - 81 ,DNaT aud the ranifDl
building will be resurfaced with white mar
BILE. The sandstone is dark and dlsin-
tegrates rapidly in the Washington climate.
The capitol, while holding its proper domi-
nation of the architectural group in respect
to it's size and the beauty Of its lines,
leaves much to be desired in the charac-
ter of it's finishing material. with the
central portico extended to correspond with
the two wings. and with the entire building
clothed in immaculate white, the capitol
would indeed be an edifice worthy Of the
great nation for which it stands.
The new heating plant which has jus;
been placed in commission is, perhaps, the
most complete in existence. 1t was built
at a cost OF $3.50, coo, and it supplies heat
and light for the capitol, the two office
buildings n the library. 1t is situated
half a mile away. The heat is conveyed
to the buildings through non-radiating con
duits. There is also an arrangement for
providing cold air in the summer. The
British Parliament has been far ahead OF
the American congress in this respect
Both in London and Washington the build.
ings have beeen heated by hot air. In hot
weather, however, the American congress
has sweltered, while the English legisla.
ture has been cooled by air driven through
Ice chambers. During foggy weather tbs
British Parliament takes its air filtered
through many layers Of absorbent cotton
Another Improvement, also following
British precedent. will be made in tn,
house wing of the capitol at the expiration
OF the coming session. The house of rep
resentatives' chamber is situated in tn.
center Of the wing, has no direct communt
cation with the outside air, and has defie'
the efforts of fifty years to provide al
adequate system Of ventilation. Further
more, it is a very large chamber, and 1
has been impossible for a member to max
himself heard without shouting. Eacl
member now has a desk before his chair
and the presence Of this c~onvenienc
tempts men to read and write, rather thai
to listen. thus hampering the expedition
of the public business. Now that eacI
member has been provided with a com
modious private office, there is no longe
any excuse for the desks. Therefore. tn
coming reform, The chamber Of the nous
of representatives will be removed to tn
east end Of the house wing, and it will b
cut down TO less than half its presen
size and the desks will be eliminated.
The capitol and the other buildings pro
vided for the use of congress compose tn
most magnificent and expensive legislativ
plant in the world, yet no man can sl
that congress has been unduly ~eXtrevagan
in providing for these great buildings. Tn
United States is the richest nation in tn
world, and it is the largest both in popula
ton and area of any nation governed by
parliament. The American who visit
Washington and looks upon these symbol
of national power and national authorit
goes home with q deepened patriotism an
a more adequate idea of the greatness o
the American people.
BY Frederic ]. HaskIn;
Edwards birthday