The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1909-12-01
WASHINGTON LETTER
Especial Correspondence

ASNuAA ~ J."
the opening of the second session OF
the Sixty-first congress they will find
many improvements both in the main
capitol itself and in the senate and
house office buildings. Elliott Woods,
superintendent of the capitol building
and grounds, has had a large corps of
workmen busy putting things into
shape for the lawmakers ever since
congress adjourned, and the work will
be continued right up to the opening
Of congress.
Tho New Office Buildings.
While the senate and house office
buildings had both been in use for
some time, they were not complete.
particularly their decorations. In the
senate office building the rooms were
bare, except for the handsome furni-
ture which had been installed; the cor
| ridor walls were blank and white, and
the approaches and entrances were
not finished. During the summer the
entrance nearest the capitol has been
completed, smooth sidewalks have
been laid along the front of the build
ing, the terraces have been completed
and turfed. and a senator may enter
his office now without getting covered
with dust.
The Senator'S Quarters.
The rooms, or, rather, suits of rooms,
allotted the senators have been paper
ed and painted according to the de-
sire of each individual senator when
he made such request. A large num-
Der of the senators left the decorating
Of their Offices to Mr.. Woods, relying
upon his good taste in the selection of
colors. But there are other more fas-
tidious senators who have ideas of
their own about the harmony in COL
ors, and these gave careful instruc-
lions to Mr.. Woods before they left
Washington about the decorations
which were to adorn their offices. A
general of their rooms shows
that light green predominates IN the
walls, with light blue and buff second
and third in preference. The rooms
were already furnished with hand
some rugs in many cases, and the wall
paper has been made to harmonic.
Changes at the Capitol.
In the capitol building itself there
are many repairs and improvements
under way, all of which will be fin
ished by December. Two new cleo
trio elevators are being installed in
the senate wing, n 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
trance to the senate wing. 1t has
been found necessary to install this
additional elevator because the sena-
tors wished the old public elevator to
carry them down to the subway lead
ing to the office building. The work
on the elevators is still going on and
will not be finished until just before
congress assemblies.
The Central Power Plant.
Work On the central power plant,
located neal Garfield park, which will
furnish the capitol, the senate and
house office buildings and the Congress
sional library with light, heat and
power, has progressed rapidly, and it
is hoped that this plant, which will be
by far the largest of its kind in Wash
ington, will be ready for use this win
ter. 1t has been the dream Of the
governmental economists to build a
central plant to furnish all the govern
ment buildings. from the White House
to the capitol, with heat and light,
and this new plant is the first result
of their plan.
White House Reforms.
When Mrs. Taft entered the White
House at the END of her summe vaca-
ton she found there many important
changes, in the planning of the most
significant Of which she was the guild
ing spirit. While the wife of the pres
ident has followed the advice Of her
physicians and refrained from formu-
1uNAlIS any ploSiaIu I'LL TIC SoAllllS
winter, her prompt Inauguration of
many reforms in the domestic como
my of the chief of American homes
has already borne fruit.
Mrs. Roosevelt, who brought with
her from New York a number of
white maids and nurses. drew a dis.
tinction between upper" and CLOVER
servants, the distinction running
through every relation in life below
stairs. Mrs. Taft has eliminated the
actual as well as the imaginary line
as to privileges, food or compensation
so that there are now no social dis
tinctions in the kitchen, and the same
consideration is shown for one set OF
workers as for another.
Servants on Equal Plane.
There are still two tables, the white
and black being served separately, bu'
the quality of the food is the same fol
both. Mrs. Taft is following the sam,
rule that has marked her h~OusekeeDin.