The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-03-07

Arthur 3. Shelton. clerk OF the Senate
Committee on Finance, is about the bust
est man at the Capitol these days.
The work Of assigning rooms in the new
office building at Delaware avenue and c
street began several days ago, and the
elder statesmen are now engaged in max
ing their 'heglra."
When 1t comes to selecting seats in the
Senate chamber or fling applications for
Office rooms. the Senators are as particu-
lar and anicI1y as schoolgirls Every
member must have a suitable" room.
and TO satisfy ninety-two applicants for
desirable apartment one has his hands
full
Bane of Chafrman's Life.
Not only does the location OF the suite
enter into the question, for he who must
distribute the offices has to arrange for
Furnishings and furniture. This is an
item that has been the bane Of many a
chairman of the Committee on Rules in
the past.
Another peculiar phase of this compli-
Gated situation that is facing Mr.. Shelton
is that the craftsmanship Of the Rules
Committee is still vacant. and whoever
that Senator is 10 be who would ordi-
narily face a difficult task, he will owe a
debt OF gratitude 10 the fates.
When Senator Knox announced his in
tention Of resigning from the Upper
House, various conjectures filled the air.
Who is 10 be his successor"
Many expressions OF sorrow were heard
for Senator's Nelson. Beveridge. and 9TH
ers who might get the thankless position.
Owing TO the process OF legislation. that
unfortunate chairman" has not yet been
appointed, and, therefore, Senator AIdrieh
and his secretary have borne the brunt Of
the Job temporarily.
1t is definitely asserted that Senator
Murray Crane. OF Massachusetts. is 70 be
made chairman Of the Committee on
Rules, but his assignment will not be con
hrmed until March Is, when Senator Hale
announces the list Of changes.
BY that time the reverend seigneurs"
will have been comfortably installed in
their palatial quarters. and Senator Crane
may sit back and survey the task
knowing that the Senate would adjourn
yesterday until March Is, and inasmuch
as many intend 10 leave washington for
a snort rest, the Senator'S fiocked into
Senator Aldrich's committee room. and
many and varied were the comments
made upon the room assignments given
them
Those who were satisfied with the loca-
ton Of the suite assigned TO them insisted
that their names be printed in heavy let
tiers on the diagram Of the floor spaces.
Others whose names were omitted, Il be-
Ing left 10 their discretion 10 choose the
rrrfad n ma nh
others who arrived late put up strenuous
objection.
New Senator's on Top Floor.
Most OF the new Senators will get quar-
ters on the fourth floor, while the veter-
ans have been given the corner rooms ad-
joining the important committee rooms,
Senator Burrows was one Of the late ar
rivals yesterday, and it was difficult for
him TO decide what he wanted 'Of
course the northern exposure would be
cool in summer, but then. you know. Il
would face the Union Station, with all its
noise and turmoil. he said
This was only one Of the many objec-
tons entered 10 Clerk Shelton. Senator
So-and-so has the room 1 had my eye
on" and I wonder would IL be possible
change my number upstairs" These were
other kicks.
Hurried trips were made across 70 the
building in the snowstorm by the dissatis-
Fed ones. and in several instances the
wetting failed 10 add 10 their good tenn
per.
Among the thirty Senators who have al
ready taken possession of their rooms
are Bradley, Johnson, BristOW, Johnston.
OF Alabama; Hughes, and Guggenhefm.
A number OF the senior Senators have
luxurious rooms in the Capitol, and Il Is
hardly possible they will relinquish these
10 accept quarters in the office building.
OF course. some suites viii be reserved
by the leaders OF the Senate for personal
purposes, because il viii be more private
for the transaction Of matters independ-
ent to legislative affairs.
According 20 advance notices from the
superintendent of the new building. the
furnishings viii be gorgeous. each mem
Der being allowed TO select the fittings Of
his room, and yards and yards OF the
finest carpet and silken hangings have
already been installed.
District Committee Room.
It is not known whether the Distric,
Committee viii be provided with a special
committee room for holding public hear
ings. The number Of these large ICONS
IS limited. and the following committees
have already filed for quarters: Finance,
Judiciary, Irrigation Foreign Relations
and Territories. The Monetary Commits
sion Will also be given a large chamber,
and the Waterways Commission IS to be
similarly cared for.
Vice President Sherman viii get room
numbered 344 BY similar coincidence,
those great friends, Senator'S Penrose
and L. Toilette, have been located IN ad-
joining rooms on the third floor
That the Senators viii not he affected
with that malady OF chills which be-
fell the Representatives who rushed into
their new building just as soon as the
doors were opened, Is a question that has
been carefully guarded against by Elliott
Woods. superintendent Of the Capitol
For the past four months be has had
the steam radiators going at fun speed.
and the walls are now thoroughly dried
out. a precautiOn that was not taken In
the House Office building.
But one general and unique objection is
made 10 the new structure, and that
comes from a quarter not mile distant
from the press gallery. Hereafter he
journalists viii have 10 run back and
forth across the streets 70 locate a Sena-
tor. and then run chances OF missing him
In the Shuttle. Formerly the lawmakers
were always within easy reach In the
Capitol.