St. Tammany farmer., 1909-05-15

Wall represent when completed cost
close to $3,000;000, not only will pro-
vide suites of offices for each of the
80 senators now in office, but has am
pie surplus space to provide similar
working quarters for wearers of the
toga who will represent geographical
divisions that now are territories, but
which in time will be admitted to
statehood.
The new senate Office building is
the most luxurious, but is not the
largest Office building in the world.
The palm for size belongs to the new
| office building for members of the
house of representatives, which was
completed something more than a
year ago, and which is south of the
capitol in the same relative position
that the new senate structure occu-
pies north of the capitol, thus bal
ancing, in an architectural sense, this
grouping Of noteworthy buildings.
The new senate building being be-
tween the capitol and the new Union
station is almost the first object seen
by the visitor to Washington emerg.
ing from the new $20,00O,0OO railroad
terminal.
Not only in general design but in
architectural detail and in the struc-
cural mediums employed, the new sem
ate office building is identical with
the working quarters provided for the
representatives. A person looking at
the two wide-spreading marble build
ings from the steps of the capitol
would pronounce them twin struc-
lures in every respect. AS a matter
of fact, however, the house building
is fully one-fourth larger, being built
around four sides of square, whereas
the senate building is built on three
sides Of square, the fourth side be-
ing open.
Obviously more space is required
to provide private Offices for the rep
resentatives, upward of 400 in number,
than for the senators, who muster
less than 100 all told. However, the
difference in aggregate area is not
nearly so great as it would be did the
two classes of lawmakers fare alike
in the matter of accommodations.
Each representative has assigned for
his individual use a single spacious
room, with desks for himself and his
secretary or clerk Each senator, on
the other hand, has a suite of two
rooms and 1avatory. There is a large
office for each senator, whereas the
second room in each suite, designed
for the use of the senator's secretary.
is slightly smaller, and located be-
tween these connecting rooms are
coat rooms and lavatory.
The appointments of the new sem
ate Office building represent the
highest refnments of luxurious sim
plicity. All the rooms are finished in
mahogany, toned with acids to give
the richer effects which otherwise
could be gained only by the mellowing
influence of time. The doors and
woodwork in general are of Honduras
mahogany, stained to a rich red
brown, while the furniture is of Afri-
can mahogany, naturally darker
wood, stained to soft, warm red.
All of the furniture has been designed
specially, being heavy. simple and dig
nified with little carving. In each of
the senatorial Offices there is marble
mantel above which is a large mirror
in heavy gold frame. On the man
tel is pair of electric candlesticks,
which, like the central electrolier and
the six brackets or wall lights are of
special designs in old silver. Each
office has its telephone, electric fan
and other conyeniences, and in addi-
ton to an up-to-date restaurant there
are in the building baths, barber shop
and all the other essentials of the
modern masculine community, suf-
fcient unto itself.