The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1909-11-18
WASHINGTON LETTER
Especial Correspondence.l

Especial Correspondence
When senators and representatives
return TO Washington In December for
the opening OF the second session Of
the Sixty-hrst congress they Will ind
many improvements both In the main
capitol itself and In the senaie and
house Office buildings. Elliott Woods.
superintendent of the capitol building
and grounds. has had large corps OF
workmen busy putting things into
shape for the lawmakers ever since
congress adjourned aud the work will
be continued right up to the opening
OF congress.
The 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 furnl.
turo which had been Installed. the cor
rdor walls were banknnd white. and
the approaches and entrances were
not finished. During the summer the
entrance nearest the capitol has been
completed. smooth sidewalks have
Aeon laid along the front of the build
Ing. the terraces have been completed
aud turfcd. aud n senator may enter
his office now without getting covered
with dust
The Senators Quarters.
The rooms. or. rather. suits OF rooms,
allotted the senators have been paper
cd aud painted according 10 the de-
sire of each individual senator when
he made such request. 4 large NUM-
Der Of the senators left the decorating
Of their Offices to Mr. Woods. relying
upon his good taste I'm the selection nf
colors. But there are other more fas'
iIdIOus senators who have ideas ot
their own about the harmony IN col
ors. and these gave careful inSiruc-
tions TO Mr.. Woods before they left
Washington about the decorations
which were to adorn their offices. \
general canvass Of their rooms shows
that light green predominates on the
walls, with light blue and bun 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 lin.
ished by December. Two new elec-
trio elevators are being Installed I'm
the senate wing. one TO replace the o !
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 elevator. at the east en-
trance TO the senate wing. ut has
been found necessary 10 Install this
additional elevator because the sena-
tors wished the old public elevator o
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 near Garfield park, which will
furnish the capitol, the senate ana
house Office buildings and the Congress
sional library with light. heat and
power, has progressed rapidly, and
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. II has been the dream Of the
governmental economists TO build
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 ut the emu Of her summer 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-
latlng any program for the coming
winter, her prompt inauguration OF
many reforms in the domestic econo'
my Of the chief Of American homes
has already borne fruit.
Mrs. Roosevelt. who brought with
her from New York n number Of
white maids and nurses. drew dis
tinctlon between upper and lower"
servants, the distinction running
through every relation in life below
stairs. Mrs. Taft has eliminated the
actual as we'll ~ the imaginary line
rs TO privileges. food or compensate
so that there are now no social dis
tInctions In the kitchen. and the same