The enterprise-recorder. (Madison, Fla.) 1908-1933, 1909-12-09
WASHINGTON LETTER
Especial Correspondence


When senators and representatives
return to Washington IN December for
the opening Of the second session Of
the SiXty-tirst congress they will find
many improvements both I'm 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 win
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 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 lnstruc-
tions to Mr.. Woods before they left
Washington about the decorations
which were to adorn their offices. A
general canvass of their rooms shows
that light green predomlnates on 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. al Of which will be fin
ished by December Two new elec-
trio elevators are being installed in
the senate wing, one to replace the old
hydraulic lift which was designated
for the exclusive use Of the supreme
court and the members of congress
aud 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 on
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 near 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 1t
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
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 rhe FIRST result
OF their plan.
White House Reforms.
When Mrs Taft entered the White
House at the emo 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 fornu-
lating any program for the coming
winter, her prompt inauguration of
many reforms In the domestic ecOno-