East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1910-04-04
HAMMER AND SAW TO
INVADE THE HOUSE
CHANGES WILL BE
MADE IN HISTORIC CHAMBER
Will Accomplish u Revis-
ion Not in Presidential Platform
House VIII be Made Smaller TO
Improve Acoustics.

Washington.-This being revolu-
ton session in the house of represen-
t%atives, other changes besides revis-
ion of the rules are under way.
Plans have been drawn and all
preparations made for a physical
transformation of the house chamber.
All that is lacking to set an army of
workmen on the job is the final fall
of the speakers gavel adjourning the
house sine die. AS oon as the coat
tails of the last congressman disap-
pears through the glass doors, the
jeans overalls of carpenters, IRON
workers and masons will stalk in and
the most tremendous upheavel ever
witnessed under the big dome will be-
gin.
The house is to be made smaller;
the desks of the members are to be re-
placed by benches, after the fashion
of those used in the British house of
commons; and an effort will be made
to let more light into the now some
what gloomy chamber. To accomp-
lish all this congress appropriated
$3.50, 600 some three years ago but
up to the present year sufficient time
mas lbl DttU given Nilt hllltl "
get at the task. Year before last con-
gress held an extraordinary long ses-
sion, and last summer the law makers
were, here sweating through the hot
spell making a new tariff law. This
summer there is likely to be nothing
to prevent the work. All the mem
bers wish to get home as soon as pos
sible anyway, to look after their
fences for November. so Elliott Woods
superintendent of the capitol under
whose direction this work will be
done. has issued orders for the begin
ming of operations as Don as congress
quits.
The most noticeable change in the
appearance of the house chamber will
be made by the removal of the wall
| directly behind the speakers desk,
, and the bringing in of the two walls,
right and left of the speaker, to mar
row the apartment. The present press
gallery will be wiped out and the
newspaper men ana t~elegraphers
! given quarters at either side of the
rooms they now use. Replacing the
desks of the members on the floor,
will be little narrow strips or shelves,
only wide enough to hold a small
book. The comfortable swivel chairs
they now occupy will make way for
long hard benches so that when the
alteration is completed the house OF
representatives will look like a dis
trict school. Another and very notice
able change will be the installation Of
a large table in front of the house
directly before the speakers desk, for
the accommodation of the gentlemen
in charge of Il bill. or for anyone who
Tor any reason may expect to occupy
the floor for a considerable length of
time and wish to fortify himself with
documents Or volumes from the IL
wary. He can spread his literature
upon this table and if his brother
members desire, they may crowd ar
ound the table to get a closer view
or come within nearer earshot.
! BY making the house chamber
smaller it is hoped that the acoustics
may be improved. Just at present
they are about the worst that can be
found in the country. 1t is practically
impossible for anyone In the galleries
to hear a member on the floor unless
he has lungs of leather and exerts
them to the Utmost. BY taking away
the desks and easy chairs it is thought
that those members who are not In