El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-01-12
AMERICAN CONGRESS THE BEST HOUSED
LEGISLATIVE BODY IN THE WORLD
improvements.

as ii stands today.
The great wings were built large
enough, as it was then believed, for gen
erations to come. Therefore each wing
extended literally beyond the front and
back Of the old capitol. Over the cen
ter OF the old portion Of the building
was erected the beautiful and graceful
dome which has become. in the eyes of
all the world, q symbol of the great
American republic. Several years later
the central or older portion of the cap
itol was extended on the west front in
line with the two new wings. The next
improvement proposed to be made is the
extension Of the central pOrtico of the
east front to correspond with those of
the senate and house wings
Congressional Library.
The extension on the west front was
made for the purpose of accommo-
dating the rapidly growing library of
congress 1t was never large enough
adequately to serve its purpose. About
20 years ago congress authorized the
erection of separate building for the
accommodation of its library. That
building, erected at a cost of nearly
100000, was opened to the public 13
years ago. It is a most beautiful build
in gas seen from its exterior, while
its interior ranks with the most splen-
did edifices in all the world. Its book
then the entire library of congress. with
provisions for receiving and storing the
additions of a generation.
How greatly congress underestimate
ed the growth of the country is shown
in the fact that the entire shelf space
Of the library is already levied upon
and new book stacks are being built.
The library of congress now has the
third greatest collection of books and
manuscripts in the world, coming after
the British museum and the National
library OF France
New Office BUILDINGS
Although congress used all of the
space in the capitol except the COM
paratively small portion reserved for
the supreme court, there was not enough
room TO enable the senators and repre-
sentatives properly to conduct their af-
fairs Each senator had a separate Of
flee many of them in the third sub
basement of the capitol oatacombs, and
many in converted office building
outside the capitol grounds. Such
members of the house as were not
chairmen of committees were forced TO
hire their own offices.
It was in response TO this demand for
more space that the two new office
buildings were authorized. These two
buildings, standing northeast and
southeast of the capitol, and between
the capitol and the library, are con
structed of white marble The four leg
islative buildings, taken together with
the union station, form on Capitol hill
in Washington the most imposing group
OF modern buildings in the world.
Showers and Turkish Baths.
Each office building affords a private
office for each member of the respec-
tive houses, and each building is con-
nected with the capitol by subway
l.
senate and house as TO the attractions,
of their particular building. 1t must
be conceded that the senate building
is more magnificently furnished and
decorated. The house has a system of
shower baths The senate countered
with a complete Turkish bath outfit,
and now the house is about TO get even
pool The capitol has two restau-
rants. one in each wing, and each office
building shelters a comfortable cafe.
May Resurface Capitol.
The striking beauty Of the white mar
bic office buildings has accentuated the
dingy gray of the sandstone with !
which the capitol is built. 1t is prob
20 years the recommendations of super !
intendent Elliot Woods will be adopted, |
and the capitol building will be re- /
surfaced with white marble
The sandstone is dark and disinte-
CRATES rapidly in the Washington Gil /
mate. The capitol. while holding its |
proper domination Of the architectural |
group in respect 20 its size and the |
beauty Of its lines, leaves much to be /
desired in the character of its finish |
ing material With the central por- |
tico extended 20 correspond with the !
two wings, and with, the entire building /
clothed in Immaculate white the capt. !
tol would indeed be an ediice worthy /
Of the great nation for which it stands. /
Heating Plant.
The new heating plant which has iust-i
been placed in commission is perhaps /
the most complete in existence. It was
built at a cost Of $500, 0CO and it sup i
plies heat and light for the capitol the |
two office buildings and the library. (
1t is situated a half mile away The |
heat is conveyed to the buildings |
through nonradiating conduits. There !
5 also an arrangement for providing /
old air in The summer.
The British parliament has been far |
ahead of the American congress in this
respect. Both in London and Washing I
on the buildings have been heated by
lot air. IN hot weather, however, the
American congress has sweltered. while
he English Legislature has been cooled
~ air driven through ice chambers.
lament takes its air filtered through
many layers of absorbent cotton.
To VentiIate House
Another Improvement. also following
arit~lli prece,-ent. will be made in the
house wing of the capitol at the expira
ion Of the present session. The house
# representative chamber is situated
n the center Of the wing, has no direc.
Connection with the outside air. and has
efied the efforts of so years to pro-
ide an adequate system of ventilation.
Furthermore, it is a very large cham
'er and il has been, impossible for n
member TO make himself heard without
houting.
Each member now has a desk before |
Us chair and the presence Of this con-
enience tempts men to read and write, !
ather than to listen, thus hampering |
he expedition of the public business.
low that each member has been prOyid-
d with a commodiOus private office,
here is no longer any excuse for the
esks. Therefore, the coming reform.
INT chamber of the house of repre-
entatives Will be removed TO the east
nd OF the house wing, it will be cut
Town to less than --alf its present size,
nd the desks viii be eliminated.
Most Expensive In World.
The caniTo1 and the OfbPr buildings