The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-10-05
WILL HAVE PLACE WHERE THEY
CAN TALK PRIVATELY WITH
CONSTITUENTS.
BY GEORGE II. MINING.


WASHINGTON, Oct. 4.--~The VIC
ginia representatives have warm
spot In their hearts today for Repre-
sentative Langley, of Kentucky, wis
has introduced resolution IL the
house calling for a subdivision OF each
office room. Office rooms in the
house office building are plain, ordi-
nary rooms, without waiting room
or any hidden reeesses where a mem
her may talk things over with con-
stitueuts or others.
The Langley resolution. Il passed,
Will hll long felt need for a place
Mhere congressman can talk. o-nre
man privately without being inter
rupted, and his conversation overheard
by every other visitor who happens
TO drop IN. II will also he a relief
to he able to talk In moderate tones
to visitors without the necessity as at
present Of shouting In order 10 drown
out the noise of the typewriter, be-
ing operated necessarily by the ste
nogra pher or secretary always on
hand.
Realize the Necessity.
e Virginians coming 10 Washington In
recent years have realized the neces-
sity If some arrangement by which
they could privately discuss their bus
mess with their representatives The
usual method now is 10 talk about
the weather, the folks at home, crops
hogs. feed and everything else of
general nature. until lunch time when
adjournment is taken 10 the restaur-
ant. where they can talk real private
business. said talk of private business
being drowned out to all others by
the steady rattle Of crockery and sill
Verware
The Virginia delegation Is probably
moro fortunate in having private
rooms than any other State delega-
ton, Four of the Virginia congress
mon are chairmen of committees and
consequently have private offices
their committee rooms. Rep
Flood. Glass, Hay and
Jones being thus provided for, Mr..
Carlin has two small rooms across the
hail from each other, instead of the
one usual large room. But Repre-
sentatives Watson, Montague, Slemp.
Saunders and Holland have just the
one plain room. None of them had
private offices until few months ago
when four of them succeeded Re-
puhiicans as chairmen Of the commit
tees.
The unfortunate congressman with |
one room have resorted 10 all sorts
of improvised methods to gain privacy /
such as stringing book cases across the |
middle of the room, or piiing up books |
and desks in the effort to cut off a /
small space in the back end OF their |
room, where they can have some |
privacy In debating 10 their secre- I
taries. and in conference with their !
and fellow members.
Start on Wytbevilie Building.
AIT .,...e 81
bill. introduced in the senate Thurs
day, contains a provision that the |
postoffce building heretofore author |
lied for Wytheville, Va, shall be so
as to provide quarters for /
all governmental purposes in that |
city. Because the former enabling t
act provided only for a postofiice, the |
architects office of the treasury de-
partment was unable TO draw plans |
providing for the housing of the I
weather bureau. which is now under
the same roof with the postoffice in
he old building. The new provision
viii permit the architect to proceed
with plans to house both the post
ofFice and weather bureau there
The Wytheville building has been
delayed, owing to this DIM
guilty. but work will now be taken up
'apidly. The other Virginia items In
serted in the bill by the house were
by the senate committee, of
which senator Martin is chairman.
Waynesboro and LIsynchburg
The urgent deficiency appropria-
ion bill, which passed the senate to-
lay, and has already passed the house,
contains appropriation of $2,500 to- be
dded to $4,000 already available for
he purchase of a site for the post