The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1921-07-26
LORDLY SENATORS
DINE IN LONELY STATE.
A REMOTE AND EXCLUSIVE
ROOF GARDEN RESTAURANT
IS LAWMAKERS REFUGE.

/
WASHINGTON, D. C.--Cloistered
far from the thousands who are now
thronging the national capitol to in
terview lawmakers on pending legisla-
ton the staid United States senators
have removed their dining room to the
second portico, where none may enter
save one of the chosen ninety-six.
Whether this innovation is prompted
by desire to further emulate the
House of Lords, to increase the ex-
clusiveness of that body or to enjoy
the open air and cooling breezes from
the Potomac, as some claim, the
change has resulted in much comment.
At any rate the senate is now dining
on a roof garden that has the SEM
blance of the hanging gardens of
Babylon. Every fundamentally and
agency of the government has been
utilized to make this spacious portico,
which opens just off the historic Mar
BILE Room, both inviting and comforta-
bic. Along the heavy balustrades OF
marble and besides the massive Corin-
THAN columns profusion of plants
from the government botanical gar
den have been placed. Palms, ferns and
tropical flowers of most select variety
obscure the cold stone walls.
Tables snowy with linen and gilt
tering with silver bearing the seal of
the u. S. Senate" each attended by
an obsequious servitor ready to am
swer every beck and call, are arranged
in tiers along this portico. Special
menus are provided daily which would
appeal to the epicurean taste of any
member of the senate. In the right
hand corner of the menu is beautiful
etching of the capitol, and printed there
on is the legend: United States SEN
ate, Restaurant, The Capitol, The Por-
tico."
While it is said that the prime pur-
pose in establishing the restaurant on
the portico was to dine al fresco, the
senators find that it removes them
from the hazard of interruption, as
they would if they went to the first
floor of the senate, where the bour-
geoisie eat. 1t is true that every safe
guard imaginable is thrown about the
privacy OF senator as he goes about
the capitol. As he walks from the sem
ate chamber he may step into pri-
vate elevator for the exclusive use of
floor in a corridor directly in front of
another private dining room. But even
at that there are few yards of space
where someone might speak to him
and thus disturb his train of thought.
! Again, should he desire to go to his
Office in the senate Office building an
other private elevator will convey him
to the basement of the capitol, where
he steps on a memorial subway car
that will carry him beneath the traffic
! OF street topanother elevator in the Of
fee building. There, with the mystic
three rings, the elevator is summoned
and woe betide the elevator boy who
should stop to take on any one save
senator or fail to answer the first
call This is because one of the rules
OF the capitol is that when three rings
are sounded the elevator must re-
spond and get the senator, regardless
OF who else or how many may be
waiting.
In the capitol there are two pri-
vate spiral stairways with marble
steps and heavy bronzed railing, for
the exclusive use of senators desiring
to mount from the first to the second
floor.
Soon after this session convened Wis
ltOrS were barred from the MdrDIe
Room. A barrier of high screens, which
are at each end of the senate reception
hall, and which also removes the SEN
ators from the gaze of the public, was.
erected. Now when a visitor desires to
discuss questions with a senator he is
given a seat on a cushioness bench
in an anteroom to wait his turn.
1t has become known that protest
has gone up from what might be said
is majority of the senate against the
atmosphere of exclusiveness. They
have declared that such is not in keep
ing with their ideas of representative
government, but it just so happens
that responsibility for this innovation
is in the hands of few senators who
feel they should be as secure in their
exclusiveness as they in keeping their
seats in the senate.