Omaha daily bee., 1922-04-20
Congressmen In Training
Fir Tor Anything Because OF Good
Food and Q Fine Physical Director.
(Prom the W.shins,oa stsr,)

Members OF congress can go into the samr
palga they arc facing with unusual siger and vi
IallIy, Tor healthier harder, more robust type
Of Congressman Is being deyelopsd-by exercise.
ventilation and iood
For many years back the members of con-
gTess sort OF Stacked into the habit OF working
ln their Offices, going through the subway 10 the
Capitol, sitting IL the house or senate. where the
ventilation MAS mol all that could be desired,
eating their lunehsons ia cafe that did not serve
food Of the bss, quality or preparation, To this
The high mortality rate among the members was
aI.f,hu,ed-in part,
Then came Representative Dan Reed Of New
York. former famous athlete aud football coach.
more recently doctor 10 sick cities. With Repre-.
sentative Isaac Raehafaeh OF New Jersey and
some kindred spirits he organized . gymnasium
aud appealed 10 all his fellow members To take
regular exercise TO build up their physiaues. lie
made speech on the door OF the house In which
he put the fear OF apoplesy into the hearts OF his
colleagues. Today there arc few members OF
either branch Of congress who do not take regu-
lar exercise OF some sort either ii the house Office
building gymnasium or through walking. on the
goli links, horseback riding. tennis or swimming.
Aud they are notieeaby improved physically aud
mentally IN consequence.
In order that the hours devoted 10 work may
not undermine the vitality OF congressman by
phefe. Elliott Woods. architect OF the Capitol,
has completely femodeled the yentaling system
IN both the house and senate. All oi the air IN
both the senate and house chambers is entirely
changed at least every two minutes during the
winter months and oiiener during the summer.
The whole space under the seats OF the men,
bers is given over 10 a ventilation chamber. This
Is lined with white enamel tile and Is washed
every two weeks. This supplies 10 the house
60.OO0 cubic feet OF air every two minutes IN the
winter and 10000 cubic feet every two minutes
in the summer. In the senate chamber the guam
,i,y 2f fresh air supplied is smaller on account
OF the smaller size OF the chamber. The senate
gets $4,000 cubic feet every two minutes in the
winter and 10000 cubic feet every two minutes
in the summer.
In the summer also there are big electrically
driven fans. which take care OF practically three
quarters OF the exhaust.
Besides this the house has considered tearing
out the rear wall OF the chamber and extending Il
back to the outer wall OF the building, so that
there would be direct fresh air as il sweeps across
the Virginia hills and the waters OF the Potomac.
With their health thus improved by exercise
and ventilation. the members OF both house and
senate are bringing heartiest appc,ites to their
meals. To thus supplement the good work to-
ward long and happy and useful lives, the entire
cafe layout OF the Capitol has been ovcrhauled.
renovated, modernzed and put in frst.class shape
as regards sanitation, hygiene, cleanliness, COM
fort and service.
Elliott Woods. as architect OF the Capitol and
Representative Clifford ireland, chairman OF the
committee on accounts, did a thoroughly good
job in rebuilding the cafe system from the base
ment up. No hotel in the country has finer
kitchen The best OF food is provided. The chef
is one of the best in the country, coming from
one OF Washingtons hotels which for years has
cnioyed nationwide reputation for the excel
lence OF its cuisine. Dietitians have co-operated
in preparing the bill of fare, which will offer
wide variety Of appetzing viands, but in such
combination as will best meet the peculiar needs
OF men who live and work as do members OF con-
gress
The cafe in the Capitol must exist because at
lunch time members can not get far from the leg
islative chamber and only for brief space OF
time. They must keep in constant touch with
what is going on on the floor, are momentarily
subject to roll call, and the usual luncheon hour
is the time when congress is getting in its best
cks at legislation. The cafes both on the senate
side and on the house side are operated on
service -at-cost plan, the prices being figured to
Just little more than cover the expense OF oper-
ton. No member of congress nor any employe
about the Capitol gets free lunches at the Capitol
cafe but they do get the best quality OF food that
under model sanitary conditions by expert cooks
just as much "home" cooking as is possible
and at as near actual cost as it could be figured.
In consequence of improved physique and
health through exercise, ventilation and proper
food, members of congress are becoming better
natured go about their work with more pep
and mental keenness. Instead Of dispcptic, nerv-
Gus grouches, they are coming to act more like
crowd of eager, vivacious youngsters
.,4f