Evening star., 1935-04-28

One Of the biggest housekeeping
jobs at the National Capital is car
ried on at the Capitol Building itself,
the huge structure which houses the
Senate and House of Representatives
and, until this year. the Supreme
Court of the United States. The
housekeeper Of the Capitol is David
Lynn. He has the more imposing
title of architect of the Capitol and
is one Of long line of distinguished
men who have held that position.
Such great architects as DR.. Will
liam Thornton, Benjamin Latrobe,
James Hoban and Thomas U. Walter
have held the position, each contribu-
ting something of his genius TO the
imposing edifice. In the earlier days
Of the Republic, the task OF the archi-
tect Of the Capitol was a construction
task. The designing and supervising
Of the structure continued overs more
than one generation. for the Capitol
is growth covering years.
The Capitol may be regarded as
complete, so far as its general size
and form are concerned, but, while
housekeeping may surfacely appear
to be the chief task OF the architect
of today, that statement is far from
true. So huge is the building that
there Is constantly some structural
work to be performed either by way
OF repair or replacement or the max
ing of alterations to rooms. And,
recently. pretentious new plans for
the enlargement of the structure,
without altering its general appear
ance, have been drawn and probably
will soon be carried into effect.
But the housekeeping in itself Is
no small task. Perhaps it might seem
lndecorous to refer to the Senators
and Representatives in Congress as
old ladies. but, in a sense, it would not
be far from the truth TO say that they
bear, in their relation to the archi-
tect Of the Capitol. something of the
same relation that a dowager house
wife bears to her housekeeper. For
each has voice in what shall be
done at the Capitol. 1t may not
be q controlling voice but the sug-
gestion of each has to be attentively
listened to. The housekeeper who
must listen to the suggestions and,
perhaps. orders of some 500 mis-
treSseS must be efficient, patient and
have about every other virtue.
Rearranging Statuary Hall.
During the last year the Capitol
housekeeper carried out about as diff
cult a job as could be imagined
Every one knows what is likely to hap
pen when some one in a household de-
cides that the furniture ought to be
rearranged. Every member Of the
family usually has his own ideas as
to where this thing should 90 and
where that Consider then the plight
OF the housekeeper of the Capitol
when it was decided to rearrange what
good many people would regard as
the most important furniture in the
edifice! THIS furniture consists of the
statues Of the State heroes which have
adorned Statuary Hall since the House
of Representatives vacated that apart
ment many years ago TO move into its
own wing, newly completed.
There are supposed TO be two statues
to represent each State. AS each new
State was admitted TO the Union it
was entitled to bring in figures of two
of its favorite sons. Even long after
some of the States had been admitted,
their citizenry had been unable to
make up their minds as to their
marble or bronze representatives in
this hall of fame. But. year by year,
the hall filled up until it began to
look much like a hotel lobby at con-
vention time Moreover. the tremen-
dous weight Of the figures-most of