Evening star., 1937-11-21
Capital Sidelights
BY WILL p. KENNEDY.

| O1 DlLL r. AENNEDY.
There is something very definitely new
IN the old Capitol Building. the corner
stone Of which was laid September l8,
1893. Never since the House wing, built
OF marble from the quarries at Lee,
Mass, with columns from Cockeysville,
Nd. was erected-Daniel Webster de-
nvered the Grafton at the laying of the
corner stone-has there been any ma
ter1al change In the rooms on the gallery
moor assigned to the press gallery"
until now. Never before have they been
thoroughly renovated, made strictly san
ltary, and refurnished to accommodate
the requirements of the more than 500
washington correspondents who send
the news TO all the papers of this country
ana throughout the world For half a
century, at least. these correspondents
nave done the best they could in quarters
growing steadily more inadequate. Now
conditions are entirely changed - and
the press to show its appreciation. is
ABOUT to throw party'-a house warm
lng-at which speeches will be made
expressing gratitude to those who are
responsible. The correspondents are
planning to present a plaque suitably
inscribed to William K Hutchinson of
the International News Service, to whose
initiative and persistence and persuasive
ness the Improvements are due. The
Capitol ofncials who are to be invited
and told the thanks Of the press include:
Speaker Bankhead, who gave the project
his hearty support; the members of the
subcommittee which approved the neces-
sary appropriation Of $7,868, after they
had thoroughly investigated the needs
Representatives John F. Dockweiler,
California; Louis c.. Rabaut, Michigan; !;
Joachim O. Fernandez, Louisiana; John
M. Houston. Kansas, and D. Lane Powers,
New Jersey-David Lynn, architect of
the Capitol; Arthur E. Cook, supervising
engineer In direct charge Of all con-
struction work; South Trimble, clerk of
the House. in charge Of furnishings, and
c. A. Rapee. who under the clerk was
responsible for procurement of the new
furniture, a considerable part Of which
had to be specially constructed. These
officials will be very positively impressed
by the fact that the Washington corre-
spondents are nothing if not grateful for
the facilities afforded them to do their
work better.
And this man Rapee, whom Mr.. Trim
BILE (himself former member of the
House,, engrosSed with multifarious
duties, depends upon to relieve him of
details OF furnishingShe is by trade q
furniture designer and recognized as an
artist in interior decoration, and for q
years operated his own furniture BUSH
ness in Washington. mostly on contracts
with the Government. and designing and
building practically all of the large COM
mlttee tables used in the Capitol He
built the circular seats, divans and chairs
In the Supreme Court, the cabinets In
the Speakers Office suite; he designed
and has draped, since McKinley's time,
the catafalQue used in the Capitol for
national funerals, including that of the
Unknown Soldier. Ten years ago he was
commandeered to take charge of all the
furniture In the House side of the Capt.
tol and IN the two House Office Build
mgs. 1hat means more than 40 900 pieces
OF furniture. He is responsible for keep
ing In excellent condition $40 large rugs,
1000 Venetian blinds and window shades.
He operates furniture repair shop in
the basement of the old House Office
Building, which handles about 5000 items
OF repair work every year. For example,
the desks In the old House Ofilce Build
ing were originally roll-top, and they have
been made over into modern hat-top
desks. The shop has nine artisans, all
carefully selected as expert craftsmen,
and four helpers. Look In at the Com
mittee on Merchant Marine and Fish
cries, one of the prettiest tn the entire
Capitol group. The rostrum and all
interior decoration and fittings were made
by the House furniture repair shop.
Another attractive job are the solid wal
nut window seats Just installed In the
House press gallery. Mr.. Rapee probably
displayed best his skill as an interior
decorator In the draperies he designed
for the Speakers ONCE. with harmonic
ing accessories which arrest the attention
Of all visitors. When you contemplate
the job Of this efficient furniture c,isto-
dian you must be ready to compute in
large, round ngures-more than 5000
filing cabinets, 1000 bookcases, $50 large
Turkish chairs, 500 Turkish davenports,
2,200 desks (Which placed side by side
would stretch more than two miles),
2200 upholstered side chairs, 500 plain
easy chairs In the new House Once Build
ing, 500 screens, 500 clothestrees, $50
75-inch tables, 1,5o0 stenographers' chairs,
special furniture in more than 70 COM
mittee rooms on the floor Of the House,
In the Speakers lobby and the lounging