Evening star., 1949-08-14
'CongressUrged
ToAvoid Noise
By Adjourning
Chavez Says Workmen
Are Hompered in
Repairing Roofs

Repairing Roofs
The threat of boiler-factory
noise disturbing Senate sessions
led one member to call last night
for early adjournment of Congress
in order that matchmaking"
hammers could proceed with re-
construction of House and Senate
roofs.
Chairman Chavez of the Special
Senate committee in charge of the
remodeling of the Senate cham
ber. explained that the noisiest
work now can be done only at
night.
The Senate. by using the old
Supreme Court room in the Capt.
tol. he said. is delaying the work.
men. Meantime. double shifts
have been ordered to start tomor-
row on the iron workers job Of
removing steel in the old roofs
and putting new roofs over both
House and Senate.
so long as we remain in ses-
sion," Senator Chavez said, Ger
tain precautionary measures have
to be taken which slow down the
work. If the first stage Of con-
struction is to be completed on
schedule in December, the Sena-
tors ought to adjourn shortly"
Progress of the new roofing job
on the House wing of the Capitol.
however. has not been interrupted
by the sessions because the House
meets in the Ways and Means
Committee room of the New House
Office Building.
Progress Is Praised.
Chairman Trimble of the spe-
cial House committee supervis-
ing the job there said last night
he was pleased with the progress
being made
Il understand" he said, that
the House job is ahead of sched-
ule. On our side of the Capitol,
the workmen have almost COM
plete access to the entire wing
and can make all the noise they
need to push the job ahead"
. Steel derricks rising high above
the tops of both House and Sem
ate chambers are removing the
old steel beams which supported
the roofs. Erection of steel for
the new roofs has begun over
both chambers.
Emphasizing the need for the
Senate to adjourn. Senator
Chavez pointed out that because
| the Senate remains in session
much of the demolition work
with matchmaking jackham-
mers has to be done at night to
avoid interference with the Sen
ate work and that the contractors
don't have full access to the
wing"
New and major obstacles are
encountered every week. the SEN
ator said.
Despite the vast amount Of
engineering and planning which
went into this job. the workers
are finding something not antic-
ipated every time they go into a
WALL" he explained. 1T has re-
quired a huge amount of skilled
supervision to meet every unfore-
seen condition and Immediately
adjust the master plan to keep
the remodeling going along at the
rapid pace which was set for it."
Detailed Drawings Lacking.
The Consolidated Engineering
Co. of Baltimore, general con-
tractor on the job. has found the
job to be one of exploration since
no detailed drawings of the roof
and skylight, which were con-
structed 80 years ago, were avail
able for study before the remodel
ing began, Senator Chavez said.
Il am told it is the most diff
cult Job undertaken by the firm
lin its SO years." he said. This
is the firm which did the House
Office Building and Library OF
Congress annex and is familiar
with Capitol construction pecu-
liarities."
Washington has had hot sum-
mer. the Senator added, but
workmen have, gone right ahead
on the roof in temperatures OF
lis degrees and more. The mer-
curry has hit 118 degrees up there.
I am told"
Senator Chavez issued his state
ment after a tour of the new job
and conferences with Capitol
Architect David Lynn. who is SUI
perviSing the construction.
The first half of the work. which
will include new roofs and re-
modelling the interiors down to
the gallery floors. is to be finished
December 19. If the work can
proceed satisfactorily, Senator
Chavez said, "the Senators should
look up to a new ceiling Janu-
ary s."
He expressed the hope that next
year the Senate could end its ses-
sion July so that final work on
the remodeling job on the inte-
riors could be completed for the
82d Congress in 1851.
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