People's Pilot, Volume 6, Number 25, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 December 1896 — EASE IN THE SENATE. [ARTICLE]

EASE IN THE SENATE.

MODERN COMFORT FOR STATESMEN AND Vt«TORB. System of Improved Ventilation Adopted. Theater Chairs In the Galleries For the Comfort of Lookers On—Old Tradition Abolished—Few Chances In the House. When congress reassembled, a marked change was noted in the senate chamber. A complete revolution in heating and ventilating has taken plaoe, under the direction of Dr. Woodbridge of the Boston School of Technology. The unsightly brass and iron ventilators whioh scarred the senatorial carpets and caused intermittent ohillo and fevers to oreep op the rheumatic limbs of senators have been banished, and fresh air comes into the ohamber through perforations in the supports of the desks, at a temperature of about 72 degrees, escaping into the aisles or spaces between the various desks.

In the galleries the greatest transformation has occurred. The old time, straight back benohes have been removed, and handsome mahogany framed theater chairs with maroon oolored leather backs and seats have been substituted. Each chair is provided with air ohambera and perforations on the side. The uniformity of the gallery seats wipes out the “class distinction” that hitherto prevailed in favor of the dip- , lomatio and executive galleries. «For many years past the upholstering in the diplomatic and executive galleries was a bright blue, while the coloring in the public galleries was a light gray. Now, although the dividing lines are maintained, the furnishing of all the galleries is the same and in harmony with the mahogany effeot upon the floor below. Under the new ventilating system it will not be easy to move the desk at will, as heretofore. The ventilating apparatus is a part of the desk, and to move the desk would require a general mutilation of the flooring. The effeot prevailing in the chamber is heightened by the substitution of mahogany doors with frosted glass panels for the yellow pine frames covered with a bilious green covering, which opened into the cloakrooms and the lobbies. The rich green and gold carpet has been replaced upon the floor of the ohamber, forming a harmonious groundwork for the highly polished mahogany desks and square backed, leather covered chairs. Sergeant-at-arms Bright has succeeded iu demolishing a long cherished tradition. The senate now contains chairs of but a single pattern. Previous to last session it was the custom of each senator to consult his individual preference in selecting the style of chair he would oocupy. The result was an unsightly mixture of mahogany, oak, walnut, cane bottoms and haircloth chairs scattered about the chamber, suggesting a job lot auction room rather than the dignified United States senate.

Electricity has replaced the gas jets in the ceiling and the galleries—in fact, throughout the senate wing—and the electric lighting will reduce the temperature of the building at night at least 10 degrees. The modifications and changes were accomplished at an outlay of something below $55,000. Aside from the placing of a new piece of carpet in front of the speaker’s desk, no material changes have been made in the furnishing of the house of representatives. The officers of the house are anxious that provision should be made at the coming session for a thorough renovation and the introduction of a new system of ventilation and seating similar to that in the senate. The house has always been slow to assert its independence in providing for its own comfort. The backwardness is due to the faot that its members stand up for election by the people every two years, while senators have only to run the gantlet of a state legislature once in six years. The house appears positively shabby in comparison with the senate ohamber at present.—Washington Post.