Mr. TRUM Ulifi. I am very much gratified that the Senfrom Pennsylvania has moved in this matter. I think something ought to be done. This Hall has been a subject of complaint ever since we moved into it. I served for one or 2 Congresses I do not recollectnow the precise period when we moved into this Hall in the old Chamber; and from the time we 1st came here until now it has always been a subject of complaint, not only in summer, but in winter. It. used to be complained of when we 1st came here very seriously in consequence of currents of cold air in the Chamber, and at that time, some years ago I think the late Senfrom NewHampshire (Mr. Hale) moved in the matter 1st a committee was raised, and it was proposed, I think, at that time to change the Chamber from its present position to the exterior of the building. “I have always been hoping that that change would take place. I think it was the greatest mistake that could have been made to place these Halls in the center of the wings of the Capitol. Now it is in contemplation to improve the grounds. They are already very beautiful on the east and west sides of the Capitol. It is intended to extend the grounds on the north and south, and to plant trees. The The prospect will be inviting and pleasing when these improvements are made. If our Hall was a on the exterior of the building, with these ne grounds surrounding them, the windows open, and access out upon the bal conies, what a relief it. would be. What a relief it would have been during the late hot and oppressive weather to have diad an op or tunity, without losing the business of the ‘en ate, without being so far away that you could not tell what was going on, to have the benefit of Windows upon the exterior. It is not simply the air; it is the pros ect. The prospect is worth a great deal. this a relief from the tedious business of a 6 or 8 or sometimes ten hour session to look out upon the world, and not to be shut up here like prisoners in a jail or school boys in a school room, where the windows are closed, lest they should look out of doors and their attention he directed from their books. I therefore should be sorry to see any money expended in an attempt to raise the roof of this Chamber with a view of improving it where it is. I think that this room should be adjoining the exterior walls of the building. The archi tect some years ago made an examination to see if such an improvement could be made and the matter was seriously considered. I have not looked at his report recently, but he made a report and an estimate of the expense. 2 questions were considered: 1st, whether it was practicable, consistent with the safety of the building, in the manner in which it is constructed, to take out these walls and change the Hall to the exterior walls of the building; and 2nd ly, what the expense of that change would be. The architect reported that it was practicable, that that change could be made without injury to the building; and my recol lection is that he estimated the expense of doing it, making everything complete, and providing rooms for the Secretary‘s office and these other auterooms elsewhere, at $200,000. I do not remember what the estimate is of the improvement contemplated by the Senfrom Pennsylvania. If he stated it, I was not paying attention at the moment. The cost of the imrovement he designs making would of course e much less than this radical change, as the Senfrom Massachusetts calls it, of moving the Hall to the exterior walls of the building. I am not now prepared to suggest a plan of doing that; but I hope we may have the sense of the Senate upon the question as to how this improvement is to be made. I take it, all will agree that some change or other ought to be had in this room. My own judgment is that when we make that change, we had better change the location of the Hall, and not attempt to improve it where it is. It is not in the right place. It never oughtto have been in the center of the building. et.us be where we can have the prospect that will surround us and have the benefit of the air as nature furnishes it, without. having it pumped up or blown up by artificial machinery.