Rutland herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1823-1847, 1840-08-11

niture. You will recollect. Mr.. Chairman.
that ] presented TO the committee, in the early
part OF my remarks, a lis, ofthe various ap
preparations made by Congress since the re-
ufemen, of John @. Adams, "for altering and
repairs of the Presidents House." planting
trees, improving grounds, &c. &c. Those
appropriations amounted, altogether, 10 the
sum of SSS,G22 So. will now, sir. offer to
the committee a similar list Of appropriations
during the same period, for furniture for the
Presidents House.
Act of Sd March, 1899. For furnishing
Presidents House, under the direction Of the
President, $4,000 90
Act Of 81 March, 1881. For furniture and
repairs Of furniture. $4,000 90
Act OF ID March. 1888. Furnishing Presi
dents House, in addition to proceeds of such
decayed furniture as hc may direct to be
sold, 100000 10
Act Of Soh June, 1894. "For completinp
the furniture Of the Presidents House, So
600
Ac, of Cd March, 1886. For furniture of
The Presidents House, S20,0 600 90
10 these appropriations may be added the
proceeds, as before stated made by the sale of
~decayed and questionable furniture, $3.50
40, and we have the gross sum of seventy
thousand six bundled and eighty dollars and
forty cents, expended by the reiormers for fur
hlture Tor The Presidents House.
And this too, sir, after the reformers had
themselves commended and insisted that the
Presidents house had been furnished by Iohn
Y. Adams IN a style ol"regal magniiicence."
But let us look a little, closer at the matter.
by the 18th clause of the LIST section of the
act OF 3Oth June, 1884, six thousand dollars
appropriated 'ior completing the furniture of
the Presidents House" The furniture was
therefore complete after the expenditure ofthis
$4,000. Now, Mr.. Chairman, can you tell
me how II came TO pass that Mr.. Van Buren,
expended S2f,l26 80 on the palace furniture
during the summer and auium of 1872 The
last sum (S2l,l21 % consists OFFS 10000 APP
propfiated by the act of Sd March, 1897, and
Sf,l25 9S,the amount OF the five bills already
read for what are denominated ''repairs and
alterations" Is it to be credited that the re-
formers have destroyed, in the short space of
three years, furniture worth S2I,l27 9Sl
About $4,000 annually wasted; larger sum by
50 900, than has been invested in the furniture
of his p%rincely mansion on the north side of
Franklin square, and Immediately opposite
the palace. II an expenditure of 50, 1000 is
sufficient to provide appropriate and suitable
furniture Tor The most elegant private mansion
in the city OF Washington, what vii. the plain,
republican farmers Of the country say to the
expenditure of S70.9S0 40 by the reformers in
completing the furniture of the Presidents
Ionse, which was crowded with the richest
furniture on the globe at the time tie rcior-
mers came into possession!
The Presidents House, from the time Gifts
destruction in 1914 was not refinished and oc-
cupied until Sept. 1917. 1t was thcn taken pos
session ofby Mr.. Monroe. The furniture in
the former building had been destroyed to-
gether with 1t, and the little that had been
purchased Afterwards, for the accommodation
oil the Presidents Madison, in the house which
had been rented for him, 0he eastern end of
the Seven Buildings,) was only second handed
furniture, and ofirIfling value: there was not
a carpet in the house, the floor having been
covered with blue and green baize, which was
entirely worn out; indeed, II is said that there
was not a single article of furniture used by
Mr.. Madison suited TO the new building
Mr.. Monroe, however, had considerable furni-
ture, of good quality, most of which he had
procured abroad as American Minister, and
the residue for his accommodation as Secreta-
~ o fState. This furniture, including a small
service OF plate, he placed in the Presidents
House, at a valuation (O,O7I % Leg fixed
upon il by two of the most respectable cili-
zens of the District. About the same period,
an order, limited in amount TO twelve thousand
dollars, was transmitted 10y Mr.. Monroe to the
Messrs. Russell and La Fargo at Havrc, with
instructions 10 procure some articles Of furni-
ture, %"strong, massive, and durable" to be
manufactured for the rooms for which they
were respectfully intended. These gentlemen
men, acting under the erroneous impression
that the house OF the President was TO be fur
nished in the style of a kings palace, devi-
ated greatly from the Instructions OF Mr.. Mon
roe. not only in the richness and splen1or OF
articles purchased, but actually ran NJ their
bills 10 9e,0 IS SIS francs, orSls,il9 II higher
than the extent of the order which they had
received. All this splendid French furniture
was forthwith shipped to America, and Con-
gross subsequently granted the necessary APP
preparations to cover the deficit. Although
Mr.. Monroe was somewhat unfortunate in the
selection Of his agents, he was little to blame
in the whole affair: for many of the articles
deemed proper forthc Presidents House could
mt at that day have been procured in the
United States, and besides, the statute which
directs 'that all furniture purchased lor the
Presidents House shall. be, as Ear as pracii-
J cable, of American or domestic manufacture"
was not enacted until MAY %, 1920. The
furniture Of the Presidents House was further
increased by the purchase Of articles in Phila-
delphia and other Atlantic cities, from time to
time, during the administration ofMr. Monroe,
amounting to SASH 60 I-2. The entire sum,
therefore, invested by him in furniture was
$4,000. viz;
Private furniture, appraised at s9,O7le2l-e
Bought in France lsiI7 II
Purchased in Philadelphia, &c. e3,5Il 60 l-9
$4,000 90
This sum was paid by three several oppro-
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