New-York tribune., 1873-07-25
LONG BRANCH.
A SUMMER WHITE HOUSE PROPOSED.

ton first made some time ago, that there should he
erected at Long Branch Executive Mansion OF white
House for the occupancy during the Summer months OF
the Chief Executive the United States there were few
who thought that such a thing seriously con-
sidered In the hight OF to-day, however 10 Is evident
that not only has the matter been carefully deiberated
on by many prominent gentlemen bnt that something
practical j. already foot having this object day
or two ago The Daily Eews OF this place. had long
and well written letter from Mr. g. b. briggs amentng
the fact that spite OF their great and growing pros
perity, the United States contain but Presidential
mansion--one homo for the Cniet Of the Republic"
The letter asserts that Washington ia not comforta.
able during portion OF the Summer and Autumn. and
that essential for the President to leave the city for
portion OF the tme but asserts that unless he happens
20 be rich man he must accept the hospitality OF
friends become guest Of hotel at some Watering
place or stay at home This Mr. briggs thinks Is state
OF things which should not exist I'm this great Republic.
He points 10 the that all the crowned heads OF the
Ola World have several palaces provided by the state
and is not ablo TO understand "why that which eons
tue comfort should not be necessary to an American
President as to a European Sovereign" aud then he
goes 70 call attention to the Queen OF England the
President OF France, the Emperor OF Germany and
other rulers and their residences The letter proposes
finally that suitable mansion be erected for the oceu
pancy OF the President during the Summer months, ana
that the cost be betrayed by public subscription He
closes his really interesting letter by recng the ad
yautagcs OF Long Branch, WcIc nc Is sdlscu inc III"
White House should be located
The question a 70 whether not the President during
his term Of Office. should remain at the capital OF the
country does not enter here, and snail not discuss IT,
Neither shall / try TO point TO the weakness OF Mr
briggs in making contrasts between the crowned heads
OF Europe and tho Chief Executive OF the United STATES
Whatif Queen Victoria has 81. James and Buckingham
Palace in London, her palace at windsor, O'porne
House in the Isle OF Wight, the Royal Palace OF Holy
Rood &c What n MlcMahOn has the Tulleries In
Paris and the Palaces OF Versailles, OF St. Cloud, OF
Foutanebcau. and OF Malmaison iWat II the Emperor
William has palace at Berlin, another at POtsdam
one at Sans Souc another az CharOttesbrg and still
another at statzenells What If the Emperor Francis
Joseph has imperial palaces at Vienna, Prague,
Ischl, salzburg. and PresbOurgi Would Mr.. DrSgs
favor a proposition to build Presidential mansion at
Boston, one at New-Oreans and one at san Francisco
because he cannot understand why that winch const
tuies comfort should not be necessary TO the Pres
dent as 10 QIeeu VictOfal" Are al the palaces have
named necessary to constitute the comfort OF the
nonarchs namoil The Shah OF Persia probably thinks
il is necessary for comfort TO have 90 wives or what
ever they are called or less and Is more than
probable that Victoria does not think all Of Engauds
,ace necessary for her comfort since she spends most
OF her Summers at BamOrd which retreat Is her prl-
vate property. II Is true that Washington Is very uu-
comfortable IN the Summer. What city cast OF the
Rocky Mountains is mott 1t Is also true. although Mr.
briggs does not the subject that the present EA-
ecuitye Mansion Is unit for a summer residence, and
is indeed inadequate for the double purpose OF
a Presidential residence and an Executive
office The building itself - not far from 80 years DID,
and il cannot be many years before new one will be
necessity. As IL is, there are two or lhree manu-
some cottages belonging TO the Government on
the charming grounds attached 10 the Soldiers Home,
TWO or three miles outside Of Washington on the highest
round about the city and the President could with
feet propr!ety occupy Of them as Mr. Lincoln did
every Summer while nc was President, driving to the
Executive Office every morning aud returning every
night Mr.. Lincoln maintained his health throughout.
But this is not the point Mr. Drc-s thinks the Presi
dent, should he happen 20 be poor man, could not
afford TO leave Washington during the Summer This
statement Il ridiculous, aud is unworthy gentle
man OF the writer's intelligence, and Gen. Grant will
tell him So And in justice to the President ii ought to
be sand that he does not favor proposition looking
TO the erection OF a summer White House
The President, under the new salary law receives
200 per annum In addition, ne is furnished while IN
Washington, at the expense OF the Government with
gas fuel furniture, attendance ana everything requisite
for living except the articles from the grocer and the
butcber Can anybody have the presumption to say
that it costs the President $4,000 year for expenses
During the fashionable season in Washington, while
Congress SITS aud while the foreign representatives are
at the capital and the gayety o; society IS at Its night
when official entertainments essential TO the Pres
DENTAL Office the expenses at the White House not
light but were they to last all the round they could
not reach the sum OF $4,000. Secretary Fish
entertans much moro layishly than the Presl-
dent, in Washington, and he has his rent TO
pay and his servants 80 hire and yet spends less than
$15OOo year. and have his statement in yerhca
ton. Tns all reason, would seem to be enough, since
the saa.y OF his office. under the grab law" Is
only $4,000 year. All this goes to show that the In
crease OF the Presidents salary from S5OOO 70 S3JOoo
was unnecessary. lam, however, considering on the
latter basis Take the OF Gen. Grant, who has the
reputation ofbeing an extrayagant Hyer-a reputation
which, by the way regard as unjust Here MS manner
Of living only its lack OF extravaganza and
ostentaton His life is as quiet and unpretending
that of the modest cottager His cottage Is by no
the grand affair that was too often described dur
ing the heat Of political contest 1t sets back from the
road distance, and IS OF a subdued order
OF architecture, sort Of mixture OF English villa
and Swiss chalet It's colors are dingy, and
ITS general appearance by no means us at
tractiye and costly as generally supposed Never
theless while It would DO taken for the residence OF
quiet gentleman Of position and taste 1t does not appear
to be unhecOming the President whose HE mere Is 80
quiet and unobtrusive. Nobody would know, from his
manner OF living and his personal intercourse with the
citizens OF the Branch that Gen Grant occupied higher
station in the world than his neiglbors Whatever may
be said against Gen Grant and his administration OF the
Government 1t cannot he said that his manner OF living
at Long Branch Is unbecoming or ostehtatious' Inc
family OF the President placed themselves upon the
same social level as other cultivated and respectable
families. There no exclusion whatever. The car
riage Of Mrs Grant frequently seen before the cot
tages OF other residents and there is no indica-
ton OF difference in worldly station. When 1t Is
remembered that the rigid social etiquette OF
Washington precludes tue families OF the Pres
den and VicePresldent, from returning calls 1t Will
be that the position which the Presidents family
have m take here is that cannot but be ap
proved "a the and judcious that could be
followed.
But all this has a relation 10 the subject OF Summer
White House only In this Gen. Grants sensible and