Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-04-15
THE EXECUTIVE MANSION.
Tho Plan for Enlarging the Structure
Urged by Senator MOrrill's Commit
tee.

The Plan for Enlarging the Structure
Urged BY senator Morrill's Commit
tee.
The report submitted to the Senate Monday
by Mr.. Morrill,, from the committee on public
buildings and grounds, an abstract of which
has appeared In THE STAR, reiterates the
statements made by Mr.. Morrill, I'm the Senate
June 20, 1882, urging the passage of a similar
bill. The bill, as stated In The STAR, proposes
the erection OF duplicate of the present Ex-
ecutlve Mansion Immediately south OF and
connected by broad corridor with the present
structure. For this purpose IT provides AN APP
preparation Of 100000 for the first year. 1t is
thought the structure will be completed In two
years. The report says of the plan:
For executive offices ana pu bic use ex-
cluslVely, this Will preserve the present Exec
utiye Mansion as 1t now stands, and the SIM
architecture Will only be modified by being re-
peated In such manner as to give emphasis
and additional character to the whole structure
Even the admirable semi-circular coonnade
now on the south front will be preserved by
oeing transferred TO the south front of the new
full appearance 1t does now. The present
charming and very ample site will be further
utilized without any additional cost for grad
ing or planning, or for any other improveme n {
or surroundings, save some changes of road
ways. The site il near the summit of an eleya-
ton gently sloping toward the Potomac and
Its attractive features its tree-clad knobs have
long been noted for their great natural beauty.
IL belongs TO the people, and It's great merits,
as when nrst pointed Thy Washington, still
Other plans may be suggested, and other
pians nave been suggested, but none OF them,
alter investigation, have had much support
The one most often mooted has been the propo-
sal TO build a chateau upon some site TO be plr-
chased somewhere out of the city. This finds
most favor, perhaps, with those who may have
some interest In the disposal OF eligible Sites
ana may, therefore, be quietly dismissed. 1t
mas mas, Also been asked, why not place the new
building on the ground directly In front OF the
present mansion? The answer Is, that IL would
bring the new building-170 feet long by SO
feet wide-directly on the brink of Pennsyl-
vania avenue with no adjacent goounds. hiding
from view what the public will most want 10
See, the present Executive Mansion, and i'm no
residence for the President. 1t has also been
proposed to add two wings to the rear of the
present building, but however ingeniousy such
wings might be contrived they must utterly
fall TO meet the requirements of a private resi-
dence, and would be a glaringly fncongruous
addition to the present building. 1t seems
almost superfiuous TO further discuss absurd
rival propositions, which are apt 10 multiply
here with the fecundity of Surinam toads .
The Presidential mansion, begun in 1892 at
the very dawn OF our government, and occu-
pied since 1900, has been for these many years a
subject OF criticism for its inadeQuacy, its lack OF
modern Improvement, and also as to its deIec-
tive drainage. 1t was begun prior to the intro
ductlon OF gas, and before much scientific atten-
lion had been given to SUCH subjects warm
Ing, ventilation and drainage. As fine as the
general proportions OF the present building are
having been copied from the country house OF
the Duke OF Leinster, much more magnificent
structure, modelled upon the plan OF some more
famous European palace, was originally favor
cd by Jefferson. That remarkable woman,
Mrs. John Adams, wrote in November lSOO
upon her arrival in Washington, that they
found the house upon grand and superb scale:
but that bells were wholly wanting; that wood
was not 10 be had, though surrounded with
forest; that they could not use coal because thew
could not get CRATES; and that the great unfn-
lshed audience room they used as "A drying
room to hang up clothes In. But still, she
braVely said, the situation is beautiful, and
capable OF every improvement Since then
the world has moved, and neighbors to the
w hite House are now to be found at a less
distance than half mile"
After referring to the dilapidated condition
0! the present mansion as shown 10y the report
OF the engineer officer in charge, the report
dwells upon the gradual encroachment OF ex-
ecutive offices upon the residence portion of
the mansion. Referring to the paiatiai palaces
provided for the crowned heads of Europe. the
report, or rather, Senator Morrill,, whose lam
guage Is adopted by the committee, says, at is
not propose1, however, that the President OF
the United States shall anywhere have a pal
ace or castle, but IL would seem decent and
proper that he should at least have one COM
portable residence, and that such would mod
erately bent his station aud its requirements
His wife, should he be SO fortunate as TO have
one, is for the time being the first lady of the
republic, and should have sufficient accommo-
iallonS TO extend the hospitalities ordained
ana offered by usage at the Executive Mansion,
hnu as iuucH ol the usual comforts and cOnye-
niences as are found in the mansions OF ordi-
nary wellto-do citizens"
The American people are attached to the old
white House." TO the present Executive Man.
lion, and 10 its site. The character IL has ac-
Iuired from historic associations OF the men of
,ariy days, having been occupied by all OF our
residents, Washington alone excepted makes
venerable, and lends additional charms To its
classic proportions. Our citizens have long
been won't 10 visit the place, and there To take
~ the hand such chief magistrates as jefferson
Adams, Jackson, Lincoln and Grant Thew
viii not consent to surrender their prescriptive
privilege to visit the President here for the
irowsy chance of finding him not at home
liter u ride of lniles away out of town. lie
must be accessible to members OF Congress To |
he people, and 10 those who go on foot; and we |
lave never yet had a President VINO even de- |
ired a royal residence, or one SO far removed |
S to be unapproachable save with a coach aud |
our"
After reviewing the history OF the mansion. |
he committee conclude follows: "Whether /
he present tenant OF the White House shall 1
emain there after the next election or some |
entleman with a greater or smaller family
rom this or the other side OF the chamber or 1
ou, MIR. President tof the Senate). or some dark
lorse yet undiscovered, now roaming on nil, /
r prairies, let us all agree that the Chief Mags-
rate of the United States shall have, not only
n appearance but in fact, a good, healthy, and |
dWelling-piacen