Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-01-18

On March 2. 1o09, two days before James
Madison entered into the Office of President, the
Tenth Congress authorized another clean sweep
OF the household treasures for the benefit of the
auction block and relic hunters. and added
S14, 900 to the proceeds of the sale to be ex-
pended for new furniture.
BURNED BY THE BRITISH
In July, 1918, the first year of Madison's sec
ond term. a similar sale and addition of Sl4 600
was made. This furniture never passed under
the unsentimental hammer of the auctioneer
as the British relieved the commissioner of
pubic buildings of that trouble by burning out
the interior of the Presidents house and such
parts OF its contents were not hurredly
carted away. The President during the repair
OF the mansion occupied rented quarters
on March 3, 1917, the day before James Mon
roe became President, Congress authorized
sale of such furniture as had been purchased
out of the unexpended balance of the appro-
prlatlon of 1918, after the burning of 1914, and
added $4,000 to the proceeds for new.
THE RESTORATION OF THE INTERIOR
OF the Presidents house having been COM
pleted on April 20, 1918, Congress appropriated
5000 to furnish it and added $40, 900 to meet
deficiency in the previous year.
On February Is. 1926, Congress appropriated
$4,000 to be expended by the direction of
the incoming President. John Quincy Adams.
On March =, 1927, during the same admins
traton, Congress authorized the expenditure,
under the direction of the President. out of the
money appropriated May 2, 1876, for furnish
ing the large room III the Presidents house, of
$4,000 for the purchase of furniture for the
same. This was what is now known as the east
room. originally designed for a banquet hall,
and used by Mrs. Adams drying room for
clothes" and by the children of subsequent ad-
mlnistrations as play room.
ADDITIONAL APPROPRIATIONS
The Congress which expired on March 4, 1929,
on their last day authorized the regulation in
vasion of secondhand dealers and auctioneers
and added $4,000 to the proceeds, to be ex-
pended under direction of President Jackson
On March 2, 1888, Congress appropriated
$4,000 in addition to the proceeds for his sec
ond term. and the next year appropriated
$1,000 "tor completing the furniture of the
PRESIDENT house." On March 3, 1887, $40 900
was appropriated to keep Martin Van Buren,,
the Magician of Kenderhook," from having
the furniture taken from under him.
AMERICAN FURNITURE.
On March 8, 1871, the tariff agitations of the
times crept into the appropriation, Congress
requiring that the $4,000 appropriated for the
incoming Harrison administration should be
expended for furniture "of American manu-
facture as may be practical and expedient"
On March 3, 1S4o, James X. Polk, then about
to enter his office, was allowed $4,000 for fur
nlture OF American manufacture"
vi MARCH u lofJ, Tlf.UUU III auUltlOn 10 the
proceeds of the sale of ''decayed, out of repair
or unfit for use" furniture, was allowed the
Taylor regime.
ENORMOUS EXPENDITURES
On March 3, 1853, President Pierce was al
lowed $4,000; on March 3. 1857, President
Buchanan. $50, 900; on February 20, 1861 Presi-
dent Lincoln, $4,000; March /, 1862, 46,s5S,
and March l. 1868, S2,6l3. The expenditures
now grew enormous under the commissioner of
public buildings, viz: December 10, 1865, 800
600; April Z, 1866. $4,000; July %, 1866. S24,-
600; March 2. 1867, 1000, or $3.50 during
the four years administration of Andrew John
son, of which hardly vestige remains in fur
nlture of that period.
The Forty-first Congress on March 8, 1869.
started the new occupants of the mansion of
President Grant and family in official house
keeping with an appropriation of ga, 600, which
was increased $4,000 and $4,000 in 1870,
S1l ,464 i'll ls7l and 81 ,495 i'll 1873.
The aggregate OF these sums. including incl
dental expenditures, foots up, as stated, $524,-
033 net.
SINCE THIS DATE
the official figures are not Immediately Access
slble, but as the quadrennial raid upon the fur
nlture OF the executive mansion authorized by
Congress was continued with the regularity
known to official routine. the additional fig
ures may be safely put down at 100000 or
@G24. 900.
This, it should also be remembered only ac-
counts for actual appropriations and expendi-
lures, but does not include the proceeds of
the congressonally authorized sales of furni-
ture. Whatever they were they should be
added to s624OO0 expended for furniture for
the Official home of the President.
THERE Is SCARCELY RELIC
OF these numerous purchases to show the
changing designs of century of executive ad-
ministration. The belongings of the mansion
in furniture to day did not cost $50 OOO I'm
perlshable articles should represent the accu-
mutation of the interesting epochs of execu-
tive, public and private life in the past.
Now at this remote day there has come for
ward "a first lady OF the land who has patriotic
interest enough iii her position to exert herself
Ill behalf of the government and by careful
housekeeping. having understood the require
ments OF the executive household, has de-
termination to establish responsible care for
the property of the mansion and regard for
the patriotic sentiment of the home of the
Presidents for the future.