Telegram-herald., 1890-04-21
WASHINGTON ECHOES
Ths Inconyenlences or Living 10
the White House.
TIE SUCCESSFUL CABINET MEMBER
ass ths w@r DsP4rtasat An.irs Are
Csaaaet.d-A B4slasss Ma ia once
--fAs CsxsAa nf.isEsrs. queer
L4s1le wives

seen 70 regard 10 II any other lgnt
than a public building. They think
that they should be entitled 70 wander
al over the private part OF the mansion
and when told that certain Of the rooms
are not thrown open 20 the general pub
lie they are very indignant. Although
almost any one would be wiling to put
up with the discomforts Of having to
1--we IN the White House, for the sake OF
beng President for four years or 50, It
= tact that the Accommodations at the
executive mansion are entirely out of
keeping with the high oftice. II IS not
that the rooms are not large and well
furnished, but they are limited in
number aud there is actually no privacy.
Mrs. Harrison or any other member Of
the household, can not 20 out OF the
manson without being liable 10 be
stared At by a group OF oltice-seekers
on their way up stairs TO see the Presi-
dent, and when an extra Terson is
entertained At the White House, and
asked 70 stop there for the night it re-
qulres some ingenuity 10 find spare
bedroom. The only solution OF the
difficulty - 20 separate the office
OF the President from his private
residence. No cabinet officer is ex-
pected 70 i've IN the department over
which he presiaes, and Il : difficult TO
see Why the President should nave 10
1--we n the same place IN which ne
transacts his business. There Is a scheme
nov before Congress 20 enlarge the
present executive mansion so As to make
10 spacious enough 10 give ample room
% tne President and his household tor
living purposes and also 10 make the
puLlc Offices larger, the present quar-
tcrs OF the clerks being entirely too
Cramped for comfort. Ii seems 10 me,
however, that 10 would be a great deal
better TO leave the historic old mansion
III Is present condition and 70 build on
another spot a home for the President.
The White House could still be used for
public occasions ~ the reception rooms
are excellently well adapted tor great
gatherings, but apart from that the
President ought 70 be ike any other
worklngman, and have home TO which
he can retire after the days work is
over and where be could De sure of
privacy and seclusion.
The ushers ~ the White House have
some queer experiences. In the first
place none of them wear livery or any
distinguishins badge, and they are
often taken fOs guests and guests for
ushers, which j. apt TO be- embarrassing.
But the worst trials thev have 20 suffer
IS at one OF the large public re options.
The room in which the receiving party
stands IS only open To specially invited
guests, and those who have not re-
ceived al invitation 10 enter can not
get IN. Scores of people VINO are not
entitled 10 admittanCe try TO get IN on
some pretense or other. and the door
keepers have hard work in keeping
them out and yet not giving offence.
Frequently the daughter of a senator or
representative wants to take 4 friend
into the reserved space. The door
keeper knows that this Is against the
rules. and yet be hesitates about saying
20. ii ne does 10 - generally resented
and sometimes It leads TO IS enc. But
4 good deal OF this Is due. a 7 said he
fore. 20 the feeling that the White
House is nothing but a show place. and
that none Of the COuTtcsies which PIE
vail in private house need be en-
ployed there. II toe President had
private house all this would be greatly
improved.
When the history Of this Administra-
ton comes 20 be written 7 think II viii
bc found that the most successful men,
hCr OF Q IS the secretary of War. When
cV-Cov. Proctor vas offered the War
Department portfolio people wondered
n thc President had not made q mis-
take, and as Nr. Proctor had never
been beard of outside the local politics
0f Vermont they could not see the WIS
dom 0t giving n Cabinet position to
practically an unknown man. II l.
true that Gov. Proctor is not 10 IT,
can iu the sense that some men are
who have bad long experience in pub
lc ife but the War Department does
rot need politician az Its head
What 10 needs more than ANYTHING else
IS U0od business man. and that it has
in the person Of the present head. Sec
retsrv Proctor conducts the affairs Of
the Department very much m the same
way that he manages his own large
business. All his life ne hss been used
% deahng with men and handling
large affairs. 50 that the control Of A
great department. bke'this IS not an en-
trelv new experiente 70 him. He :
somewhat slow and del herate II
speech. bat very concise and direct
I'm All that he SAYS. He Is one Of g
most approsC liable Of men. and uni Se
a good many Of his predecessors. ne -
not controlled bv any ring or clique. A
proposition. a bill. a measure. IN fact
anything that comes before him for hls
decision = looksd az by him simply
from s common sense point of view. it
= regarded IA q business matter and =
90 be treated accordingly. he hss m
tr0duced many reforms IN the admin
istrston of The army OF which the
general public has heard nothing hut
which have been of great benefit ~ the
service. HIS rr0ulptresS ln ordering a
court marital % try Lieutenant Steele.
who was accused Cf triSng Private
Wild. shows that be = entirely ia svrn-
uathv With the common soldier. and
hs study of The subject of desertOrs
ard bis plans ~ reduce them ard Oh
make the rank and fle more contentsd
WITH their 'ot - proof Of his cor1rre-
henson Of the needs Of the army and
hrs desire ~ improve the condition IF
TIRE enl sted nlen Hs latest prorosi-
frr On arlist a reg .nrent ~ Indians is
very favoraliv regarded by the nen
Who have rad most 90 10 wfh the
settlement 7f the Irt ar question I'D
vi very lissiY 10 carried nto eject.
a 80 rse ~ -rIs -