Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-08-02
THE HARRISON COTTAGE.
SON RUSSELL SAYS HIS FATHER PAID
CASH FOR 1T.

Unwilling to Accept the House as n Gift
No statement TO Mako About the Mary
land Property-The Trnnsa ction n Nobody.
Business.
NEW YORK, August 1.-Mr. Russell
Harrison was interrogated to-day concern.
ing the Harrison family cottage at Cape
May Point He said:
81 really do not care to speak of the mat
ter, for consider that the private affairs Of
my family are subjects which do not con-
cern the public. However, in view of the
conflicting statements that have appeared
concerning the cottage, few facts in refer.
ence to the matter may not be out of place.
when the gentlemen visited Washing
ton with the deed of the cottage it was the
first intimstion that the President had OF
their intention to make such gift. After
they had explained their mission and their
wishes In the matter, he said to them firmly,
but courteously, that while he appreciated
their kind intentions, he could not accept
the cottage as q present, and those who
called upon him understood then that his
decision was final. He stated, however, that
in view OF the fact that they had made
preparations for the family to occupy the
cottage, he would arrange for them to go
there, and would determine later on whether
he would rent the cottage or make pur-
chase of it. This arrangement was satsfac-
tory to the gentlemen.
After having occupied the cottage for a
time, my mother was SO pleased with it that
the President decided to make purchase of
it. The deed of the cottage to my mother was
made without consultation with the Presi-
dent, and both he and my mother were una
ware of this action until the visit to Wash
ington. At the original interview with the
Philadelphia gentlemen at the White
House. the President concluded that if he
did not make purchase of the cottage it
should he decided back and rented for the
season. Payment has been made for the
cottage and accepted. From the time the
cottage matter was first brought to the Pres
ident's attention it has been considered as
business matter"
The reporter inquired of Mr.. Harrison if
he desired to make any statemnnt in refer
eRce to the purchase of property bv the Har-
rison family, Of real estate in Maryland.
Mr.. Harrison replied:
"I have no statement to make, and none
is necessary. The property was purchased
for an investment and lies entirely in Mary
land, outside of the District of Columbia.
Lying inside of the District of Columbia,
it is subject to no action by Congress or the
District Commissioners. The property
standing in my mothers name is
owned by her father, DR.. Scott,
He wished it decided to my mother for the
simple reason that he is now very old man
over 30 years Of age-and wished, in case
of death, to have her make disposition of it
rather than to have will or an admins
traitor.
"These are matters Of domestic detail not
usually discussed publicly, but number of
papers have printed such false statements
that it is perhaps we'll that few facts
should be known. Ny mother never gave
any interview for publication, and she IN
forms me that she has never made any of the
statement about the gift of the cottage at
tributed to her,