Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-02-25
The White Hnn.e of IN. rntn,.

The White House of the Future.
MAJ z ". Halford in New York Commercial Adver
In the Executive Mansion of 100 wears hence
think l can see the present building as the
central part. There is no doubt that this build
ing will soon have to be enlarged. There is not
room enough in it for the family and Office Of
the President and for the social entertainments
or public levees which tradition requires the
President to give But do not think the peo-
pie will ever consent to the destruction of this
house. Too many memories cling about 1t,
too many Of the great men and great events Of
the country's history have been associated
with it.
Since I have been here I have often Won
dered at the skill with which our forefathers
built this mansion. A hundred years have
passed since lite foundations were started-the
corner stone of the White House was laid a CEN
fury ago the l4th day of October-and it is a
good, serviceable and comfortable house still Its
only deficiency is in the matter Of room. 1t is
stately, elegant, impressive. In it's enlargement
i think some such plan as that suggested by the
late Mrs Harrison will be followed-pEeserva-
ton OF the present structure and throwing out
OF wings on either side. That would give room
for the living apartments of the Presidents
family, for the public Offices and for the cere-
monial or social functions which must take
place in the Presidents house.
The White House of the future will. there
fore, in my opinion. be simply the White House
of the present enlarged. l do not believe it
will ever be found desirable TO separate the
Presidents residence from his Office Nv four
years experience in Washington has convinced
ME that in the future the private secretary to
the President and his family should also be
provided with living apartments in the Execu-
tive Mansion. The President Of the United
States finds it necessary to work nearly ali the
time, and when he works he wants his private
secretary close at hand This means the night
as well as the day.
Probably more than half the evenings of the
last four years have spent in nv Office, busy
either with my own work or standing ready to
assist the President To do this have had to
leave my own home night after night often at
much inconvenience. The private secretary
| should have his home in a part Of the Execu-
tive Mansion set apart for his use, and this ne
| cessity should be recognized in the enlarge
ment of the house and should be made a part
of the law under which the mansion is re-
created:
A hundred years hence think the President
of the United States will have much less work
| upon his hands than he has now, though the
country will be twice as great and the govern
ment correspondiugly larger, for long before
that time Presidents will cease to give personal
| consideration to a myriad of matters which
| now consume their time and their energies
| The President of the future will not, in my
| opinion, pay any attention to minor appoint
ments.
:. Eyery government post. aside from cabinet
ministers, Foreign ministers and few bureau
| officers, and perhaps a score or of the most
important administrative offices, will be Il Lied
by heads Of departments without SO much as
| consultation with the President Under the
present system four-fifths of the PRESIDENT
time is taken with these minor appointments
| He is perplexed, annoyed, worn out by them
His energies are so sapped that it is only bv
| tremendous sacrifice of comfort and strength
| that he is able to give thought and study to the
important and serious matters of state demand
| ing his attention.
Mr.. Blaine said to me year or two ago that
| he believed that the day Is soon coming when
a President would not permit himself to be
bothered about postmasters and collectors and
consuls any more than a railway president
would spend his time hiring brakemen and
track repairers. My observation i'll the White
House has been that some such change in ad-
ministrative methods is not only desirable, but
| absolutely necessary in the near future.