Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-09-30
FREE ENTRY SUSPENDED.
Visitors Must Satisfy Mr.. Thurber Before
Seeing the President
Only the Cabinet Omcers Can Enter
Freely-A New Order at the
White House.

The discontinuance Of the tri-weekly
afternoon receptions to the public is not
the only change in the White House rules
since President Cleveland's return from
Gray Gables. Efforts have been made in
other directions to reduce to a minimum
the interference with the proper transac-
ton of public business by visitors who have
mistaken idea that their business requires
a personal interview with the President.
A Privileged Class.
Heretofore there has been a privileged
class of visitors to the White House This
class included Senators and Representa-
tives. public ofiicials generally and all per-
sons of distinction from places outside of
Washington. Charlie Loefiier. who has
stood at the Presidents door since the
time OF Grant, knew them all and invari-
ably allowed them free entry. His powers
OF discrimination are proverbial and il is
said OF him that he has never I'm his long
career admitted to the Presidential presence
any person whose position or standing did
not justify such action. He stands at the
door of the cabinet room and no one is per-
mftted to enter the Presidents ONCE by
that route without his consent. Heretofore
ne was allowed to exercise his discretion in
the admission of callers, but now the only
persons who are permitted to pass his door
at the head of the stairs are the eight mem
bers Of the cabinet and persons in their
company.
Whereas his duty formerly was to facili-
tate the entry of members of Congress, IL
now is to keep them out SO far as the old
route is concerned, and Mr.. Lewis another
usher, is assigned to the duty of assisting
MIN In seeing that no one except members
OF the cabinet are allowed access to the
President through the cabinet room
Secretary Thurber's Duty.
All other visitors are referred to Private
Secretary Thurber. and they must make
their business known to him before they
can see the President He determines in
all cases whether the case is one that calls
for a personal interview with the President,
and the result is that the latter is shared
the loss of much time that might otherwise
be wasted In listening to idle talk Mr.
Thurber knows the Presidents wishes in
this matter, and is not at all likely to in
terfere with any meeting that might be
necessary or acceptable to the President.
The privileges of members of Congress
are not very much curtailed. They can al
ways secure an interview with the Presi-
dent when II is absolutely necessary, but
ii frequently happens that their business at
the White House can be transacted lust as
well with Mr.. Thurber. They frequently
think IL is necessary to see the President,
but a short talk with Mr.. Thurber con-
vinces them that the object in view can be
attained Just as easily by application to the
head of the department to which IL relates.
Only the Cabinet.
Therefore. under the new regime. no one
outside of the cabinet is permitted to enter
the Presidents Office when he is there un-
less he can satisfy Mr.. Thurber that his
business justifies an audience with the
President. In this way the President is
kept free from bores and is able to devote
more time for the consideration of the mani
fold duties of his Office.