The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-03-01
CAPITAL CHAT
F. ,shEvidence That the Man
sion is Inadequate.
harrow Escape From = Dreadful Panic.
Plans For Improvement-Dinicuit In
Securing Needed Appropriate ions-Prais
FOR Chief Justice Fuller.


ful panic and disaster at the White House
on the occasion of tho presidents recep-
ton Co the army and navy. Fora moment
II looked as II number Of women might
be crushed To death. Serious and perhaps
fatal accidents were averted only by tho
soolness and prompt action OF employees
II the White House and others. II con-
,ss was badly frightened at one time"
taid Colonel John NJ. Wilson, commits
sioner OF public buildings and grounds
and master of ceremonies at these White
House receptions. "A craze seemed 10
have taken possession Of tho people. The
house was not greatly crowded at the mo-
ment, but at that instant every one In tho
corridor and the vestibule seemed TO be
anxious TO pass through into the blue
room, where the president and Mrs. Cleve-
land and the ladies Of the receiving party
were stationed ] was standing by tho
president but as soon az saw the danger
j left his side and went TO the assistance
of number of ladies who saw were hard
pressed and about ready 10 faint. When
10y great exertions we finally succeeded In
relieving the pressure, a number OF women
had To be supported until they could recoy-
or themselves SO great had been the crush
upon them and their fright In conse-
quence Of 1t. There was no excuse for the
jam, except that the people lost their
heads. have seen such movements In
crowds before, but 1t is the first one ever
SAW in the White House, and l never
want to see another. The president and
Mrs. Cleveland were greatly annoyed and
panied by tho occurrence.
A Plucky Woman.
my niece was among the ladies who
were caught In the vortex at the narrow
doorway leading through the red parlor
into the blue room," continued Colonel
Wilson. "She is little mite OF thing,
and behind her was great, stalwart fell
low, who was pushing and crowding with
all his might My niece was hard pressed
and pretty badly frightened and felt her
self about to- faint. As she says, she
couldn't have held out more than 60 sec
onds longer. She was so indignant that
she managed TO turn her head trifio and
TO gasp out at tho man: Don't you see you
are crushing meY Please, sir, can't you
stand back littleY' Il can't do IT,, no
replied, because they are crowding mo
behind Then my niece lost her temper.
She turned to tho big fellow, though to
this day she doesn't know how she man.
aged to squirm horself about, and began
striking him In tho breast with her fists.
You can't get back, can your I'll make
you get back she exclaimed, oil the time
beating him with her little fists. At that
the big man laughed good naturedly,
showing that he was a pretty decent fell
low, after ALL and managed to get ont of
her way. II my niece hadn't lost her ter
per and turned on her tormentor, belle
she would have tainted and dropped"
On the question of new White House
Colonel Wilson has decided ideas. He
thinks congress should not delay day In
providing tho necessary funds. The pres
ent house is disgrace to tho country,
wholly inadequate and even dangerous.
1t has but one door, and some time or 9TH
er dreadful disaster may occur thero In
case of fire or panic. MY plan for i'm
provement of the White House is very
simple one" Colonel Wilson said TO me.
Between thu executive mansion and the
treasury, you know, there Is a street called
Executive avenue. Next to that street
would erect handsome marble building
OF two or three stories, TO be used as the
presidents offices. Thore the president
and his clerks would find ample accom-
modations The present executive man
sion could thus be devoted wholly to the
presidents family and TO ceremonial pur-
poses The new building and tho present
house should be copnected by wide corri-
dor, glass inclosed, which would make
delightful winter garden. On occasions
like tho four or Ave big receptions the
guests would drive up to the office build
ing In Executive avenue, leave their wraps
IN the various apartments Of that struc-
ture where there would be room enough
10 avoid the dreadful confusion which now
occurs in the crowded and I'll arranged
coatrooms, and then they would prone
. na.io through tho corridor TO the east
room, where tho presidents and his wife
would receive their guests. All tho lower
part of tho present house could then be
thrown open To company, including the
conservatory, and when guests were ready
60 go away they could pass out the corri-
dor instead Of through q window, as at
present, aud back TO the Office building
and their carriages. This would solve the
whole problem, and $3.50, 600 would cover
all the expense, but am afraid congress
will not give us tho money. Why, my
Office is now without cent for cleaning
tho 42 miles of sidewalks under govern
ment care in this city, and can't induce
congress to Appropriated dollar for my re-
lief.
Chief Justice Fuller.
Amid the talk about new associate
Justice Of the supreme court tsioro has ap-
peared great deal OF comment as to tho
ability and services Of tho chief justices.
Nearly all Of IL has been Of compliment
tary sort. When President Cleveland APP
pointed Melville Fuller, n lawyer OF good
reputation in Chicago, but littlo known
throughout tho country, 10 the great post
q Of chief justice Of the greatest court I'm the
country, groat deal of criticism followed.
IL was feared ho might not be large
enough for the place. Today no such crit
icisms nre heard. It Is agreed by public
men, such as senators and representatives
who often appear In tho supreme court TO
argue.c cases, and by lawyers from oil parts
of the country, tnat Mr.. Fuller has made
o most admirable chief justice and has
worthily fulfilled the confidence which
President Cleveland bestowed upon him.
Investments of the People.
That the people Of this country arc In
vesting large sums Of money in savings
sacuritfps az eomo Kind Is evident nv the