The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-01-24


or when petitioning for something OF an
eoluta neccssity but 80 Is time that the
publio should know that the White rouse
ie not all that IS desirable for the lre-i-
dent of the United states.
ANY thinking man and every states
,,an knows that the White House mas
outerown itself and the country. AZ
the time the White House was built
there were no railroads running "lO
Washington. and the only arrivals W'ie
nv means of two stages per day tha-
cor,o into the capital with their burden
OF human freight. Many Local statesmen
never visited the Capital city.
"In those days the President had few
callers. and the White House was ample
for the needs Of state and for the ac-
communication of his family. I think there
Is a record somewhere OF the East room
I'm the White House being used by AlIa-
Adams as a drying-room for her clolhea'
There was room TO spare.
Now the White House has undergone
n change. Where emptiness ruled there
Is profusion: and where quiet prevailed
there is confusion. Telephones. teie-
graph wires. messenger calls and private
tickers mn the smaller rooms; and IN the
larger ones. devoted 20 the affairs OF
state. there are numerous clerks ticking
upon ;ypewrters and filing bulky leds-
ers with the necessary records OF the
Presidents work
IN the midst OF n all the President
sits. ever busy. never at rest. knowing
no privacy and scarcely finding time 10
slim away 10 dine and lunch with his
own family in another part of the house.
The President OF the United States
has no privacy. lie lives in his Office
building, ana IS placed. I'm way about
the same as "a man who has a folding
bed I'm his Office. and who IS forced 10
dine within sight of his desk.
"The remedy for 70 all would consist
I'm giving the President of the United
States a home of his own. lie should
not live I'm the White House. lie should
be allowed separate quarters, where be
could know some retirement and have
n little daily rest from business, the
same as a private citizen.
1T Is claimed now that the President
OF the United states does not Keep office
hours Visitors seek him to-day AZ
o'clock and End him. To-mcucw he IS
not there at that hour This may be so;
but Il IS due 10 the fact that the Presi-
dent is within call an the time and
must slip away when he can 90 get rest
and food History cites many cases
where a President has been awakened
I'm the night TO read a bill or TO consult
upon somo important measure, and
there is never an evening when he IS
free from at least one hurried consulta-
ton; more often he is busy until mid
night.
1T Is an unhappy thought, but ono
that is forced upon the mind. is TINS
constant work good for the President!
And can this be the explanation. in part
OF the fact that so few ex-Presidents
arc now surviving. though they should
by right OF years be still alive2 That Is
only thought suggested by the ques-
ton Of overwork
1.-THE Presidents home need not be
palace. 1t in fact. could not be SUCH
He could not keep up such a home, even
n Il were given TO him rent free. Ills
salary would be insufficient and Doe
would come ont OF the White House In
debt The Presidents homo should DE
the home Of a private gentleman
Il would suggest that upon the ground
floor there should be a dining-room.
also narlor roception-roOm and library.
Irpstairs there should be six or eight
sleepinc-rooms. and further up quarters
for tho household servants-in other
words. a gentloman's residence. This
the President could afford 20 keep up.
and he would find IL fully adequate for
his wants.
"The United states has been fortunate
thus far i'm ifs Presidential families.
None Of the Presidents has had large
families Mr Mckinley has a small
household and Mr.. Clevcand's is not
numerous.
"But any day this may be changed.
and there may be elected a President
who will come into the White House
with seven sons and four daughters.
some OF them married. with growing
grandchildren. all Of whom have a per-
feet right TO live under his roof What
will he DO then. In view Of the present
cramped quarters?
"The President OF the United states
should be able to hold a house party II
he desires. Mr. Mckinley might wish 20
invite a house party. but II he were %
do so he could find no room for HIS
guests. He could not accommodate
them The house party OF Benheim
would be utterly impossible az the White
House upon the smallest scale, and II
will be recalled how impossible II was 70
think OF entertaining Eulalle and her
small suite OF ladies during their brief
stay in the United States. They would
have had 10 sleep three In a bed.
IF the President were given home
OF his own he should be asked 10 con-
form 10 certain regulations. and If his
tory is correct he would not object 20
these Take the diplomat dinners. TIE
President should bo compelled 10 give
the diplomatic dinners In the White
House. and as the diplomats would DE
guests OF the nation. the nation would
get full credit for the hospitality Tn's
would be a pretty compliment 20 the
foreign CORPS Near by the Presidents
house would stand. and the President
would take a carriage and come 10 the
dinner the same as any other guest.
AT present the Government places
steward in the White House. The stew
ard hires certain servants. He keeps the
lawns trimmed and the White House
painted. lie paws the doormen and the
hallhoys and also settles the cost Of
diplomatic dinners. With the Presidents
house SEPARATE the President wouli pay
his own servants. and the Government