Morris tribune., 1897-09-22
CAPITAL ITEMS.

some time, out there Will De some QlI-
J ficulty about it; for the reason that
in the past at least the occupant Of
/ the executive mansion has never been
enthusiastic about it, as far as he was
concerned. General Grant was thor
| oughly convinced that there should
be an extension to its capacity, tho
he favored the idea of building a
residence for the chief executive in
some other section of the city and de-
voting the White House to an official
residence only, for business and the
social functions which occur there.
But he would not listen to the idea of
having either done while he was
president. He was talked to several
times on the subject, but all he would
say was that it should be done. The
present White House was good
enough fol him, though he thought
the sentiment of the country was in
favor of more commodious mansion.
The necessary appropriation could
have been made any time he wanted
it, but he would never say the word.
During Presidents Cleveland's
first term there was no agitation on
the subject whatever Mrs. Harrison
was enthusiastic on the subject, and
even went SO far as to approve plans
for an extension which were prepared
| for her, but that is as far as has been
done, for the reason that Gen. Harri-
son, like Gen. Grant, always said that
the present White House was good
enough for him. Had he been one
half as enthusiastic on the subject as
Mrs. Harrison was the enlargement
would have been accomplished be-
fore now. Maj. Mckinley has prob
ably not given the subject any
thought since be has been president,
and don't know what he will do, if
anything, about the matter. He has
said: "Yes, there ought to be new
executive mansion of the present one,
which is to me the most desirable
idea, but I'll worry along as it is"
A project has been originated by
representative railroad men to build
a private car for the use of the presi-
dent of the United States, from ma
terial and appliances contributed for
the purpose by the car-building affili-
ated industries. It is proposed to
construct private car excelling any
thing of this kind which has been
done before in the substantial char
acter Of its construction and in the
completeness and convenience of its
furnishings and decorations.
The projected car will be a com
plete exposition of the art of car
building, demonstrating to the world
the surprising excellence of this in
dustry in the United States; and it is
to be presented to the nation as a
tribute from the car-building frater
nifty, for the personal and official use
of the successive presidents of the
United States.
The designs and specifications for
the car are prepared under the SUI
pervision of committee of twenty
five prominent representative master
car builders and superintendent of
motive power Of various railroads,
thus ensuring the end that the pro-
posed car shall represent the skill, in
genuity and experience of the Amer
lean car builder. Much of the neces-
sary material required for it's con-
struction has been rendered by lead
ing dealers and manufacturers in the
railroad supply trade.
The director or superintendent of
the next census has been selected by
President Mckinley. He is S. N. D.
North of Boston. His appointment
will be made just as soon as the nee
essary legislation is had. During the
census year Mr.. North will direct the
work of at least $4,000 men. Twice
as many men as there are soldiers in
the regular army will look to him as
the source of their instructions. For
this work Mr.. North will receive &c.
600 year.
A law establishing permanent
census bureau is desired by the pres
ident, and he will probably give the
subject more than ordinary attention
in his annual message. The statisti-
clans and economists are agreed that
there should be permanent census
bureau, with director or superin-
tpndant who will dpvOfa his timn tn