The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-05-14
TO AVOID SPRING CLEANING.
PRESIDENTS REAL REASON FOR
LEAVING WASHINGTON.

Meeting Him-SOme Additions May
BE Made to the Presidents Man
siOn-Talk of Another Story-Not
Likely That There VIII he a New
White House Very soon.
Washington, May 1S.-(SpeciaD.-In as
sembling at Washington this week, the
Society of Mechanical Engineers must
forgo the privilege of meeting the Presi-
dent and Mrs. Mckinley.
1t is the custom of the latter to hold re-
ceptions at the executive mansion in honor
of all large organizations converting in
| Washington; but this is the season of the
year when that bane of American exist
| ence. the annual spring house cleaning,
has driven from home, even the presiden-
tal family.
It is fact that the Presidents visit to
the Virginia Hot Springs was occasioned
not by i'll health or immediate need of
rest but principally by a masculine and
| very human desire TO escape the general
domestic confusion at the White House.
Before leaving the city, however the
| President directed that the White House
/ and surrounding grounds be thrown open
for the special entertainment of the visit
ing menchanical engineers and the mem
bers of their party
The sanitary condition of the executive
mansion is well on the way to a state of
| perfection due to recent modern improve
ments made. All the water gas and
sewer pipes and electric wires in the build
| ing are now assembled in a cement con-
duit in the basement. The connections
with the upper stories being about to be
made, it behooved the President and his
wife to- make their escape from the scene
of noise and confusion, and at the same
time avoid spending ten days or two weeks
tripping over plumbers kits, and anathe-
matizing unpleasant sounds and debris.
Sulphur at the springs was preferable to
| plumbers incense at home. A New Eng
land crusade against corrouption by moth
and dirt is also under way and when the
mistress of the White House returns, she
win find mattings and linens and even
mosquito MEETINGS in place of the winter
| fnery. The mansion will be cool and in
wiling and as clean as the deck plates of
a modern man-Of-War.
Wants No New White House.
Like every former inmate of the White
House, Mrs Mckinley has given some
thought to the subject or charging the
! building. To a few of her friends she
has confided her dream of improvement,
! or rather enlargement, Tor having 50
many devoted young relatIves she natur-
! ally considers the space of the historic
building.
Like her predecessors, she refuses to
consider for a moment d new White
! House in some other section of the CAPT
tai city, history, association and senti-
ment admitting of but one, and the orig
inal executive mansion. Former Presi-
dent Harrison once said in discussing this
same subject:
81 admit that il seems very much like
/ a merchant who lives over his shop, but
you will always find tne ladies of the
presidential family willing to put up with
almost any amount of domestic incon-
venience rather than move from the pres
ent building until obliged TO do so by a
change of administration"
Mrs McKinleys idea is to build an ad-
diton to the west wing of the building,
utilizing some of the space now devoted
to the conservatory for the purpose Of
charging the Presidents private apart
ment. With this end In view the recent
improvements in the conservatory were
made at the extreme western end Of the
structure so that only an old portion
would have to be sacrificed in the event
of flowers and tropical plants making way
for bedrooms. 1t is not unlikely that the
subject may come up for congressional
consideration when the snow flies next
winter.
Might Have n Third story.
1t is singular that among all the projects
presented at various times for the enlarge
ment of the While House, which may not
compare favorably with the official abodes
of the high dignitaries of other countries.
there has never before been q suggestion
setting forth the merits of a third story.
The White House al present is so low
and rambling that 1t might be materially
beautified and rendered consfdera bly, more
comfortable by the growth of TWENTY-FIVE
feet or more The top floor of a house is
necessarily warm, and it was on the top
Aoor that the President and his force of
clerks worked so constantly last summer
and Mrs Mckinley endured probably the
warmest period of her life. The sleeping
rooms are intensely hot in the summer,
and it would be an inestimable relief if
third story, like a great umbrella, could
be reared above them, and future occu-
pants of the. Presidents house.
The Mechanical Engineers.
The mechanical engineers are having a
royal time IN the natbOn'S city, notWith-
standing the absence of the President
They are here 1000 strong, their wives
and daughters included, and are a most
distinguished host of visitors Fine wealth
er pronounced social attention, nd every
thing to see ard do in this attractive city,
combine to render their stay agreeable.
The largest function given in their honor
were the receptions at the Corcoran Art
Gallery and at Mrs. Westinghouse pala-
tial residence. The former was most beau
tiful and artistic, and the enlarged ma
rine band and the magnificent dressing
added to the charm of the surroundings
and the personnel of the guests. The
Westinghouse reception was on the elabo-
rate scale that characterizes every social
effort of this brilliant hostess, and the
ball ROOM built especially for the occa-
sion. and the decorations are the nine
days' wonder of the town. Several thou
sand guests were in attendance. but at
no time was there disagreeable crowd.
sAWMILL PLANT BURNED.