Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-09
WHITE HOUSE EXTENSION
The President Satisfied With the Executive
Mansion.
VIII Not Oppose the Project of En-
larGing the HuiIding-CoI.
BinGham's Ideas.

Practically every member of Congress
agrees that addition should be made
10 the White House, and yet it is possible,
by reason of q misundersta nding of the
position of the President. that nothing will
be done after all to that end.
The President has from the first of the
talk about an addition to the Executive
Mansion decided that he would not offer
ally advice on the subject He does
not feel that he wants to be put in
the position OF fayoring a costly addition
at this time when the country's expenses
are so heavy. II Re should favor such an
addition, and openly advocate it. the prob
ability, he thinks, is that his position would
be misrepresenJed. and that he would be
made to appear 70 some eyes as Indifferent
to the large public expenditures. On the
other hand, there is no reason to believe
that the President would oppose the cree
ton of additions, inasmuch he, more
than any one else, knows the crampcd con-
dition in the present building.
Several weeks ago. as then noted in The
Star. Senator Cullom stated that he would
introduce bill for the erection of addi
lions to the White House. He had seen
the necessity of using the main veStibule of
the building for placing hat and cloak
boxes during receptions, and thought this
was a reflection upon the country. In fol-
lowing out his intentions, he requested Col.
Bingham to make estimates of the cost of
such building and to prepare Il bill for
Introduction in the Senate. Col. Bingham,
as superintendent of public buildings and
grounds had been at work for months on
estimates and plans, and is now prepared
to furnish any one who seeks such infor-
nation with all that is needed to begin the
first steps.
The President Satisfied.
Since Senator Cullom made the announce
ment. however, he has talked with the
President, and says that he will not now
introduce the bill, because he believes that
the President is opposed to an addition.
The President told Senator Cullom that he
was satisfied with the present building and
does not desire any changes 1t is believed
from other Information the Presidents
position that, although he expresses him.
self satisfied with the house as it stands.
he has intention of actively opposing
any plans for a new building. This being
the case, it Is still hoped that some one will
inaugurate the movement for an addition.
While the expenses of the government are
heavier than in many years the receipts
are growing daily, and there is monthly
surplus, which promises to be heavy by the
end of the fiscal year.
Colonel Bingham estimates that the cost
of the additions he has in view will not be
over I,0O0.00O. This will make Il mansion
out of the building.
Colonel Bingham hopes that something
will be done. but this is his individual wish,
and does not represent the views Of the
President Colonel Bingham has charge of
certain phases of the winter receptions at
the White House, and no one knows better
what is needed. The house is crowded be-
yond comfort during the season mentioned,
and even then the invitations sem out are
much limited. With a larger building there
would be more room for people and the in
vitation list would be larger.
Col. Bingham's Idens.
To Star reporter Colonel Bingham said
that he had given the subject of additions
to the White House some study, and his
ideas the subject were:
IL The present building to be kept in
tact.
80 The changes which are made to be
sufficient to make the building large enough
for all purposes for twenty-five or thirty
years.
80 To preserve the architectural har-
mony.
II. That the whole shall present a fin
ished appearance. so that the present
structure, with the additions, will look like
one building which has never been altered
-. While still having the appearance of
a complete building to be so constructed as
to permit of future and large additions if
necessary.
&c. More important than all the rest rea-
sonab.e expenditure in construction, the
whole cost not to exceed -s1,oo000o''