Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-10-06
The Admiral Confers With the Sub
scriptions Committee.
DESCRIBES his WISHES IN DETAIL
will Accept the Offering as the
Gift of the People.
HOPE OF INCREAS IL

Admiral Dewey has elected to accept a
house already constructed, instead of hav-
ing. one built for his occupation. In accord
ance with the invitation of the committee
which has been diligently at work re-
ceiving subscriptions to provide a residence
for the admiral in this city. he called at the
office of Acting Secretary Allen in the Navy
Department at IL o'clock today to indicate
his preferences in the matter of residence
The following committeeman were present
besides Mr. Allen: Assistant Secretary
Vanderlip, Assistant Postmaster General
Heath and Adjutant General Corbin.
The admiral came alone in civilian cloth
ing. He cordially welcomed by the
members of the committee and informed
officially of the purpose of the people of
the United States to present him with a
home in Washington.
The admiral frankly expressed his graft
ficaton at the tender, which he Immediate
ly accepted He said that had the proposed
home been the gift of a few wealthy men
he should feel indiSposed to accept it. But
he noted that the fund had over 1000 sub
scribers, indicating that the home was
really the gift of the American people, and
as such he would accept it with much
pleasure and in the same spirit as he had
the magnificent sword bestowed upon him
by Congress.
The Admirars Wishes.
Then the talk turned upon the location
of the home. The admiral surprised the
committee by his accurate knowledge of
the respective merits of the various sec
tions of Washington from a residential
point of view. He showed a decided prefer
ence for the section in which he had made
his home during his former details of duty
in Washington. He wished the house TO
be located in the northwest section, some
where west of 10Th street, and not too far
north, thus Indicating the neighborhood of
his former residence and the clubs where
he had spent a good deal of his leisure
time. First of all, he wanted the house at
once; that is to say, at the earliest possible
moment, and he wanted it completely fur
niShed, that he might go in and hang
his hat on peg and be at home at once, as
he put 1t. OF course, that precluded the
idea of erecting house to meet his special
needs.
Then he wanted south exposure. which
fact showed a knowledge of the choicest
location. He wanted dining room, so
that he might take care of his friends at
dinner; one not too large. say to accom-
modate about eighteen people. One thing
else he regarded as important, and that
was that the house should be modest
enough in appointments and cost to permit
of the retention of a sufficient sum of mon
ey from the purchase fund to defray the
expense of furnishing the house
Going to New York.
of these wishes and saw no reason why
each and all could not be gratifed The
admiral is going to New York tonight or
tomorrow, and will stop over if he can to
see the yacht race on his way to Shell
burne Farms, Vermont. He expects to re-
turn to Washington Immediately after the
conclusion of the Boston demonstration on
the 14th instant. Meanwhile, the house
committee, having invited written proposals
estate #
properties that would comply with the
terms desired, will go through the lists
carefully and hopes to be able to present
to the admiral his return as many as
half a doZer. available houses from which
he may make a personal selection. The
fund at the disposal of the committee now
amounts to about $4,000 and it is earnest
ly desired that this sum may be substan-
TALLY increased during the time remaining
before the purchase The committee is
confident that this will follow soon as
portion of the public is disabused of the
erroneous impression that Admiral Dewey
would not accept such a gift as it is now
proposed to bestow upon him.
The committee desires to have it distinct
ly stated that no proposition for the sale
of a house Will be considered unless 1t is
submitted to the committee in writing and
the hope is expressed that Admiral Dewey
will not he subjected to the personal i'm
rortunities Of real estate agents or other
persons interested in particular piece of
property.
Kept Down the SubscriDtiOns
Gen. Corbin said that the subscriptions to
the Dewey home fund would undoubtedly
have been much greater had 1t not been
for the persistent statements of alleged
friends of the admiral that he would not
accept such gift. He, Gen. Corbin re-
ceived letters from several gentlemen of
means saying that they would have SUBJ
scrlbed to the fund but for these state
ments. One gentleman expressed his will
fhgneSS to give $lOND toward the house
and others had made offers equally liberal.
Now that Admiral Dewey has publicly in
dicated his willingness to accept the gift
as the offering of the people in recognition
of his services at Manila Gen Corbin said
ne was confident that the offers he refer
red to would be renewed. He felt that
tfere would be no difficulty whatever in
obtaining 100000 more, if necessary.
What the Committee VIII Do.
The total amount on hand this afternoon
was little over $4,000. Chairman VAN
derlip said this ought to buy nice house
and furnish it to the admiraFs taste Mr..
Nanderlip said the committee had a pret-
ty fair idea of the kind of a house the ad-
miral wanted The committee expected to
receive propositions right along from now
on In short time these propositions will
De gone over and six or seven of the most
suitable houses selected. Then some day
the committee will take Admiral Dewey
around to the houses and let him mama
his choice. That is the way the house will
be selected. 1t is understood that Admiral
Dewey will occupy the house almost i'm
mediately after it is bought and turned
over to him. If his health permits he will
give a number of social entertainments
during the winter.
Offer of the Resolute
The Navy Department has offered the