The leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1895-1905, 1900-12-19
WASHINGTON LETTER.
Plans For EnlarsinG white House
Question of Social Precedence.
Count Cassfni Returns-


Especial Corrcspondcnce.1
The commission authorized at the
last session OF congress TO consider the
question OF enlarging the official resi-
dence of the chief executive has decid-
cd to recommend the plans originally
suggested. by the late Mrs. Benjamin
Harrison.
The report Of the commission Is prac-
tically completed, and the drawings
have been penciled out, so that the re-
suit of Its deliberations will be ready
for presentation to the committee on
public buildings and grounds when
congress conyenes In December. Ac-
companying the report will be plaster
model Of the present building ana tne
proposed extension, which VIII be nm
Ished In time to be exhibited at the
Washington centennial celebration I'D
this city on Dec. Z. /
The work of the commission was NOT
accomplished without considerable out
side opposition, notably from certain
architects anxious to supply designs
for the extension of the historic man.
sion.
There is another element OF opposi-
ton which threatens to make Itself ieit
when the question Of appropriations
comes before congress. 1t Is compi-
nation of citizens who own deslrapie
property on Washington heights at the
head of Connecticut avenue and Six
teenth street who are anxious to nave
the official residence Of the president
permanently located In that vicinity
It Is not new idea to separate the e1-
ecutiye office from the presidents oH-
cial home, and many influential per
sons are interested in trying to bring II
about
1t is not likely, however, that TINS
generation will witness change OF the
presidents official residence from its
present location. There is no doubt OF
the necessity for more liberal accom-
modations for the president his family
and his official staff. The subject has
been agitated for several years, ana
the consensus of opinion seems to be IN
favor of enlarging the present building
and preserving the outlines of the orig
inal structure.
ouestion of Social Precedence.
Social precedence is to be burning
issue this winter. President Mchln-
lev has been the court Of last resort IN
the troublesome problem which nearly
disrupted official society last winter
He has practically adopted the soiu-
ton suggested last year-that Is, 10
make distinct class Of the heads OF
the three divisions Of our government
the executive, the judiciary and the
legislative-and to give them prece-
dence on all official occasions. This
class would under ordinary circum-
stance comprise five people, the presl-
dent and vice president, the chief JUS
tice, the president pro TEN. OF the sen
ate and the speaker Of the house OF
representatives.
Colonel Theodore A. Bingham, U. s.
A., superintendent Of public buildings
has among his multitudinous duties the
task Of gathering together all prece-
dents which might apply to such cases,
and the presidents first leisure mo-
ments when he returns to the capital
will be expended in examining these
points. The controversy between the
army and navy regarding the suprema-
cy of Admiral Dewey over Major Cen
eral Miles is also live issue and bids
fair to develop some lively points be-
fore the season Is over.
Count Cassini Returns.
The Russian ambassador, Count Cas-
SIM, has returned to Washington after
an absence of some months in Europe,
during which time he had the oppor-
tunlty of visiting st. Petersburg and
comforting with Count Lamsdorf. Rus
sian minister of foreign affairs, con-
corning Chinese affairs and other in
ternational questions which have en-
gagged attention of late. Count Cas-
SIM also spent some time In Paris,
where he talked with NJ. Delcasse, the
French minister of foreign affairs.
When seen at the embassy, Count
Casslni said that his visit to st. Peters
burg was more than two months ago,
so that he was not in touch with the
latest phases of the China situation
and was not yet in position to discuss
them. But he spoke informally on
some Of the events which have arisen
and the course which Russia has pur-
sued.
A test was made in the model tank at
the Washington navy yard OF model
of new type Of torpedo boat. The
vessel is q combination Of some of the
features of the submarine boats and
ordinary torpedo craft. All the vitals
are below the water line. and the small
surface of the vessel showing above
the water is protected by cellrlose, a
material which expands on contact
with liquids and stops leaks. The test
was very favorable to the invention,
the only Objectionable features being
the low speed developed, IA knots. and
a very perceptible wake. 1t is claimed
that the vessel can be seen only at
close quarters. There will probably be
another test after an attempt has been
made to SO rearrange the boat as to
meet the objections made by the naval
experts. The inventor is New York
man named Berger.
Now comes the official news that the
Spanish cabinet has caused the issue of
a warrant for the arrest Of it's minister
plenipotentiary to the republic of Chile.
Don Lopez Guijarro. who has disap-
peared after disappointing not only
government funds. but likewise large
sums which had come into his hands
for Spanish subjects as the official rep
resentative Of Spain. 1t is believed
that be has fed to the United States,
and steps have been taken to request