The Washington times., 1901-09-26
A NEW WHITE HOUSE.

The Executive Mansion in Washington.
for years overcrowded by its miscellane-
GUS uses. is more than ever inadequate
to house the largest Presidential family
ever taken to the Capital Though splen-
did and stately mansion, its rooms are
spacious rather than numerous. and so
much of it is used by clerks. copyists.
messengers. and other minor officials that
unless some remedy can be devised the
home life of the Roosevelts must be inter-
rupted, the family broken up. and part or
its members lodged elsewhere. To meet
these conditions the following measures
are proposed:
1. A new White House.
9. An addition to the present mansion.
3. The restoration of the mansion to its
intended use as an official residence and
the erection in the grounds near by of an
unobtrusive office building for the clerks.
4. The use of the White House as the
Presidents office merely, housing his fam
ily elsewhere.
The first alternative is impossible, the
fourth scarcely better. The White House
is inwoven with the history of the coun-
try, with the life of the Republic Every
President except Washington has lived in
it, marriage and birth and death. war
vigils and peaceful feasts nave filed every
nook and corner with memories great and
touching. pitffui or proud. 1t must be re-
tanned. and retained as n residence. If
Congress decides upon its enlargement a
careful plan has been prepared which pre-
serves its beauty and respects its history
while adding harmoniously to its space
Conservative action to leave the White
House untouched and provide business of
fees near by might for sentimental rea-
sons be decided upon.-New York World.
There is no difference of instructed and
impartial opinion as to the inadequacy of
the residential accommodation with which
the Chief Magistrate of this great Repub-
lie is now provided. The White House has
long ceased to correspond with the dignity
and importanc nee of the Presidential Of
flee. 1t was all right when this nation
was small and poor and feeble 1t is not
all right now that the United States has
grown to be one of the richest and most
pOpuious among the nations of the world
1t is not proposed and it Is not desirable
that the historic mansion should suffer a
transformation into something new and
strange 1t Is an interesting and precious
monument of the past, which should be
preserved for future generations in all
its integrity. But it ought to be reserved
exclusively for official uses. 1t should
cease to be a residence. A new house
for the President ought to be erected
within the extensive grounds in its i'm
mediate vicinity to the end that he may
be enabled to live as becomes his position
and that he may be assured the privacy
which is essential to the home and of
which under existing conditions he is to
a considerable extent deprived.
1t is known that this is a subject upon
some positive opinions. 1t is not unlikely
that the building of a new and modern
White House will be one of the features
Of his term.-Philadelphia Inquirer.
Mr. Roosevelt will be the first occupant
of the White House In many years to
have family which will tax the accom-
modations of the modest mansion the
Government has set apart for its Presi-
dents, and this fact will no doubt revive
the project of building a new home for
the nations Executives. The idea of
building a residence apart from the busi-
ness office of the President has grown in
favor recently, and to many is preferable
to the plan of altering the present White
House. the historic associations of which
have probably been instrumental in pre-
serving it from the designs of architects
and the implements of artisans.-Balti-
more Herald.
An addition to the White House has
been proposed many times, but never
before for the reason suggested by the
advent of the Roosevelt family-the large
and interesting number of children rang
ing from Stalwart youths and fair maid
ems down to babes in arms. II this situa-
ton does not bring about an enlarge
ment of the Executive Mansion nothing
wili.-Chicago Chronicle.
The Roosevelt family, with six children
of all ages and sizes, will break the White
House record All the Presidents, but
Buchanan, have been married men, but
not all have had children. in this number
being included Washington. Madison.
Jackson, and Polk. The only children at
the White House during the first seventy
years of the Government were grandchil-
dren or relatives still further removed
The elder Harrison was the father of ten
and Tyler of fourteen children, but in
Harrison'S case those who survived him
were grown when he became President
The same is true of Tyler's children by
his first wife. and the seven by-his second
wife were born after he left the White
House. Lincoln took three boys to the
White House. and Grant and Garfield, and
Cleveland-during his second term-had
children. But the new President breaks
the record. If ever there is to be an ad-
dition built on the White House, now
would seem to be the time.-Des Moines
Leader.
The country will have to build a larger
White House or elect Presidents with
small famiiies.-Baltimore World.