The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1902-04-18
WOULD DWARF TIE WHITE HOUSE
Attempt at Dictation to Pres
ident and Cabinet, He Saws.
A NEW EXECUTIVE BUILDING
Temporary Structure Advocated-Argu-
ments Against Tuning Present Park
Into Business Square Gain Support
of Maine Senator's Colleagues.

Senator Hale is plannia a light against
the executive, legislative ana judicial
building proposed by u sumiltee on
Public Buildings and Grelgds
He is opposed to putting The executive
offices in q building with any of the de-
partments. He objects to- placing any
great public building On the sqgare north
Of the War Department. and, finally. he
is opposed TO the Park Commission plan
to surround Lafayette Sqra-e with public
buildings.
The indies tioGs are thae. Mr. Hale and
his friends will be successful and that
the committees bill wiz ne killed. II is
said that a number of Senator'S have taken
sides with him and that already they
show 50 much strength that the building
bill viii not even come up in tna Senate.
The Presidents Plazs.
President Roosevelt has sent to the
Senate the plans for temporary build
ing for the executive Offices TO be placed
in the White House grounds. opposite. the
south end of the State, Wa and Navy
Building.
It will not be very large aad viii aot
be built as a permanent stTueture. but
viii serve all the purposes q furnishing
adequate official quarters unesI q perma-
nent structure can be erected
The details OF the plan have not been
completed, but Mr. Hale said this morn
ing to Times reporter that IN a few days
they viii ali be arranged, al that an
amendment VIII then be added to TIE
sundry civil bill, providing for the cost
Of the building. It is understood thar
this viii not be more than Sz5.GOe OF
$50. 600.
Regarding this plan and the objections
to that of the Committee on Public Bald
ings. Mr.. Hale said:
4 am in favor Of many features OF the
Parking Commissions general plan. I be-
lieve the great driveway should be built
and that the Mall should be Beautiaed.
But the vast scheme in its entirety Is out
ef the question II calls for the expend:-=
tuTe OF 500, 0.O00 far too large gum.
in my opinion, TO be considered.
The plan to surround Lafayette SQUARE
with public buildings that viii entirely
dwarf the White House Is absurd aad
inartistic, in my opinion It would turn
into business section the square which
was certainly INTENDED IN the original
plan to be delightful. rest1uI park in
q sense a portion Of the grounds OF the
White House.
The park as it is now, surrounded BY
pleasant old residences not too large
or imposing, is in perfect harmony with
the White House. If public buildings sur
rounded it there would De the continual
clatter of mail and delivery wagons and
the hustle Of business on al sides Then
it would be entirely out OF harmony.
But the plan for the Executive. State
and Justice Building is particularly ab-
surd- I have examined It carefully. It is
simply an architects plan. The architects
believe that the President and his Cabi-
net and everyone else must conform to
their ideas.
President in an Attic.
Why should the President Of the Unit
ed States be given the third story Of a
building, with two departments occupy
ing the two lower floors?
The people viii not want anything OF
that kind.
such an arrangement would bring the
Departments entirely too close to tho
President It would make his grind Of
work even harder than It is row. People
who had business With the departments
would all consider it necessary TO their
peace Of mind that they see the Presi-
dent
And. moreover. it is not in accord with
the dignity OF the Office that the head Of
the natiGn should have the third story
OF any building.
4 Site Suggested
The ideal place fer an executive build
ng is the ground now occupied by the
Government where the Department OF Jus
ticc formerly stood. The lot is vacant
and Idle because It is considered too small
for the new Department of Justice. It
would be amply large for the executive
Offices and a handsome though not vast
structure will some day be erected there
for the purpose undoubtedly.
Meanwhile the temporary building in
the White HCEse grounds Viii be built
Immediately. The President viii have the
White House entirely for a residence in
side Of six months, or before the end Of
the year, certainly"