Evening star., 1902-05-05
SUNDRY CIVIL BILL
An Amount Of $205,000 to
Be Added.
PRESIDENTS OFFICE
FOR 1T OFFERED By
SENATOR ALLISON.
He Explains Its Purpose and It's Pro
posed Cost-Repairs to the
White House.

When the sundry civil bill was under con-
sideration in the Senate this afternoon Mr.
Allison offered an amendment which had
been adopted by the committee on appro-
priations Saturday afternoon, approprating
$2O5O00 for improvements at the White
House. OF this amount $50, 900 is for the
construction of a one-story building south
and west of the White House, to be used
as an office building by the President to-
gether with $4,000 for furniture The en-
trance to this building will be on the street
opposite the State, War and Navy building.
The office building is to be of brick painted
white. and will have a high roof 1t will
contain the offices of the President, so that
none of the clerical force will be retained in
the White House itself That will allow
the present offices of the President to be
used for domestic purposes. The building
can be constructed in three months time.
In order that the entire White House can
be put In order and made to conform more
nearly to its original plan in the interior
Sl6o,G0o is appropriated by the amendment.
These amendments We're adopted by the
Senate.
Mr.. Allison's Statement
Mr.. Allison made the following statement
"a one-story temporary office building,
approximately $50 by 80 feet can be erect
ed in the space Immediately west of the
White House conservatory in such man
ner as to be not inharmonous with the
White House. A driveway, with a turn,
connecting with the main driveways in
front of the White House, can be con-
structed
hn nf lrio IL
painted white. 1t would have high cell
lngs, and would be comfortable for work
in summer. 1t would contain a cabinet
room, a room for the President a room
for the secretary to the President a room
for one of the assistant secretaries to the
President, a telegraph room, a room for
the executive clerks, room for the press,
toilet rooms and file rooms. The executive
offlceS would thus occupy from 80 to 10 per
cent more space than is now allowed to
them.
The cost of the building itself would b,,
not to exceed $4,000 and it could be fin
ginning.
''The furniture now used by the executive
clerks in the White House is not suited for
further use; and for the furniture rugs,
etc, necessary for the new building in
addition to the furniture which, for his
toric reasons, the President might see fit
to transfer, will cost about $4,000
Repairs to the White House.
After as careful an examination of the
White House as could be given while the
house is being occupied, it appears that it
is necessary, first to support the floors of
the second story by placing a steel truss
or trusses In the attic and hanging the
floors therefromL The attic itself should be
provided with stairway, access at present
being by elevator only. The rooms on the
second floor should be converted from Of
fees into chambers.
"A new elevator should be provided for
the house, and throughout the first floor
the old beams should be relieved of the
undue strain now placed upon them,
s-raIn which makes certain of the rooms
dangerous to the large number of people
that frequently congregate in them.
In portions of the house the original
trimmings mantes and doors remain
These are of such a character as to indi-
cate pretty clearly the line on which the
restoration in the house shall be conducted
the idea being to reinState the house as it
was originally built and to rid it of those
excrescences which follow the temporary
fashion in the days when taste was not so
well developed as it was at the time when
the house was built and as it is today
There should be no changes from the origi-
nal structure of the house, nor any inter-
ference with the architectural features of
the exterior; but the building should be
restored in such a dignified and permanent
manner as to be lasting.
1T is impossible in so short a time to
state in full all the items that are neces-
sary to be done in reftting the building
but a rough estimate of $165,O0O is made
subject to such revision, either by way of
decrease or increase, as may be found
necessary on a detailed eXaminatio Of the
house.
THE most economical practice of today
In regard to such constructions and recon-
structons is to place the plans in the hands
of thoroughly competent and reliable
builder and to hold him responsible for
thorough work and completion within a
given time. to have him submit the items
of cost. and to receive reasonable amount
for his work. If Congress shall see fit to
place In the hands of the President the
work Of reinstating the White House, and
give him the same authority that he has
frequently exercised in connection with
very much larger and more important pub
lie works. the President is satisfied that
the White House can be restored so as to
be ready for occupancy in December next,
at an expenditure which can be properly
guarded and economically used.
I'm this connection 1t may be well to
state that it is not contemplated to discun-
tinue the public access to the east room
under the limitations which 1t Is now visit
ed, nor is 1t proposed to make any such
structural changes in the White House
will eliminate any Of it's historical fea-
lures"