The commonwealth. (Scotland Neck, N.C.) 1896-1929, 1902-02-06
Shall the White HOUSE be Enlarged !?


For the first time, we believe, the
plans for the reconstruction OF the
White House, which have received
| mos. favorable consideration by the
| present administration, are presented
fu]ly and clearly in an article by Mr..
George KEENAN,, published in The Out
lock. AS to the pressing need OF doing
something, Mr.. KEENAN, says:
"The clerical work Of the executive
office, at the present time, necessltates
the EMPLOYMENT of a regular force OF
about twenty men; and for their &C
ommodatlon-wlth all their desks.
typewriting achines, Ietterfles, etc
there are only four rooms, OF very
moderate size, one of which is used, liz
part, as reception and waiting room
for persons who desire to see the Presi-
dent or his secretary. Occasionally
when there is press of executive bu-l-
ness, clerks from the Departments are
specially detailed for White House ser
vice and these men have to be crowd
ed into Offices already occupied by the
regular force. Recently Mr.. Cortelyou.
Secretary to the President, had to put
seventeen stenographers, typewriters,
and copyists into roon4 that ought
not to have held more than three. As
the work of the executive office is con-
stantIy increasing, it will shortly be.
come necessary to strengthen the regu
lar force, either by appointing new
clerks, or by making permanent the
temporary details from the Depart
ments and then the already congested
state Of the office rooms will be even
more serious and embarrassing than 1t
is now.
"The overcrowding Of the White
House generally, and OF the upper part
OF the official wing IN particular, not
only involves great inconvenience, but
is attended with some risk. The build
ing is now more than a c. injury old
and although it is still strong enough
structura:ly to answer all the p lrposes
OF a private residence, there is consid-
cradle doubt as to the question whether
its floors Can be trusted to bear the
weight that is occasionally put upon
them. It is not regarded as perfectly
safe now Tor the President to receive
large delegations in the upper part OF
tbs building ! and Colonel Bingham
Superin tendeut of Public Buildings
| and Grounds, told President Mckinley
that II more than two thousand per
sons were invited to single White
House reception, he-the President
must assume responsibility tor any ac-
| c'dent that might occur, Owing 10
the fact that the Offices in the second
story are mainly over the large East
Room, they have no adequate partition
support, anu CdUEOG De StrGDytHel6G
By the putting in of underpinniny
They are regarded, therefore, as some
| what untrustWorthy, and nothing but
absolute necessity would have COM
PEELED the Presidents Secretary TO load
the floor Of one Of them with the weight
OF seventeen men and their desks.
The risk had to be taken because the
work had to be done ard there was 70
other place to put the clerks who were
doing it,"
For family and social purposes, the
White House Is also quite Inadequate.
Something must be done. Shall 1t be
the enlargement o! the White House.
the erection Of distinct executive
building, or the building OF a residence
Tor the President, the White House to
be fitted up for offi3ial purposes solely ?