Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-04-22
AT THE White HOUSE
Col. Crowder's Report Dis
cussed by the Cabinet.
NO ACTION TAKEN
PROPOSED REMoDELING OF THE
WHITE HOUSE INTERIOR.
Architect McKim to Prepare Plans
Mr.. B. T. Barnes Succeeds the
Late Maj. Pruden.
NO ACTION TAKEN

The session of the cabinet today was not
decisive discussion of the report of Colonel
Crowder on his Investigations of the
charges Of the existence of British sup
ply camp at Port Chalmette, La The Pres
ident briefly informed the cabinet of the
facts given to him by Colonel Crowder
and said that the full report of the officer
had not been received. 1t is understood
that no action will be taken by the Pres
ident until all the facts are known and
until these facts are supplemented by de-
cision from Attorney General Knox as to
the legal features of the case. Mr.. Knox
is expected to cover fully whether the al
legged camp is in contravention of neutral
ity or other laws. Whether he has prepared
decision is not known, but it is probable
that he will render no decision until he has
reviewed the matter in the light of the
facts as presented by Colonel Crowder
When he has seen the latter's report he
VIII know whether supply camp for the
British army really exists in Chalmette
His opinion will be based something
substantial and not on supposition
Postmaster General Payne remained with
the President some tine after the cabinet
meeting going over post office nominations
Most of the cases considered were the con-
tinuation of incumbents in Office, and no
large or important offices were involved
Secretary Long, who was at the cabinet
meeting today, will attend only two more
sessions of the cabinet. He will retire
May 1. when he will be succeeded by Rep
resentative Moody.
Plans for White House Changes.
Charles F. McKim, the architect and
member of the parking commission for the
Identification of Washington, was at the
White House for several hours today go
ing over the building with view to at once
preparing plans for important changes in
the interior of the executive mansion. With
Mr. Mckim were Charles A. Moore of the
Senate committee on the District of Co.
lumbia; o. w. Norcross, of the firm of
builders Of that name, and the foreman for
Norcross Bros.
Mr.. Mckim has had a number of consul.
tations with the President as to his views
for the work. The proposition is to remodel
and renOvate the entire interior of the
White House The work is to be done this
summer, the most of it while the President
and his family are away from Washington
for the warm season 1t is contemplated to
have the work finished by fall and practi-
caIly new interior by winter, when the
social season begins.
Architect Mckim Is going to buckle
down Immediately to the preparation of the
plans They must be finished without much
delay, as they must receive the approval of
the President and of Congress before the
appropriation is made.
project and will champion the appropria-
ton through Congress.
Probable Cost of the Project.
1t is believed that the project will call
for probably S15O,OOO, with an additional
$4,000 or $35, 600 for a temporary Office
building for the President. The doing of the
work will necessitate other quarters for
the President, and then it is proposed to
turn his rooms and those of his executive
clerks into private rooms for the use OF
the families of Presidents. There are now
five rooms that will be converted into bed
rooms should Congress complete the plans
that are now more or less in embryo. These
are the cabinet room, the Presidents room,
what is known as the war room and two
office rooms on the north side of the
ridor that is now used as waiting room
for persons wishing to see Secretary Cor
telyou or trying to get access to the Pres
ident. These rooms will relieve the
cramped condition of affairs a great deal.
By converting the east room into a dining
room and changing one or both of the
present dining rooms into bed rooms or
other private rooms there would still be
more room.
The plans will probably provide for the
removal of the stairway now leading from
the first floor to the Presidents offices.
Mr. McKim is going to study out the
changes in detail and put them on paper as
fast as possible. They will first be SUBJ
United to the President and will be subject
10 Sucn mOulncatlOnS as ne may propose.
They will next go to Congress for action
there.
In a general way the renovation will be
with view to making the inside of the
building as simple as the outside. The en-
belishments and decorations will not be
fancy, and, if possible, will correspond with
the period when the White House was
erected. This view harmonizes with the
Presidents own IDEAS He wants SIM
plicity to be main feature of the changes.
The Office building for the President will
be erected on the grounds south of the Ex-
ecutive Mansion, near the State Depart
ment. 1t will, as already stated, be tenn
porary, designed to accommodate the Pres
1dent until more substantial building can
be erected.
The most serious objection urged SO far
to the proposed plans is that they make the
White House of the future home of Presi-
dents instead of Office for Presidents,
and lay the basis for a permanent office for
the chief executive to be constructed in
the future.