The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-02-13
Larger Appropriations for the
White House Discussed.
WHERE ARE WE DRIFTING?
The Senale Committee on Commerce Agrees 10
Report Adversely the Nomination Of
Crum TO be Collector of the Port
ofCharIeston.
(By the Associated Press.)

(By the ASSOClaIeu ITeSS')
Washington, Feb. 12-The House made
slow progress with the Sundry Civil Bill
today, covering only twentyseven pages
and leaving forty pages still to be dis
posed Of The delays today were occa-
stoned by a rather protracted discussion
of the item in the bill for the mainten-
ance of the White House and consider
able debate upon the item appropriating
$4,000, 900 for the relief of distressed Fill
and Mr.. Fitzgerald, of New York, criti-
cised the greatly increased cost of main
tanning the White House. An amend
ment to cut in half the appropriation for
the relief of distress in the Philippines
was defeated but the language of the
paragraph was modified to require an
nual reports of the expenditure of the
money.
When the item approXimating 500 900
for the care, repair and refurnishing of
the Executive Mansion to be expended
as the President might determine was
reached Mr.. Gaines, of Tennessee, asked
why this appropriation had been increas-
ed from Sc, 900.
Mr.. Cannon replied by calling atten-
tiOn to the enlargement of the White
House and the construction of the new
executive offices. These changes, he
said, increased the expenses
Mr.. Gaines read from the report OF Col
onel Bingham, Superintendent of Public
Buildings and Grounds, extracts, ascrib-
ing the increase of the expenses at the
White House to "the large amount of en-
tertaining done by the President Mr..
Gaines said he did not believe the people
should be taxed for these endless chain
entertainments He said he was sorry
100000 had been spent to remodel the
old White House.
Mr.. Cannon in reply, said he was glad
the old White House had been over
hauled, but he confessed that the new
executive offices had disappointed him.
Il think said he, 'we We're entitled to
better building for the money"
Mr.. Cannon recalled she fact that dur
ing Jacksons administration the land
scape gardening OF the White House
grounds was political issue. He men
toned this. he said. to show the Ameri-
can people some times ran "amuck."
Mr.. Fitzgerald. of New York referred
to a newspaper report that Colonel Bing-
hams transfer had been due to his hold
ing up certain vouchers in connection
with the White House improvements and
his opposition to the character of these
Improvement. He also criticised the
language Of "for the care repair and re-
furnishing which he did not think ac-
tually described the purposes for which
the appropriation was made.
"Will not the gentleman state that
Colonel Bingham states that he was
transferred at his own request?" asked
Mr.. Graham. of Pennsylvania.
"Oh,' replied Mr.. Fitzgerald, sit is the
common thing for officers whose future
is in the service, to made statements ex-
onerating their superiors But in my
opinion it reflects upon the President of
the United States to have it intimated
that an officer is being coerced into ap-
proving expenditures his judgment does
not sanction"
Mr.. Cochran, of Missouri, thought the
subject raised by the pending item was
we'll worthy of serious consideration. He
inveighed against the growing extrava-
gance in official circles, the constant de-
mand for increasing salaries and allow
ances. He described official functions as
an attempt to initiate court circles
abroad He said that years ago the
White House receptions were probably
different and far simpler than they are
today. 1t was a fact, he said, that poor
men today could not accept positions in
the Cabinet or on the bench because of
the social expenses entailed and he
thought that an argument for return to
the similar methods of the older days.
Mr.. Cannon, replying to Mr.. Fitzgerald,
said so far as he knew there was no con-
fiict between Colonel Bingham and the
Secretary of War over the approval CT
vouchers. AS to the language of the
item under discussion he thought it prop
er. There is nothing, he said, to prevent
the President, at his own expense. en-
tertaining as he choose.
Mr. Simms, of Tennessee, in CRITICS.
ing the work of the architect who made
the White House Improvement called the
executive office "a hen coop" which would
invite the attack of anarchists.
Amendment by Mr. Gaines to reduce
the appropriation from $50 600 to SAG, 600
was voted down without division.
The amendment suggested by Mr.. Can
non was offered by him and he explained
the reasons which moved the committee.
almost unanimously to report the item.
He said the proposed relief was as ne
cessary as that given Cuba and Porto
Rico.
Mr.. Jones, of Virginia. moved to reduce
the appropriation from s3,OOO0Oo to 81