New-York tribune., 1903-03-01
GAINES IN QUEST OF A s1DEBoARD.
And Cannon Wants to Know What Has Be
come of the vrhite House Clothesline.

Washington, Feb. .&-In the House to-day Mr.
Gaines. of Tennessee presented as a privileged
matter his resolution directing the officer in cnarge
of public buildings and grounds, in conformity with
the act of April Z, 19OO prepare an inventory OF
the public property at the White House, the cost,
If still in use; the price received is sold to whom
etc. The resolution introduced more than a
week ago. and not having been reported, became
privileged.
Mr. Payne cut off debate with a motion to lay
the resolution table. This excited the ire OF
Mr.. Gaines, and amid great confusion he shouted
out 6enuncation of the other side for Ietung tnIS
robbery go on" The Republicans jeered his re-
marks. He demanded the ayes and noes. Ii
put you on record" he cried. Il want to sho"
where that Lucy Webb Hayes sideboard went"
The roll was called and the resolution was Iald
on the table
Mr. Grosvenor moved to suspend the rules and
take from the Speakers table the bill to permit the
free importation of animals for breeding purposes
and concur in the Senate amendments M, tnoer-
wood demanded a second which was or 1feo Dy
teIIers-s7 to 49, Mr.. Underwood then made the
point of no quorum, but the Speaker pro tenn
(kF DalzelD declined entertain 1t, the ground
that it dilatory. pointing out the fact that on
every preceding roll call a quorum had been dis
closed.
Twenty minutes debate on each side was allowed
by the rules Mr.. Grosvenor explained the Senate
amendments briefly, and Mr.. Underwood then
yielded Mr.. Gaines who seized the occasion to
discuss his resolution, which had been laid on the
table few minutes DeIore. he referred 10 Lne re-
cent sale IN this city of articles in in the White
House before 1t remodelled. The sideboard
given to Mrs. Hayes by the Women's Christian
Temperance Union. he said, had been sold, and
was now in a Washington brewery. where. he un-
derstoo6, it had been identified by Colonel Webb
Hayes. Attempts to GUY it had been unsuccessful.
The who secured the sideboard. he said. had
secured other sacred relics sold as junk and in
tended to fit White House saloon" at the
St. Louis Exposition. Mr.. Gaines said that other
valuable mementoes. including mirror presented
by Count Rochambeau, and bronZes presented by
General Patterson to President Jackson had been
sold as junk. He declared that this sale was
illegal and outrage, end that these relics should
be repurchased and placed in the Smithsonian In
Mr. Grosyenor said the pending bill related to
fine breeding animals. not bar fixtures. He did not
believe the stories in circulation about the sale Of
such q thing could have occurred without the
knowledge Of the present occupant of the White
House and he refused to believe that the President
would countenance a sale Of valuable relics
''Will you agree to investigation" asked Mr..
Padgett, of Tennessee.
II viii not" replied Mr. Grosvenor, amid Re-
publican laughter. II do not believe in descending
TO dimnutives and tracing the whereabouts of sec
ond hand furniture"
when Madison was President Interrupted Mr..
Cannon. at is related that the washing hung
gravity, My God, what has become of the clothes
Amid the roars of laughter this evoked the de-
bate ceased. and the vote was taken. The Senate
amendments were agreed to- 232 to 2. thus passing
the bill