The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-02-13
WHITE HOUSE
EXPENDITURE
Increase in Appropriation
Subject Of Criticism.
iGROWING EXTRAvAGANCE
Mr.. Gaines Does Not Think People
Should Be Taxed for ENDLESS Chain
Entertainments Mr.. Jones
Has Philippine Item Amended.
(Ry Associated presso

s4, (By Associated Press)
3' yyASHTNGTON, D. c., February H.
The House made slow progress with the
s,indry civil bill to-day, covering only
twenty.seven pages and leaving forty
pages still to be disposed Of. The delays
5 to-day were occasioncd by q rather pro-
tracted discussion Of tho item In the bill
for the maintenance Of the White Rouse
+ and considerable debate upon the item ap-
prcpriating $4,000 for tho relief OF dis
tressed Filipinos. Mr. Morgan, Of Ten
t,essee, and Mr.. Fitzgerald Democrat, OF
4 New York, criticised the greatly increased
cost OF maintaining the White House. An
am endment to cut in half the appropr1a-
tion for the relief of distress In the Phil
tppines was defeated, But the language Of
the paragraph was modified to require an
nl,al reports of the expenditure OF the
money.
When the item appropriatinE 5000 for
the care repair and refurnishng OF the
1 Executive Mansion. to be expended as the
President might determine, was reached
MIR Gaines Of Tennessee, asked why
this appropriation had been increased from
81. 900.
Mr.. Cannon replied by calling attention
TO the enlargement o. the White House
and the construction Of the new executive
Offices These changes, he sald' increased
the expenses.
Mr.. Gaines read from the report of Col
onel Bingham, SUPERB ntcndent Of Public
Buildings and Grounds, extracts aseribng
the increase of the expenses ut the White
House to the Large amount Of entertain
ing done by the President Mr.. Gaines
! said he did not believe the people should
be taxed for these endless chain enter
itainments' 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 overhauled
but he confessed that the executive Of
fees had disappointed him.
..I think" said he. we were entitled TO
a better building for the money
REFLECTS ON PRESIDENT.
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
improvements.
xviii not the gentleman believe what
8 Colonel Bingham states, that he was
transferred at his own request? asked
Mr. Graham, of Pennsylvania
oh" replied Mr.. Fitzgerald, 1T IS the
common thing for officers whose future
is in the service to make statements en-
GENERATING their superiors. But In my
opinion 1t reflects upon the President OF
the United States to have 1t 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
Of nsI5 n i'm q
inveiged against the growing extrava-
gance In official circles the constant de-
1nand for increased salaries and allow
ances. He described official functions
as an attempt to initiate court circles
abroad. He said that fifty years ago the
white House receptions were very differ
{ ent and farsimpler than they are to-
day. 1t was a fact, he said. that poor
men to-day could not accept positions
+ In the Cabinet or on the bench because
Of the social expenses cntailed. and he
thought that an argument for a return to
the simpler methods of the older days.
Mr.. Simnls, of Tennessee in critcising
the work Of the architect who made the
White House improvements denominated
the executive office "a hen coop" which
would invite the attack Ct anarchists.
MUAT make REPORT.
An ameStdrTent offered by Mr.. Gaines
10 H1cuuCe LIS tpIToIfElatlOu from abU.UVU
to $4,000 was voted down without divi-
sion.
Mr.. Jones, OF Virginia. made a point of
order against the item to appropriate So
1000 for the relief of the distress in the
= Philippines "by the purchase and dis
trtbution or sale Of farm implements
farm animals, supplies and necessarles of
like and through the employment Of labor
in the construction of governme nt wagon
roads, railroads. and other public works."
He withdrew the point OF order, how
ever, upG nthe understanding with Mr.
Cannon that the word railroads should be
stricken out, and that provision should
be made for detailed report of ex-
Tenditutes under the appropriation.
The amendment suggested by Mr.. Can
I non was Offered by him. and he explained
the reasons which moved the committee
almost unanimously to report the item.
lie said the proposed relief was as ncccs-
sary as that given Cuba and Porto Rico
Mr.. Jones, Of Virginia, moved to reduce
the appropriation from 100000 to 81, 5Cur
0D, but the amendment was voted down
z p to &C.
Mr.. Cannon's amendment was adopted
without division.
The House adjourned until tomorrow.
The Senate.
nv Associated Prcss.o
X WASHINGTON, February l2,-W1th
the exception of a few minutes durin g
which some routine business was trans
acted. the session of the Senate to-day
was behind closed doors.
After being in executive session for
i've hours the Senate adjourned.