New-York tribune., 1903-02-13
WHITE HOUSE EXPENSES.
ESTIMATE NOT REDUCED
Friction BetreeR the President and
Colonel Bingham Denied
CBv Tlae Associates Press.l

tBy TIE Associated PressA
Washington. Feb Ia-tseDeraI Gillespie chief
cf engineers and the author Of the order which
replaces Colonel Bingham by Major Symons
superintendent Of public buildings and
grounds and master of ceremonies at the
White House, desires 20 correct an impression
that the change was made because of dissats-
faction expressed by the President with Colonel
Bingham. General Gillespie says that Colonel
Bingham applied several months ago for relief
from his duties on the ground that he had
served the usual term here The change could
not then he made. and il was not until the
present time that successor 10 Colonel Bing-
hsm could be named This change was not
suggested from the White House. according to
General Gillespie, who made the order. but was
i'm line with the rules OF the service. which
DO not permit unlimited details Of officers at
one point Colonel Bingham himself asserts
that h applied for transfer from Washington
~ the beginning Of the winter solely pro
fessionsI grounds. and that his relations at the
White House have been and are Of the pleasant
est character.
CRITICISED BY DEMOCRATS
IN the House to-day. when the item in the
Sundry Civil bin appropriating 100000 for the
5are. repair and refurnishing Of the Executive
Mansion, - be expended as the President might
determine. 7as read. M Gaines. of Tennessee.
asked Why this appropriation had been increased
from So. 600
Ny Cannon replied by calling attention TO the
enlargement OF the White House and the con-
srruction If the new executive offices. These
rhanEes ne said, increased the expenses
NJ Gaines read extracts from the report ot
Colonel Bingham. superintendent OF public
buildings and grounds ascribing the increase
~ the expenses az the White House 70 the
large amount ot entertaining done by the
President NJ Gaines said he did not believe
1he people should be taxed for those endless
chain entertainments" He was sorry 100000
had been spent 10 remodel the old White House
Nj Carmen il reply, said ha vas glad the
cld White House had been overhauIed, but he
confessed thar the new executive Offices had
disappointed him Y think said he, --we Were
entitled u z better building for the money"
NJ Cannon recalled the fact that in Jackson's
administration the landscape gardening Of the
White House grounds was Z political issue He
mentioned this, he said, 10 show how the Amer
icsn people sometimes ran amuck'
M-. Fitzgerald. Of He1-YorH. referred n
ne7-spaper report that Colonel Binghaul's trans
rr- had been due 70 his holding up' certain
rouche~s IN connection with the White House
improvements and his opposition 70 the char
7~t4r - those improvements He also crin-
Used rh@ language Of the appropriation. for
17e care repair and refurrishiug." which he
I'D not think actually described the purposes
Cor which the appropriation vas made
VIII not the gentleman state that Colonel
Bingham SAYS that he was transferred at his
ON -equest-' asked Nj Graham, Of Pennsyl-
sz-fz
oh" replied Nj Fitzgerald. at is the com
-7on thing for officers. whose future IS in the
service. 10 make statements exonerating their
sa1-eeriors But in my opinion Il reflects upon
rhe President of The United States TO have Il
intinaared that an officer is being coerced into
zrp-ovine expenditures his Judgment does not
ssnericn."
TRTT1G TO MAKE POLITICAL CAPITAL.
Nr- Cochran, Of Missouri thought the subject
raised by The pending item was well worthy Of
serious consideration. He fnveighed against
the growing extravaganza IN efirial circles
rbe constant demand for increased salaries and
allowances and described official entertain
r-nts ss IN attempt to initiate court circles
abroad He said that fifty years 20 the White
House receptions were very different. and
rar simpler than they are today. II was fact ne
sid. that poor men to-day could not accept
risces in the Cabinet or the bench because
~ the social expenses entaiIed. and he thought
that an argument xor q return 10 the simpler
ruerhods Of the oiden days.
Mr. Cannon. replying TO Mr.. Fitzgerald. said
that so far as he knew. there vas no conflict
between Colonel Bingham and the Secretary of
War over the approval Of vouchers. As to the
b. n-uags # the item under discussion, he
thought II proper. There VAS nothing, he said,
T. prevent the President from entertaining as
he chose at his own expense.
N-. Simms. OF Tennessee, in Criticising the
work IF the architect who made the White
House improvements called the executive Office
"a hen coop. which would invite the attack Of
anarchists
AT amendment offered by Nj Gaines To re-
duce the appropriation from $4,000 10 $4,000
vored down without division.