Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-04-01
WHITE HOUSE STABLE
AGAIN THE SUBJECT OF DISCUS
SION IN THE HOUSE.
Mr.. Benton Explains the 100000 Es-
timate-Chairman Hemenway Tells
About His Visit to President

A determination to make whatever poiiti-
cal capital is possible from the repairs and
improvements to the White House during
the Roosevelt administration on the charge
| of extravaganza seems to be undeniaby the
purpose of some democrats In Congress.
The matter was brought up again I'm the
House yesterday afternoon by Representa-
tive Benton of Missouri, the ranking minori-
| ty member of the subcommittee In charge
of the sundry civil appropriation bill Day
| before yesterday Mr.. Benton asked Chair
man Hemenway of the appropriations COM
| mittee II the President had not asked for
| 10000 for refurnishing the White House.
/ the committee cutting the item down to
| $4,000. Mr.. Hemenway replied that the
| estimate of $4,000 had been submitted by
the army officer in charge OF the White
House without the consent of the President
| The President had stated that $4,000 would
| be amply sufficient. He also said. according
| to Mr.. Hemenway, that new White
House stable was desired had been re-
ported in the papers.
Mr.. Benton yesterday afternoon again
called attention to the proposed stable He
said he felt he had been misrepresented UNI
| Intentionally by Mr.. Hemenway. He feared
| the impression might have gone abroad
| that he had referred TO an estimate for
| White House stable when there had in
| reality been no estimate. Mr.. Benton re-
| ferred to the printed book of estimates
which contained an item of 10000 for a
| new White House stable. He also read
| communication from the Secretary of War
increasing the estimate to $4,000 Mr.. Ben
| ton also read from the testimony of Colonel
| Symons officer in charge of public buildings
and grounds before the subcommittee.
Colonel Symons had strongly urged the sta
| BILE Continuing MIR. Benton said:
Now Mr.. Chairman, 1 have tried to ex-
| hibit just as little partisanship as possible
| ir dealing with appropriations TO carry on
the government economically administered.
think that is the proper way to carry 1t
en-, and 1 should not care to have mem
| toned this matter again IL had not taken
some interest in this estimate for a Presi-
dents barn and il it had not got into print
that had said that the committee on APP
| propriations would dunn the proposition 70
| stable on that land. / do not believe the
| chairman of our committee had any idea OF
| the statement that had made or he would
| not have put me in that sort of situation.
The SOC, 900 Estimate.
| Il am not going to comment on whether
| the President wanted the stable or not. 1
| simply call the attention of the committee
] to the fact and let the committee and the
| country decide what was the cause FOR the
| suggestion. The Secretary of the Treasury.
| ir his book of estimates submitted through
| the Spea ker of the House en- the tin of De-
| cember called attention. to the desire to
| have $4,000 stable. Thereafter Colonei
| Symons. who. as l say Is the military at,
| tsche at the Executive Mansion ana genera
| manager comes in with letter to the Sec
| rotary of War and the Secretary of War
| writes letter to the Secretary or inc
| Treasury. and the Secretary OF the treas
| ury writes a letter to the Speaker. which Is
| submitted through the committee on appro-
| priations, asking for 10000 additional to
| the estimate submitted. making a total OF
| $40 600 Thereafter the same military at
| tache who comes in and asks for the S9oOw
| is before the commtte, and testihes TO the
fact that it Is wanted Now, these are INC
| plain facts. The President may not haNe
| known that there was any movement on
| foot to build him SEQ 900 stable on S3oVW
| ground to be purchased. | do not know
| ANYTHING about that: hut certain IL IS that
| it was before the country, and Simply rose
| 10 Give the state of facts so that l Will not
| go before the country, humble as may NC.
| with having made a statement with no
| foundation whatever for IL
/ Chairman Hemenway's Statement.
Mr.. Hemenway replied to Mr.. Benton.
| aging:
| Mr.. Chairman / am sure I had no In
! tentfon of in any way misrepresenting the
| gentleman from Missouri He is always
! conscientious in the performance OF MS
| duty / desire. however to call attention 10
the estimates which the gentleman referreo
| to on page 274, buildings in ana around
| Washing ton in charge of the chief engi-
| peer.' The gentleman in charge OF tne
/
| ington is Col. Symons. He made an esti-
| mate to the Secretary of War amounting To
all told S5l9.6I0. The Secretary OF war
| cut these estimates by s220.Gh. so that tho
| total amount submitted to Congress was
| only So99, 600; but. in submitting the esu-
| mate to Congress, he gives all or these
items, including the Sho.oo for stapio
| and $50 900 for care and maintenance OF inc
| White House. etc. and does not state what
| particular items the cut should come on.
whether the President of the United
"A faf a "a
| not want these items and they constitute
| a part of the cut. | do not know. All L
| know is this: Col. Symons came before our
| committee, and naturally we all questioned
him as TO the necessity for this stable. We
| questioned him 20 the necessity for 800
| 0eO for the White House. Later on Col
| Symons came before our committee and
withdrew the estimate for the stable. Later
| on 1 happened to be at the White House
and asked the President If he needed $780,
600 to care for the White House He said
| he did not know; he had not had time to go
| into it, but he would go into 1t. Later on
| was there again. and he said: No. do not
want that sum; $4,000 is amply sufficient
| / did not know that Col Symons had asked
| for 10000, and / want no stable
The Item Left Out.
$50. upon that statement, stated in the
| House yesterday. in reply TO question by
the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Benton).
that the President did not want any stable
| of any kind or description. and that S35,0o0
was amply sufficient for the care of the
White House. The gentleman from Missouri
| had right to say what. he did say. He
had a right to say that the committee on
| appropriations would knock II higher than
| a kite. If he did say 1t. The prediction was
carried out. 1t was left out of the bill, and
| also the item for the care of the White
House was reduced. 1t turns out that the
| President did not want either Item. The
| members of this House realize that the
| President of the United States is very
hot tl.Aca rafnf
| made by him. but by Col. Symons, who is
| in charge of the public buildings and
| grounds. / did not say that Col Symons
| did not make the estimate, and In no way
| reflected on the sta tement made by the
| gentleman from Missouri, because he mad
, a right to make the statement he did make.
\ The only thing I did say that the
| President did not want this stable and TINT
| the President said that S3l.0G0 was amply
| sufficient for the care of the White House"
Consideration Of Bill Closed.
Consideration of the sundry civil appro-
| priation bill was closed in the House dur
u