The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-03-01
ARCHITECTURE
 IS CRITICISED
Senators Dissatisfied With the
 White House Improvements
THE MANSION IS RUINED
CockreII Says Presidents Office Is Ex- oeled by Second-Class Lawyers Offices All Over the
 Country.

Washington, February 29.-The archi- tectural changes made in the White House were the subject of a large share of to- days discussion in the senate and they were generally criticized as falling far short of the Improvements which should have been made with the s50O,ooO appro- priated for the purpose. The discussion arose in connection with the bill proyid- ing for the erection of a building for the joint use of the department of state, justice and commerce and labor. Con sideration of the bill was not concluded.
 During the debate question arose as to an architect and MT. Cockrell asked; "ls not the architct the same man who built that magnificent office building on the White House grounds?'
 "fhe same man." said MT. Hale.
 There are second-class lawyers offices all over the country better than that said Mir. Cockrell.
 Mansion Is Spoiled.
 Mr. Gallinger referred to the White House changes. saying that that work had been in the hands of an architect Of great reputation. He said that as re- suit of his efforts a part of the executive mansion had been spoiled and that the office of the President was an eye-sore, and not fit to accommodate a second- class lawyer or doctor.
 Any man walking by the White House and looking at this excrescence,' he said, "could not do otherwise than regret that the plans had not been supplied by some architect from a country town in New Hampshire or Missouri.
 MT. Tillman styled the Presidents of flee as an abortion, and the Washington postoffice an abomination.
 MT. Draydon, who contended for liber- al allowance to architects, said he agreed that the White House additions are not Of seemly appearance.
 But" he added 'it must be borne in mind that architects are often placed at a disadvantage by the dlctation of the employers" He did not know who had outlined the White House improvement plans but he did know that the architect who had charge of that work had planned some of the most beautiful architectural work in the world.
 Mr. Newlands said that the architect had to decide whether to preserve the original character of the White House or to alter the character of that building.
 Designs Had to Be Guarded.
 MT. Hale expressed the opinion that if the senate committee had not guarded the designs of the old building, the White House would have been stripped, dis mantled, changed, perverted and practi- cally destroyed"
 MT. Bailey called attention to necessity of an office building for the use of senator's. saying that the senate annex was so unsafe that senators were not allowed to carry books to their rooms in that building. He thought safe build ing for senators the most urgent building needed by the government and said 1t was an outrage no better provision was made for them.
 Mir New1ands suggester that an annex to the senate be constructed like that to the White House. and this suggestion brought from MT. Bacon the sarcastic remark that the country could better afford to take risk on the lives of sena- tors than to duplicate the White House addition.
 Without completing consideration of the bill, the senate went into executive ses- sion at 5:34 D. m. and at :S9 D. m. ad- journed.