Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-03-14
At THE WHITE HOUSE
Commission to FIX Public
Building Sites.
AN EXECUTIVE ORDER
ISSUED BY PRESIDENT NAMING
THE MEMBERS.
Cabinet Meeting Not Important-Cost
Of Philippine Exhibit - National
Committee Chairman Not Chosen.


nermanent park system for the District of
Columbia was made public today. as indi-
Gated in The Star yesterday would be done.
II Is as follows, being directed to the heads
of the departments and Commissioners of
the District:
Executive Order.
at is hereby ordered that whenever dis
erection is conferred by law on the head or
heads of any department, on the Commits
sioners of the District of Columbia, or on
any ether executive officer or officers, to
fix the exact position of a public building
in the District of Columbia, and to approve
the plans for the same, he or they snail
confer with the consultative board hereln-
after constituted and shall not either 10
cate the exact site or approve the plans
until both the question of location and plans
shall have been submitted to such board,
and the board shall have made report and
recommendation in respect 10 the matter.
"A consultative board is hereby consti-
tuted of the following gentlemen: Bernard
r. Green, chairman; Daniel II. Burnham,
Charles F. McKim, Augustus Saint-Gau-
dens and Frederick Law Olmsted. 5r;
THE members of the board will serve
without compensation. 1t is intended
through the recommendations Of the board
to bring about harmony of design in all flu
ture public buildings and conformity to an
artistic system of Improvement based on
the original plans for laying out the CAPT.
tai. The examination of the board of ar
chitects should be confined to the location
and the artistic effect of the exterior of
the buildings.
THE Secretary of War is directed to ad-
wise each member of the board of his ap-
pointment, and to learn whether he will ac-
cept the appointment on the conditions
named. THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
1.-The White House, March IA, 1905.
Messrs Burnham and Mck1m, the archi-
tects who are made members of the board
have been in Washington several days and
had a conference with President Roosevelt
yesterday on the subject of carrying out
the recommendations of the park commits
sion that some time ago made an extensive
report to Congress. Secretary Taft was
with them, and they were greatly pleased
with the outcome of their visit, praising the
decision of the President. The three men,
uers of the park commission were Messrs
McKim Burnhan and Olmstead. who are
made members Of the consultative board
appointed by the President.
The order of the President binds this ad
ministration to the carrying out of the
plans outlined by the commission, and will
go long way toward binding the next adj
ministration, in view of thesprecedent es
tablshed Congress has saIa bbled over
making the plans official, the Senate want
ing one thing ard the House another, with
the result that the work of the commission
promised to amount to nothing. The Pres
ident's official approval means great deal
to Washington, it is believed, in clinching
a permanent system for parks and public
buildings.
Cabinet Meeting Today.
The cabinet meeting today was not an
important one as meetings usually go.
Three of the Understanding members of
the Presidents official family were absent.
These were Secretaries Hay and Shaw and
Attorney General Moody. The last two are
out of the city and Secretary Hay is in
disposed at his home. His illness is not
thought to be serious however Most of the
members of the cabinet had concluded their
work with the President by noon and re-
turned to their departments. Postmaster
General Cortelyou was the last cabinet OFF,
Ger to depart. 1t is understood that Mr..
Cortelyous remaining was due to some
business that had accumulated in his de-
partment and to desire to talk with the
President about his retirement from the
Craftsmanship of the national committee.
All that Mr.. Cortelyou would say on this
subject was that he was not prepared to
make announcement. Those best ac-
quainted with him say that his decision
in regard TO the Craftsmanship will not be
based upon the prospective candidacy of any
particular man for the presidency, and
that his selection of a chairman will be
made solely for the best interests of the
party. There are great many men who
recognize in Mr. Cortelyou a strong prob
ability for the nomination four years from
now, and this would preclude his taking
any step that would appear selfish or di-
rected for or against any particular man.
Mr.. Cortelyou realizes the delicate duty
ahead of him, and he is proceeding with
great caution in his work. He would nat
urally like TO see the policies inaugurated
by him carried on by the new chairman,
but when he gets out of the committee
his sole purpose will be to appoint repub-
lican who is a leader as the head of the
committee. He will not select a figure
head.