The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1906-04-12
Rcaclles' Predecessor.

lteaclleS' Predecessor.
Excessive freedom of speech in Con-
gress in criticising the president has
not been confined to any period of this
country's history. This is proved by
a yellow. timeworn pamphlet recently
brought to light in examining a COL
lection OF old papers. 1t is a speech
| delivered in the house April IA, 1910,
by the Hon. Charles Ogle, of Pennsyl-
vania, member of congress from 1887
to 1871, of whom a brief biographical
sketch says: HE distinguished him
self by a speech against the appro-
priation for furnishing the executive
mansion" The speech was put in
pamphlet form and circulated as a
campaign document in the presidential
campaign of 1910. Mr.. Ogle was a
Wing and the speech was an attack
on President Van Buren's extravaganza
IN the White House and incidentally
on the Democratic party An appro-
| prlatlon Dill being under considera-
| ton, Mr.. Ogle moved to strike out the
following clause:
For alterations and repairs of the
| presidents house and furniture, for
purchasing trees. shrubs and compost,
| and for superintendent of the
grounds. .$3,G65.
| Then he proceeded in thirty-two
| pages OF solid type to comment on the
manner in which the Woodworking
| and horny-handed people were being
made to support what he called "a
| royal establishment, palace as
splendid as that of the Caesars, and as
richly adorned as the proudest Asiastic
mansion" The speaker had obtained
! the original vouchers of many ex-
| penditures at the White House and he
accompanied them with remarks in
| tended to be satir.cal and scathing.
| The vouchers covered Il great variety
! OF articles much finer, of course, than
| the ordinary citizen used. as fine car
! pets and rugs, black marble mantels,
bronze and gilt chandeliers, cut glass
ware, silk and satin chairs, silk cur
tains, etc, all appropriate enough,
| probably, but showing the speaker
| urged anything but democratic
simplicity.
! Some of the furniture was billed as
for the Blue Elliptica Saloon" now
called the Blue room, and the speaker
rang the changes on the blue Elliptic
| nj Saloon" Four tabourets, Il French
| name for a cushioned stool, excited
| the speakers special derison. He de-
voted considerable attention to the
tabourets, which he finally dubbed
"tabby-cats." FIe said he would like
| to hear the honest opinion of the
! plain Democratic Suckers. Hoosiers
| and Buckeyes about these tabby-cats
Won't they think them animals
| rather dangerous critters to be kept
| suugly seated in the Blue Elliptical
Saloon?' He recalled the plain fur
nis.ings Of the East room under for
mer presidents and said: But Mar
Tin Van Buren,, plain, republican. hard
handed, democratic, locofoco Martin
| Van Buren,, has it now garnished with
goldframed mirrors as big as barn
doors to behold his plain, republican
self in" The French china, the silver
ware, the ivoryhandled knives, the
glass fingers bowls, astral lamps, plat
ell candle-sticks, table furniture and
many other things furnished the speak,
err with an abundance of ammunition.
! He even commented on the introduce
ton of baths in the White house.
"Ah, sir" he said, 81 thought we should
soon arrive at the Grecian baths, for
without them the luxuries of the palace
would be incomplete. l am not a
little surprised that Mr.. Van Buren, is
the president to make the discovery
that the pleasures of the warm bath
are the proper accomplishments of a
palace life. Our former presidents
were content with the application,
| when necessary, of the simple shower
bath,
The speech seems like an echo from
far off time, but it must have Great
ed an impression, as it is the only in
cident in Mr.. Ogle's congressional
career that is mentioned in his bio
graphy At the present time congress
makes liberal appropriations for the
White House and does not scrutinize
the expenditures. The appropriations
for the current year for the house and
grounds are for the the care, repair
and refurnishing of the executive man
sion, $35,000; for lighting the building
and grounds, $4,000; for contingent
expenses, including stationery, tele-
grams, telephones, furniture and car
pets for offices, carriages, horses and
harness, $4,000; for care and main
tenance Of conservatory and green
houses, $4,000; for repairs to same,
$4,000; for fuel for executive mansion
and greenhouse, 5000. The clerks,
doorkeepers, messengers, watchmen,
firemen and laborers are paid by
special appropriations for each. No
member of congress nowadays would
attempt to make political capital by
showing up current expenditures at
the White house.