The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-03-23
MRS. ROOsEVELTs SECRETARY.
HardwIek OF Georgia Criticlses Use OF
Public Money for Her Employment.

uDtit .lOtlCy tVh bANa
WASHINGTON, March 22.-Mr. Hardwick Of
Georgia, who has recently come into noto-
riety in the House OF Representatives as
mioroscopical editor Of appropriation bills,
to-day brought into the debate the social
side Of White House life. Toward the end
of the days session he attacked the en-
ployment of a social secretary" for the wife
Of the President, under the appropriation
for clerical at the White House. He asked
Mr.. Littauer (of New York; In charge OF the
Legislative, Executive and judicial Appro-
priation bill il he knew whether or not such
an official had ever before the present adj
ministration been employed at the White
House and paid for out of appropriations Of
public money.
Mr.. Littauer replied that he had heard that
Mrs. Cleveland had employed o social secre-
tary under like conditions with Mrs. Roose-
welt, but knew nothing Of 1t personally. He
had never heard Of the matter until within
a day or two. The Committee on Appropri-
atlons, he said, did not 60 into the manner
Of disbursement for services at the White
House, accepting the statement Of the Presi-
dents secretary as to the necessity for what
was asked.
Mr.. Hardwick, amid scarcely suppressed
manifestations Of general condemnation,
offered an amendment to the appropriation
bill declaring that none Of 1t should be used
to pay for the service of a social secretary
for the wife Of the President, offering to
withdraw it II any member would state that
In any previous administration public money
had been 80 used.
Gen.. Grosvenor sought to dissuade him
from that purpose, saying:
Il know that there devolves upon the
wife Of the Precedent a large volume Of social
people, duties that she w to the women
Of America; official social duties, just as
much upon her as the duties
OF the President are incumbent upon him.
Is the American Congress- willing to say
we will guard against the possibility of that
lady having a clerk to assist her In the per-
Torrance Of these social obligations2 The
wife OF the gentleman from Georgia, II he
has a wife, and all of our wives would feel
offended If there should be neglect Of these
duties; and now that the gentleman is enter
ing, as l hope, upon a political career, I
beg that he will not allow himself to be
marked In future as the man who under
took to say, that the wife Of the President
should not have the use Of a clerk in the
White House, To me it is almost the most
shocking thing that / have ever heard on
the floor of this House, and the gentleman
says he is In earnest about 1t. Does he
reflect that the American people do not
inquire into the details Of the family rela-
tions Of the President of the United States
to public affairs? Does he reflect that we
look upon the wife of the President as q
part Of the Government of the United
States, as it were, and that we are careful
in America not to impugn the motives or
purposes of the lady Of the White HOUSE,
the first lady of the land? I hope the gen.
tleman will withdraw his amendment, and
we will all Of us testify to the people Of the
country that it was the mere joke OF a
young man and that he meant nothing by
t." General ~applauseJ
Mr.. Fitzgerald of New York followed
in a similar strain and declared the salary
Of the President was not at all oommensu-
rate with the position he occupied.
Mr.. Hardwick defended his amendment
and asserted that it could not be construed
into any reflection whatever upon the
mistress OF the White House.
When the vote was taken upon the adop-
ton of the amendment Mr.. Hardwiok was
the only one favoring it.