Evening star., 1909-05-29
USED IN WHITE HOUSE
Tableware of Former Admin
istrations Is Contributed.
ADDITION TO COLLECTION
Plate, Glass and China of Time of
Madison, Jackson and Polk.
LOANED BY WASHINGTONIANS
President to Decide What Is Whisky.
Raymond May Succeed
Durand.

| The White House collection of presi-
Dental tableware. which has become one
of the great show features of the historic
home of Presidents. has taken an impetus
| under the new administration.
Some time ago the collection received an
| important addition in some Fillmore cera-
mic relics, sent from Buffalo. There has
now been contributed one of the largest
and most interesting additions yet made
Many years ago it was a custom of in
coming Presidents to have the old fur
| nishings sold at public and private sales.
| Such a sale took place when President
Buchanan came into office. A Washington
family bought many pieces of plate. china
ware and glassware belonging to the
Madison, jackson, Polk and Pierce ad-
| ministrations.
This family has been the proud posses
| sor of large quantity of White House
| china for more than fifty years.
Through the efforts of Mrs Abby G.
Baker, the granddaughter of the family
to whom 1T had descended became inter
| ested in the patriotic collection at the
some pieces to Mrs. Taft for exhibition in
the cabinets. where they will undoubtedly
prove one of the most interesting features
of the collection.
Contents Of Contributions.
The contribution includes an exquisite
cut-glass decanter with stopple a cham
payne glass. two small wine glasses and
a dainty cordial glass-all cut in the
grapevine, leaf and fruit design-and a
green-edged Opaque finger bowl.
There are also two most interesting
plates-a service and soup plate-of the
Polk administration. They are of French
| with medallioned border in gilt. in
which is the seal of the United States.
In the center is bunch of American
| flowers.
| The soup plate has medallioned bor-
der and also bears the seal of the United
/ States. This seal not only adds to the
| beauty and interest of the plates, but
| adds infinitely to their value historically.
as the upper part of the escutcheon bears
tWenty-eight stars. and therefore must
have been made in 1S45. the first year of
President Polk's administration.
That year Texas and Florida were ad-
| mitted into the Union, and was the only
year that the flag. or the seal could have
borne the twenty-eight stars. as Wis
consin was admitted in 1916.
The contribution also includes a tea
plate of the well-known red-banded Pierce
| set. as well as a quaint coffee cup and
blue and gold While it is absolutely GER
tain that the coffee cup and saucer and
the breakfast plate belonged to a set
which was purchased and used in the
Presidents House by one of the first OF
our executives, just which one it was is
as yet little uncertain. but will soon be
settled definitely from some old records
which are now being searched.
Taft to Settle Whisky Question.
Upon the return of President Taft to
Washington next week he will have to
decide the bOthersome question of what
Is whisky?" under the pure food laws.
Attorney General Bonaparte and Presi-
dent Roosevelt settled 1t once. But they
did not settle 1t to the satisfaction of
one element of the whisky distillers. And
| this dissenting element brought the mat
ter before President Taft, who turned 1t
over to Solicitor General Bowers of the
Department OF Justice
Mr.. Bowers held many hearings and lis
tened to evidence from all classes of
| be labeled. He has made decision and
submitted it to the White House, where
the President must give it his attention.
Raymond May Be Appointed.
President Taft and Secretary Nagel are
mond Of Boston for deputy commissioner
Of corporations to succeed E. Dana Du-
rand, who has been nominated for di-
rector of the census.
Mr.. Raymond is a Boston man and
led the fight for President Taft in that
city for delegates to Chicago. He is
| graduate of Harvard.
There Is still talk of Herbert Knox
| Smith being succeeded as commissioner
of corporations Mr.. Smith has not re-
| ceived any intimation that he is not
| wanted His friends do not believe he
| will be disturbed.
Two valuable oil paintings Of the father
of President Taft. painted by Artist
Charles Thorpe In the early 7Os, when
Alonzo Taft was Secretary Of War. were
recently found in the art storage rooms
of the Capitol. They were shown to
President Taft, who pronounced one OF
them fine likeness of his father.
| William H. Duckstein, art restorer at
the Capitol. restored the portraits to their
original condition. He has presented them
to the President.
Government Not to Interfere.
President Taft. before leaving the city
| last night, allowed II to become known
! that it is not the intention of the govern
ment to in any way interfere in the
| Georgia railway strike.
| The fact that Chairman Knapp of the
interstate commerce commission was di-
| rected to go to the scene and aid Commits
sioner Neill of the labor bureau in ef-
forts to mediate the troubles must not
be understood as meaning government
| interference.
Under the law the federal government
would not send troops into Georgia unless
the governor and legislature were to de-
! clare their inability to handle the stua-
tion or unless the United States mails
were purposely and persistently meddled
with.
| President Taft views the situation with
regret and does not wish to take hand
| unless the treatment of mails Is such as
| to demand the strong arm of the govern
ment. Even then he would be slow In
taking action.