The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-12-23
DON'T SUIT WILEY
The appointment of AlSberg as
His Successor.
Former Chief Chemistry Saws
AduIteratOrs Will Rejoice.

/
Washington, D. c., Dec. 23-DecIar-
! ing that adulterators and debasers of
food would rejoice It the appointment
! of Carl L AIsberg as his successor, DR..
chemistry, leveled sharp criticism at
| the new head of the division. Dr.
! Wiley says DR.. William D. Bigelow,
who has been assistant chief of chem
| istry for many years, is the man who
should have been named chief Dr.
county, Kan. He entered the chemistry
division of the department of agricul-
ture in 1898, and is today considered one
of the greatest chemists in the world.
THE naturI and legal successor to
my place under the civil service law is
DR.. BigeIow," said DR.. Wiley. 'I under
stand he was not even considered l
would like to know what interests are
behind the appointment of DR.. Alsberg,
and especially if any member of the
Remsen board, which has been instru-
mental for the past years in pre-
venting the proper enforcement of the
pure food laws, recommended him
Il have onl.- a slight acquaintance
with Dr. AlsbeFg. From what 1 know
about him I believe he is a capable
chemist, and while that is a, important
thing, it is not by any means the most
important thing"
There are many politicians in Wash
ington who believe that DR.. Wiley will
be appointed hfef chemist of the gov
eminent by President Wilson. This be
lief is largely based on the fact that
Wiley campaigned for Wilson
President Taft has nominated five
Kansas postmasters for reappointment.
These are in addition to a list of a
dozen or more Kansas postmastership
70 = Il,
of weeks ago. Much concern is felt by
the Republican Kansas congressman
over the confirmation of these appoint
ments since the Democratic senators
and Bull Moosers have Joined forces
to hold up all such nominations made
by Taft during the balance of his term.
Since the opening of the present ses-
sion several hundred postmaster norni-
nations have been sent to the senate by
President Taft. OF these less than half
a dozen have been confirmed.
The last batch of Kansas postmas-
tiers nomina tions include David D. Nc
Intosh, Marion; Frank S. McKelvey.
Gas; Benson L. Nickel, Soldier; and
Lewis PickrelI, Minneapolis.
On the day tie senate adjourned for
holiday recess SenatoF Carts submitted
an amendment to the sundry civil bill
proposing to appropriate 1000 for the
purchase of a site and erection of a
postoffice building at Usage City, Kan.
The president has nominated Rev.
jeremiah augustine Lenehan, a Kan
san, for appointment as chaplain with
the rank of first lieutenant from De-
cember Il, 1912. He viii be assigned to
the coast artillery corps.
Mrs. Abbey Gum Baker of Fort
Scott, Kan, prominent in Washington
as an historical author, delivered an
address last evening Before the Col
umbia Historical society on The
Erection of the White House and
Alterations"
Mrs. Baker has for several years |
been in charge of the collection OF |
presidential china in the White House |
and during that time has made a |
special study of the White House it |
self. The various alterations and adj |
ditions have all been investigated by |
her.
Mrs. Baker said the White House |
now stands on what was the farm OF /
the government for the White House
grounds, and sold a portion of it.
When the matter of a design for |
the White House came up, prize of
David Burns just after the Revolution
Burns gave a portion of his farm to /
800, or its equivalent in the shape OF |
a medal, was offered for the architect
who turned in the best design. Jas.
Hoban, a young Irishman, who had
come to America to design the state
house for South Carolina, was urged
OE Governor 1auE6DS OF SOuIn
ina, tc submit a design for the White
House. Hoban submitted a design
which was selected, and received the
prize. He took $3.50 of it in medal,
and the remainder in money.
Mrs. Baker showed that a great
leaI of the original walls of the
building are still in place, and were
not destroyed when the British burn
I'd the White House during the war
IF 1912. Part of the old structure
Sh M
hat occasion. Most of the woodwork
; mahogany.
All of the china and hardware in
he White House when John Adams
moved in was brought over from Eng
and, some of which is still in the
White House collection of china. Mrs.
Adams complained very bitterly after
she moved in because, although the
house was completed. there was no
way by means of which to summon |
to her. To remedy this the
committee in charge of the White
House wrote to Alexandria Va, then !
l much larger place than Washington,
or eight or ten bells, which were fin
lily installed for the comfort of Mrs
Adams.
The construction work on the orig
nal White House was begun in the
7ear 1871, and no changes were made
II the building until after it was burn
ID by the British. After rebuilding
he mansion no change was made IN
il President Theodore Roosevelt came
nto office, at which time the whole
Interior of the White House was
changed and redecorated. Since
Roosevelt's regime no change has
been made.
Mrs. Baker told of many interesting
anecdotes in connection with the va
'ious presidential families who have
the White House since it was
irst built and of how most of the
presidents preferred slight inconven-
ences to having it altered in any par
ocular.