El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1914-01-03
DEMOCRATS
MEND OLD
FURNITURE
Claim There Is Too Much
Graft in Capitol "Old
Hoss" Sales.
HAYES'S SIDEBOARD
USED BY A SALOON

w AsH dIlSG FOND D. C. e. Jan. Jan s1 The
furniture in the national CAPT
tol in Washington is to be conspicuous
by its absence during the present ad-
ministrauOn. Consequently The num-
Der OF persons who depend upon re
neWing their house furnishings from
those which have seen slight service IN
the rooms utilized by public officials
are doomed to disappointment
The annual average OF second hand
furniture sold from the capitol building
and its dependencies IN the past has
represented at least $500 value. The
money received for IL has seldom
reached $500. Graft in disposition OF
government furniture has been charged
for many years. The present admins
tratiOn aims TO reform this condition
Each year almost entirely new furnish
ings have been allowed for many Of
the rooms. A constituent visiting the
capitol would note the fine furniture
and carpets. If he desired furnishings
for his home he might obtain condem-
nation for articles which appealed to
his taste and he would buy them for
mere song.
Democrats Repair Furniture.
Hundreds of homes have secured
their best furnishings from the second
hand sales Of government supplies.
The custom has not been confined TO
the capitol city either. Private lnd1-
quite worth while to come TO WASH
ingtOn to purchase such furniture. The
present Democratic thrift has estaD-
lished a first class repair shop in the
basement of the capitol Here skilled
cabinet makers repair pieces OF Iurn1-
ture in order that they may see a sec
Ond term of service instead OF being
cast aside for nominal price.
The carpets In the senate chamber
and house Of representatives are usu-
ally renewed about every third year.
About the middle Of January the senate
carpet viii be auctiOned off, to the
JOY OF some bargain hunter, but the
house caEpet will be made to last for
some time yet The same economy now
being utilized in the care Of the fur
niture will be turned to the carpets. 1t
costs from $500 to $4,000 to carpet the
house or senate chamber. While ii viii
be worn in some parts, most of it when
put on sale is in good condition and
desirable addition to the average home
Hayes SidebOard in a Saloon
The utilization of furniture from
government buildings sometimes brings
Gently been learned that sldeboaro
which decorated the dining room OF
the white house during the temperance
administration OF president Hayes IS
now in use in a Washington saloon,
where the beverages served from it diff
fer materially from the simple refresh
ments served in the white house at that
period
A decrepit old man, employed by the
street car company to shift the tracks
at a crossing, rests between cars in an
old chair OF richly carved mahogany
which once adorned the supreme court
room 1t was upholstered then NOW
piece of board taken from soap DOX
IS nailed to the carved edges to form
a seat The old man proudly REGARDS
his seat because of its former assOcla-
tons He has refused several invita-
1iOns to sell it to tourists and other
eager collectors
Furniture discarded from the white
house has a value above its Intrinsic
worth and is always In great demand
During the Roosevelt administration J
changes in the building placed cons1d-
cradle furniture upon the market, much
to the regret Of those who felt that II
should have been preserved Several
houses are now using white house
chandeliers A well known apartment {
house has furnished its hallway with !
one of the large circular upholstered (
seats which was once used in the East {
room
Furniture Dealers Complain.
The business Of buying and selling [
second hand furniture is increasing I
each year to such an extent that the {
of new furniture are Sc I
riOusly considering means or oVercom- !
ing 1t. Certain kinds Of new furniture 1
are now being sold upon condition that I
old furniture be taken as part payment !
for the new This plan has its advan- 4
tages, but also its Wbacks. Furn1- !
rooms Of second hand goods which they
have to use great ingenuity to dis
pose Of At recent meeting OF the /
dealers in office furniture 1t was
agreed that ali should refuse to take
old furniture in the future as part pay
ment for refurnishing an office. one
large firm reported that it was com
PEELED to secure a large warehouse to
store old furniture which could not be
sold without great loss. The establish
nent Of a clearing house to take
charge Of all second hand office furn1-
-ure and dispose Of it at small price
was the scheme advocated
The distinction between second hand
and antique furniture is not readily
recognized A woman who has bought
arge quantities Of both says, THE only
Inference between second hand fUrni-
-ure and antique is in the price. If
you pay good price for it the man
salls 1T antique" This does not fol-
CIV. of course The cOnnOisseur places
wv 7rticle over so years old as an an
i0ue.
Plain Furniture Sells Best
Good modern furniture which has
leen used and yet remains in good con-
iitiOn is always in demand. although
-Ometimes the buyer and seller do not
,Ome together easily. The second hand
lealer takes large risks in buying. /
He mag have the article on his hands !
or long time. AS a rule the unusual (
liece is undesirable Plain. substantial
urniture, suitable for every dav use,
mo DC less ukely to remain on his I
lands long time than the highly or I
lare article which may have cost five
INES as much. Many persons who
would nave scorned to use second hand /
urnIIuFe 1U years ago viii now visit |
ID the second hand shops before going 1
Q the stores Where new goods are
fContfnued on nev+ -,arra column tive