Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-06-25

When the country heard that the
President and his family must Vacate
the White House for six months to
permit repairs of the roof at an ex
pense of $3.50 COO. a lot of folks were
amazed that a roof should cost SO
much and more still wondered why
the Government allowed the presi-
dental home IL get into such a con
dition.
The touch of the Government in
business is the touch of-delaT,' re-
marks the New York sun. This is
a country of great engineers and
builders. They tunnel rivers. dig
huge Siphon under the Hudson. bore
subways without disturbing the pave
ment above. and send NoolWofth
tower shooting toward the sky With
u sDeed that amaZeS the rest of the
world But the American Govern
ment is 50 inefficient in business that
it cannot keep a two-story building
10 by sc feet i'll good condition. and
the result is that the President of the
United States and his family must
vacate the White House for six
months in order that repairs may be
made which should have been made
when and as they We're needed i'll the
years gone by
Even now, however, according TO
the Charleston Daily Mail, lit may
be in this case. as ii usually is in
everything. that II stitch i'll time
saves nine" The Mail observes that
the work will be done despite tn"
Presidents reluctance" for this re-
pair work twill cost $3o0.0O0. and in
the Coolidge scheme of economy,
although Uncle Sam pays the bill
this is tidy sum to spend on roof. :"
The Utica Observer Dispatch sug
EestS that at will seem rather strange
for the President to be lodged any
where else than in the White House.
but adds, washington is city of
commodious and magnificent man
sions. and it will not be difficult to
secure a suitable place as temporary
White House, which would thus go
into history and win renown."
zone is justified in doubling"
observes the Trenton Evening Times,
that the White House is in such Il
condition, especially as to roof. that
it will require at least six months to
make the building safe. To believe
that Congress and its committees have
been so slack in looking after the
Presidents residence will be a serious
reflection on the efficiency of the
national lawmaking body"
The San Antonio Express is struck
by the thought that the $350.00O re-
quired Ito cover the Presidents house
and otherwise renovate it is probably
more than the entire structure orig
inally cost, but this job will cause no
change in it's appearance. inside or
out, which the casual visitor might
notice" The Express comedies. how
ever, that as the outlay has been ap-
proved by the President and the
director of the budget it may be
considered good economy" The Lin
coin Star declares 1.-The question might
logically be asked if it would not be
better to build a new White House"
X y 4 +
There are other complications which
inspire comment. THE White House
roof is shaky. the Presidents political
fences are being damaged. and now
the Presidents church is ordered
| closed. as a menace to life and limb.
Volta life" exclaims the Lynchburg
Advance. But the Charleston Eve
ming Post believes that "he will prob
ably have little difficulty in finding n
place in whic3to stay and a church