Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-07-25
PAINTERS ARE BUSY
AT WHITE HOUSE
Job Is Being Rushed Before
President Stops Wreck
of Economy Plans.

VI GOUIiUIiIy lulios
The White House is being painted
I inside and out, but those charged
. with the job of keeping the Executive
Mansion spic and span are almost
afraid to give it thorough coating
Because paint costs money, and so
does labor, President Coolidge watches
the White House expense list very
closely. The White House needs paint
almost everywhere one turns, ana
much work has been mapped out,
but those in charge want to get 1t
done before the President returns and
] stops the brushing of money onto the
walls during a presidential era OF
economy.
But they are just trying to preserve
the surface, so that another Presi-
dent, in the course of years, viii not
have the expense of supplying a new
surface for the paint, and thus run
40 bills about double the expense his
predecessor saved.
Painting the East Room.
The biggest job, inside the mansion,
is the East Room, the main reception
room where all the formal State func-
lions take place. 1t is being com
pletely repainted, with three coats of
the same Colors, and during this
period it will be closed to visitors.
1t hasn't been painted for about u
years and presents a sad appearance.
When the recently appointed house
keeper at the White House arrives,
she will find her quarters completely
repainted. This housekeeper wiz
have a distinction not enjoyed by any
for many years, for these rooms have
not been painted since 1902, and it
was believed about time to put the
painters to work, while the President
is away.
AS matter of fact, many of the
rooms have been slated for painting.
but those in charge don't want TO say
too much about it. They fear the
President might stop it. They are
going to do just as much as they
can before he gets back, therefore,
are loath to say what is to be done
this year.
Those who know the interior of the
mansion well, and those who have
inspected it, have found a lot of
things to be done, all of which will
take enough money to put a crimp in
the little 'rainy day" fund that the
President is trying to build up to show
should begin at home. But, anyway,
he is not at home now.
$4,000 Roadway.
The sink in the pantry is said to be
in a very bad condition, and when
the kitchen attaches return they will
find that the engineering corps of the
Army has provided them with a nice
new one, betting a presidential
home. Then, there is that little fund |
of $4,000 that is being spent to put |
down a new kind of roadway in front |
Of the White House, one that will |
hold the loose stones together, so that |
the dust from the presidential auto |
mobiles rolling up to the door will not !
ay down a smoke screen to hide the |
presidential party from the sight |
seers who line the walks when the |
Chief Executive departs or returns to |
his home. They could not have a |
road because the tar eX
uded on hot days, such as Washing
ton has experienced in the past week, |
would be tracked onto the marble |
floors, making the tasks of the house |
keepers assistants a hard one. The |
officials spent a day in |
Philadelphia finding just the road |
fit for a President to travel |
upon, and that material now is being |
aid.
There's that expensive new elevator
o be installed, to replace the eccen-
trio one which has done duty for |
yearS, and has caused embarrassment |
o numerous junior naval aides. 1t |
S an automatic-all you do is press |
| button, the elevator comes to your
loor and the door opens You close
he door, press the button for the
y1rl1n iS
ng right it goes there, but most of
he time the old elevator has been
Icing it's stuff wrong. There is a
story of a Junior naval aide attend
ng one of the social functions, and
Who was assigned the duty of intro
Iucing some of the elderly ladies to
he comforts of a modern White
House. He Signaled for the elevator
which came down nicely, but when the
'utton was pressed for the main
foor it started up and did not stop
lgain until the boudoir of the First
lady of the Land was reached. Think
ng it was the right place, the aide
lowed courteously, opened the door
md was met by a jump from two of
he White House dogs. He and the
natron spent the rest of the after
loon trying to find the proper button
hat would carry them to the next
afest and least embarrassing stop.
Keeping Cool With Coolidge.
In the matter of renovating the
White House, the engineers have de-
ermined to give literal expression to
he campaign slogan of Keeping
cool with Coolidge" There will be no
need for ice deliveries at the Exec
tive Mansion when the President re-
urns, for an elaborate refrigerating
plant is being installed, one that will
supply ice for the mansion and at
he same time pipe the chills to vari-
,us parts of the building. And if
his is not enough to keep cool, the
is to be supplied with new
winnings to keep the suns rays from
vanishing the GOODNESS of presidential
The whole outside is to receive three
coats of white paint, and this, to-
,ether with the inside refinishing and
he installations, is about all the engi-
leers feel they will have time to get
WAY with before the President re-
urns, except a few rooms in the exec
Itive offices adjoining the mansion,
which will need some attention at the
lands of the painters.
AS for the roof, that's another mat
err, and will not be undertaken this
ear. They are awaiting woSd from
he President when to begin this, be-
ause when the operation starts the,
President and his family will have to
move into temporary quarters. 1t is
declared to be in dangerous condi-
ion. He has been, acquainted with
his fact by the Army engineers, but
le was appraised as to the need OF a
,avxy roof NV civilian axDertS whom he |
allied in to inspect it.
How TO Make a Camp Mattress.