Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-02

Flames in the White House Offices
commonly known as the west wing,
have turned public attention to the
need Of better quarters for the business
of the executive department, and also
TO the long desired building of struc-
ture for the safe housing of valuable
Government documents.
THE unfortunate State, War and
Navy Building, Of neither good archi-
tectural lines nor of convenient ar
rangement," Is mentioned also by the
Roanoke World-NewS with the state
ment: THE Navy has already moved
out. The War Department is prepar-
ing to do so. The way will be offered
in time for the complete reconstruction
or rebuilding of this structure along
architectural lines more in keeping with
the surroundings and with a vast i'm
provement in convenience Of arrange
ment. It could then readily give ample
and fitting space to the Offices of the
President and his growing staff, and to
the State Department, with which the
President must necessarily keep in close
touch. The day when the President OF
the United States can do his work in a
study at home, or in a little Outbuild-
ing in the yard, is over"
"The White House." states the Boston
Transcript, sis no presidential palace.
no Elysee, no Quirinal; 1t is simply, as
often has been said, an American gen.
tlemans residence It's extensions
must be of humble height. But, at
least, they can be permanently ana
beautifully built and not, as were those
which have Just been destroyed, OF
timber and thin brick walls"
THE volume of business carried on
in the Executive offices building" &C
cordinR to the Scranton Times, has
grown tremendously in recent years. so
that. regardless of the damage by fire,
new structure would nave peen m
evitable In a short while. When one Is
built the public will want 1t to be not
only a fitting place for the Nations
Chief Executive to carry on the AFFAIRS
of his ONCE, but fireproof and worthy in
every way Of q country such as ours
and a city Of such splendid structures
as washington"
Commenting on the report that Mr.
Hoover will make temporary use OF
portion of the mansion that Is asso-
ciated with the administration OF Lin.
coin, the Providence Journal remarks:
'May the return of the Presidents
ONCE to the second floor, with its wider
view across the White House park, and
its further view of the washington
Monument, and the saturation of it all
with memories of Lincoln, give o still
keener vision and a still broader scope
to the mind of the new President as he
applies himself to the vastly greater, II
not more pressing, problems OF the sec
ond quarter Of the twentieth century,!
~ y 4
'The history of fires Is that the
buildings are usually replaced by some
thing better. more serviceable and more
attractive. That may well be the com.
Portable reflection In this case, as vel
as that President Hoover can now be-
gin at home with his national building
program" says the Davenport Demo-
crat, while the Buffalo Evening News.
the New York Evening Post and the
Newark Evening News, remarking upon
the fortunate escape of valuable papers
from the destruction of the FIRE, adj
vocate measures in the direction OF
erecting suitable archives building for
the Government.
1.-THE most spectacular FIRE at the
White House since British troops
burned the mansion when Washington
was captured in 1914" Is q subject for
comment by the Rock Island Argus,
which feels that 1.-The people of the
country have cause for rejoicing that
the residential section of the famous
home of Presidents was untouched by
the flames" The st. Paul Pioneer
Press feels that ut does seem q pity
that the first serious fire In the White
House since 1912 should have chosen
Christmas eve Of all times to occur"
4
Being relatively modern" according
to the Harrisburg Patriot, the execu-
tive of1ces have not attached to them
the sentiment of the White House itself.
That structure is so historic that even
fire in its neighborhood is likely to give
the Nation q fright" The Brooklyn
Daily Eagle, however, while recognizing
these facts, remarks as to the offices:
Five Presidents have worked there
Much of the history Of the United
States participation in the war and of
the suhseolienE cnfrxe Of tha NatioFa Vvaa