Evening star., 1948-01-20
By James Waldo Fa,vceft

car, and understand the cabinet work was
done by that company. The State Dining
Room, too small for large functions, was deco
rated and furnished as If inspired by the more
important Washington boarding houses so we'll
known to the average Congressman CLASH
cal cornices and mantels were removed and
replaced by elaborate, crude, modern produc-
tions and wall decorations were applied which
added to the incongruous effect"
Lack of Appreciation Blamed.
Mr.. Browns theory Of how the White House
reached such stage of bad art" is that 1t
was "due in part to the want of appreciation Of
its importance. during the period when it was
done, but principally to the lack of artistic
training of the officials in charge =. We
were the only civilized country which did not
secure artistic advice in the maintenance;
decoration and furnishing of monumental and
historic buildings"
Matters came to crisis in the latter part
of McKinleys administration, when COL Theo-
dore A. Bingham, U. S. A.. then Commissioner
of Public Buildings and Grounds, attempted q
"monstrous enlargement" of the Executive
Mansion. Mr.. Brown asserts Bingham was am
bilious to have his name prominently connected
with the White House. With this end in view
he employed some mechanical craftsmen to
make plans for additions more than doubling
the size of the old building -. He called for
additions East and West, each Of them larger
than the present White House These additions
were emphasized by circular towerlike ends It
was mongrel unacceptable contraption, out
OF harmony with and destroying the individu-
ality of the old building. Col Bingham was so
enamored Of the design that he exploited its
beauties and utilities freely by plaster model"
-A1
this scheme before it actually got started Mr..
Brown recounts how "the Washington archi-
tects were made aware of Col Bingham's
contemplated destruction Of the building Of
which we were so proud. union was formed
of local art organizations OF which I, represent
ing the Washington Chapter of the American
Institute of Architects, was made chairman
80. description of what Col Bingham
proposed to do was sent to the many art asso-
Citations of the country" Meanwhile Col
Bingham, unaware of the crusade he was STIR
ring into life, set up his plaster model in the
East Room of the White House and there in
an atmosphere of potted palms and red plush
draperies, he made a speech about his i'm
provement" to President Mckinley and a
throng of Senators, Representatives and other
eminent persons The date Of his address was
December 12 1900.
Mr.. Browns chronicle continues: "The day
after Bingham's seance = : = the action Of the
Institute, strongly opposing the proposed addi-
tion, and the signed protests of 48 art asso-
Citations were given to the press =.
Mckinley listened to the public demand and
ordered the model removed from the East
Room. It was stored In the cellar of the Corco
ran Gallery" and finally disappeared.
But the people Of the Nation had learned
their lesson. When the White House was ire
stored" in Theodore Roosevelts time, the firm
of McKim, Mead g. White was engaged to
do the work and Mr.. Brown was in charge Of
"the local superintendence." A Fine Arts
Council was appointed by President Roose-
welt, largely at Mr.. Browns instigation, on
January 1s, 1909. The Act establishing the
Commission of Fine Arts became law, with
President Taft's consent on May II, 1910. Mr.
Brown remained secretary and treasurer Of
the American Institute of Architects until 1918.
Before he died, April q, 1882, he had seen
new Washington well commenced under his
inspiration In the Federal-Triangle Develop
ment.