Evening star., 1948-05-30
White House
Continued From First Page.)

least six months of uninterrupted
work to execute the plans and re-
store the White House to normal
living conditions. For the safety
and peace of mind of all concerned
they hope the work will be started
with the least possible delay.
Couldn't Stay During Work.
There again, Mr.. Reynolds re-
minded, the PBA will come up
against conditions over which it has
no control. Congress is fully ex-
pected to act promptly on the rec
concentrations of the engineers but
the personal convenience Of the
presidential family, as well as af-
fairs of state, must be taken into
consideration.
"The Presidents family certainly
won't be able to occupy the White
House after this work starts and
Blair House would make very sat-
isfactory temporary residence" Mr.
Reynolds said.
That historic and architecturally
attractive residence, which the Gov
ernment acquired during World War
II for the accommodation of dis
tinguished foreign visitors, also is
suitable, it was pointed out, for Of
fetal entertainment on a limited
scale. Mr.. Truman or his successor
could walk to and from the execu-
tive Offices across the street.
The alterations that now must be
carried out should have been done
81 years ago, Mr.. Reynolds ex-
planned. That would have been in
1927 when the fire-resistant third
floor was added and the Coolidges
moved out while the work was
being done. For some reason OF
other, 1t wasn't attended to at the
time.
Disturbed by Whole Thing.
I'm disturbed greatly by this
whole thing" said Mr.. Reynolds
who previously had told Congress
that he "shuddered" when he
thought of the fire hazards that
threaten the safety of the presi-
Dental family. THE building GER
tainly violates the principles Of
building engineering" he complain
ed. I'VE don't know as much about
the second floor construction as we
would like to know, but a thorough
physical survey should determine
the improvements required"
Mr. Reynolds remarked that some
people are asking, why the rush
at this time to make the White
House safe, after all these years"
I'VE take things too much fol-
granted in this country" he said.
Being fire-conscious himself, he
can quote the annual cost of fires
in human lives and dollars-a cost
which is beginning to make the
American people fire conscious, too
Mr.. Reynolds draws a line, how
ever, at calling the White House a
fire trap" as appeared in news
paper headlines month ago.
I've never called it fire trap
he claimed 1T is a fire hazard
There's a difference between the
two"
Doors Open Inward.
1t is true, he said, that the doors
in the White House open inward
The timber in walls and floors Is ole
and dry. The old fashioned stair.
ways are open-and they should bt
of the inclosed. flre-resistant type
he complains. But it gives us somt
peace of mind to realize the White
House is the best guarded building
in the country"
What worries the conscientiou.
custodian of most Of Washington
public buildings is the chance that
a fire might break out Unexpectedly
in the White House during one o1
the great receptions attended BY
several thousands of guests.
1t is almost certain that any fire
breaking out in the White House
would be discovered almost imme-
diately and the guards could re-