Newspapers / The Charlotte Observer (Charlotte, … / June 27, 1909, edition 1 / Page 18
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I 0 Thp . . 1 110 1 ew White House : ; 1 1 When ; President Taft stepped Into the Walto House on the 4th of March he found a model homo with every convenience eemethlng that former President found not Before the -election of President Rooaevelt few changes had been made in the White House since the days of John Quincy Adams, when it was rebuilt after be ing fired by the marauding British The east entrance by the colonnade leads to the basement corridor, on the wails of which axe hung the portraits of the former mistresses of the White House i Deluding that of Mrs. Roose velt The portrait of Mrs. Hayes was presented by the Woman's National Temperance Union, in 'recognition of the eold water reign at the White House during President Hayes term. against another McKJnley tragedy the secret service force assigned to pro tect the President has been .doubled, and these men are the only ones In the government's employ who can safely disregard the Chief Executive's or ders. These hawk-eyed men are for ever on the Job, and the President Is never out of sight of some of them. They even guard his bed chamber L.i ? JtV '-Wiv. rfP- "W 4S 8 VT Ojf tf i X- J, 1- i. tV' ,i' Urr V r 't " ..... r'X ' ' I- U - . 4 i, ji, . -if . r tVoiit View of the White House Now Uie President's private entrance. tresps, only the walls being left tandtog. Indeed, ft Is related that no provision was made for keeping the big majislon-sufllclently warm for cenUort durtng the Adams time, and the now stately Kast room was used by Mrs. Adams for drying the week ly wash. The Executive Mansion as It was called before the advent t Air. J Roosevelt he euttbea ft o2Wal?y "the White House" was the flrel public building erected at the seat of 1 (Hoban, who drew his sTtlns closely after those of the seat ST' the Dunces dl Lelnster, near Dublm, Ireferwd. , Oeorge Washington himself selected the site, laid the corner-stone on Oc tober 13, 1792, arid lived to see the building completed. The first Presi dent to occupy It, however, was John Adams in 1800. When President Roosevelt entered the White House he found that Uncle 6am had supplied him with nothing more than an antiquated fiat over what might have been termed part of the National Museum, and this flat . was crowded around by public of flees. State dinners were being held in a draughty up-stalrs hallway; re ception guests were making their en trance through a front window by means of portable wooden steps which were erected for such State occasion, and the President himself couldn't . take a bath in his iwn little apart ment without being disturbed by some Intruder. When Mr. Roosevelt found ' what was in store for him he Immedl- - ately went up In arms, and told the )-. leaders in Congress, In his usual way, ' that a President of a respectable na V tion should be provided with better - quarters, and the money was prompt ' ly appropriated for the new White House. An office building was erect , ed for the President and his host of 'clerks, which is connected with the 'tiialn building by an esplanade and the White House was promptly re stored to its original architectural ; grandeur. All the broken and much abused furnishings were sold at auo .' tlon and new and simple sanitary furniture put In. The whole interior of the building was remodeled and ' redecorated In classic good taste, and the White House tb-day is one of the most stately types of 'colonial man- , aton In America. MANY ALTERATIONS. ' , Besides those already referred to many other alterations and changes ftrere made. The publio entrance was formerly on the north front or the . (rent of the jnansion proper but Dow it Is throoVh a colonnade on the .cast, and the front entrance Is re served as the President's private way. Prom this corridor broad stairs lead up to the. main corridor, from which access Is had to the Cast Room, the Blue Room, and the Red Room, which take their names from the predom inating color of the decorations ant? furnishings. The East Room, or of ficially state parlor, used i for recep tions, Is a magnificent apartment eighty feetVlongiby. forty feet wide, with a 'fc!Klng fwwftr-two feet In iMdgatt vrtflrn"Wh46hHhansTS three mas- rve onpitaJ c Ran falters. The deco rations f lithe watAs and ceiling .are sn wfiktepsttKl. goM. with moulding. ana tablet .ornamentation n reliof. J The wtndowidra4rlesare rich old gold. The Blue Room, which Is oval In shape. Is Mr. Tart's private reception room. It Is used on such occasions as the diplomatic receptions and re ceptions of the Supreme Court. Other guests whom . the President wishes to receive in this room are extended spe cial Invitations. Thfse are known as "Blue Room guests." The walls of thlS' room are covered with rich corded blue slllc, and the window hangings are of blue with golden stars In the upper folds. On the mantel ticking away the time is the deck presented by Napoleon to Lafayette and. by him to Washington; on either side stand the bronze vases presented to the first President at that time. The new state dining room Is panel ed with dark English oak and deco rated with the heads of American big game. To this colleotlon of trophies have been added several fine spec) me.ss which were killed by President Roosevelt The white marble mantel is surmounted by an old Flemish tapestry depicting a country scene and having Hi a panel a verse from Virgil in praise of hunting. The mas sive mahogany table has been en larged so that It will now seat more than a hundred guests, while before it would accommodate but half that lumber. LIFE WELL PROTECTED. When Congress provided for more comfortable quarters for the Presi dent It also made provisions for the better protection of hie life by mak ing an attempt to assassinate him punishable by death, while a mere threat to kill him, or even the advis ing of another to do so, is punishable by ten years' hard labor. In the new depot at Washington there is pro vided a handsome private waiting room for the Chief Executive so that he will not have to come in contaot with the masses of'he traveling 'pub lic as heretofore. This will prevunt In the future a repetition of the Gar field tragedy. To lessen the danger while he sleeps. Tea Mr. Taft has many advantages and pleasures which former occupants of the White House never dreamed of. When he travels all of his ex penses are paid by the government. For this purpose there is Just $2, OSS a month laid aside In Uncle Sam's strong box. If he wishes to take a 'pets and ornaments. urlantly furnished to meet the de mands of the Chief Executive and his family. The President may also call Into use battleship or cruiser If be prefers a larger vessel. Mr. Taft pre ceeded to Panama. In one of . the navy's fast cruisers. The new President has no doctor bills to pay, for being commander ln-chief of the army and navy be may call on either branch for medical ser- vicea It is generally the custom, however, to select only .one medical attendant, who would call la other J doctors should a case require It If the .President moreover, . snouia oie In office, all of his funeral expenses will new be defrayed by the govern ment and bis widow would be grant ed a pension of $3,000 a year for life with the free use of the mails. In order to ltep petty details away from htm an orSce force receiving (2.000 a year, headed by a private secretary who receives 17,500 a year addi tional, has been provided.. A con tingent fund of f 20.000 is allowed for stationery, reference books and the like. Mr. Taft will not be- bothered with any great amount of official mall. His secretaries will attend to all mat ters of minor Importance, and there will be but a small percentage of his mall to which he will have to dic tate repliea It will be a 'rare occa sion when he will have to pen a letter as Presidents of old had to do. SERVANTS ON PAT-ROLL. All of the servants at the White House are on the pay-roll of Uncle Sam, even to the man who shaves the President; but Mr. Taft will have to pay his coachman. However, he is more fond of an automobile than a carriage, and tlie present Congress being aware of that fact has gen erously appropriated 112.000 for auto niobllrs for the White House. So during Mr. Taft's regime such a ve hicle will be a, part of his Official equipment The neW mistress of the White House does not have the worry over housekeeping that former mistresses have had to undergo. A steward Is now provided at a good salary to look after thewe matters. It Is his duty to hire all the r.ervanta, give orders to the housekeeper and to do all the marketing. Thomas Jefferson did his own marketing. This Important functionary is provided with a gov ei nment Iayton wagon to do hla shopping, and is a sworn government official, who, under the terms of a 120.00U bond, given before he enter ed office, is held responsible for all government property used at the White House. This includes table linen, plate, glassware, furniture. ear- Whenever the '1 3 Y 1 V 4 ' Vi I St? t J, -;-yvJt '-I vC '! ) ; j ; if 'a .."err - '$'sff h H n Hat A ' vvil y-" ; 7fi The New Bute DDlnlna: Ro om. The inactive mahogany table now seats over a hundred p,, the first lady-of the land and th tents and all Mr. Taft will.be poorly I lots had been . . . .... ,. a InfllH fnr hit mrvlM 1a thA TTMltM, ' f rrAart .in President by brilliantly uniformed army and naval- officers detailed as social aides. All of the petty details of social correspondence will be at tended to by a young lady isociat secretary to Mrs. Taft, and the cus tom In Washington's social life is that the wife of the President never has to return any calls. GIFTS FOR PRESIDENTS. The President of the United States these days Is showered with gifts. Mr. I l'.oosevelt received presents' ranging from a menagerie of sebras, lions, baboons and other. MId beHsts from the King of Abyssinia, and niusnlf leent Persian rugs from the Sultan of Turkey to a pair of cotton suspenders from some admirer at home. A thous and and one other gifts were sent .o him. but all valuable presents from ro"Mty he has turned over to the Nat.onal Museum at Washington where they are kept on exhibition. Mr. Taft, no doubt, oy reason of his world-wide acquaintance, will be showered with mere gifts than have been sent to any dozen Presidents be fore him. The remodeling and refurnishing or. the White House was effected at a paid for his services to the United J ondent -will km. States In comparison with the rulers of many other nations; . even mon archs of some petty kingdoms have a much greater Income, and a number of men . In business life In America draw better salaries, fki the present. Congress has acted most wisely In passing a measure to Increase the salary' of the President of the UnUea States to 175,0OO. A DISSENTING VOICE. It Declares That Kc)resenlatlve More heed as Candidate t'Vir Governor Is Unacceptable to Mauy Republicans. ,A;heville Gazette- Newt. - We find the following in The Wash- , Columbia Stat. exactly what "' : Hit el f"r f,...vprn. mean, for he sav of his nomination Morehead won In n of the organization . v dlate the orKaniia'i t;. other words, who K. , h -.rgiy loyal suppnr' lM;r:S his r ir v ongr !. -, K ,v,.. a9j pruiTss 01 I i.st.i n t n f .i scripted. we ..,-, ?..- movement to r. $.-t i: m ,., rslstlesi army .. t!. ,r-i. and semi-near i;. -S'!- . j HfTeti )c- . nilaiiK i-x 4 it' I' H'Sx&'i&s : v- irr 4 m H lir Is. I a r, , VI " J 7 si I i W illi 7. l-i If m?8W- - r ' 7 ff f ?4t J! f It ThJs is OIK paragraphs it h It 'servH lift: pjjuiiii.eu Mir yeHi- ro.i . ,i:t rfioa 5 o clock at th city ti . : 1 1 hs i;'.t hi r thr.-e rl .1 7h In n'. t'r.-: !h n. t onlyf " ; -i.ssani t"V ' ra.n i;h 1 .(Tsprtj The President's Private Office slio lng the "Presidential Cbair;" The New Cabinet Room adjoining. sea trip he has the choice of two pri vate yachts at hs command the Mayflower and the Sylph. The May flower Is a boat of 1,700 tons, and was built especially for Mrs. Ogden Goe let who originally paid $100,009 for it During the Spanish-American war the government purchased It for (4S0.OOO. This craft has been lux- ? 4 s 4 - . . :(i 't; "" " tv- ;; i -i' js - -i? 1 ' . f " 1 a - 7 1 - , - ..'' . v - if tj. first lady of the land wishes any re pairs made she simply calls upon the engineer officer of the army, who rs detailed In the dual capacity of super intendent of public buildings and grounds and master of ceremonies ai the White House. He Is allowed 13 5.000 a year for the care and furnishing of the mansion and an equal amount for repairs, $6,000 for fuel, $,000 for greenhouses, and H.OtOTor taking care of the White House grounds. All food bills, in cluding those which the President must contract for the four state din ners given each year, or for the en tertainment of any distinguished for eigners in Washington, must be paid out or his private funda The four State banquets usually cost about $1,- 00 each. The social functions of the W'hlte House were doubled under Mr. Roosevelt's administration, he having practically used his entire official sal ary for the purpose. Tet ss much as he entertained he was not able to meet the conditions that the official life at the capital of the nation de mands at the present time, for the reason that even the remodeled White Heuee was not large enough to be equal to such requirements. If Mr. Taft attempts to keep up with the pace set by his predecessor he will I come out of the White House as he ' gee In comparatively a poor man. Mr. Taft however, will not have to pay for the floral decorations for his : entertainments as these will be sup- : plied from the government's green houses which are kept for the pur pose. The music, too, will be free, being furnished by the famous Ma- Jrine Band at Washington. j In the basement of the new White House the new mistress will find two modern kitchens, a large laundry room and a wonderful pantry which contains an electric dish beater with . a capacity of three thousand dishes and platen. At the' state dinner,' over which Mrs. Taft will preside, the viands, prepared In her two kitchens by one of the beet caterers la the country, will be served on 110,000 service of Wedgewoed china, beside - Lthe new glassware bought nndar the " direction of Mrs. Roosevelt, and the historic silver plate which baa been j collected by White House matron cost of $5S0,650. This waa a good sum when It is considered that when Mrs. Madison spent $460 for a piano and $28 for a guitar out of a J6,00t appropriation her act was commented upon as wanton extravagance. Still, taking everything into con sideration salary, perquisites, pres- lngton co-respondence to The Char- lotto Observer: "As I asserted some time ago the!naPP' fortune t it dications are that Locke Craig, oficourse from The 'rv., Asheville and Mr. Morehead will head "The meeting 't ih- 1 the gubernatorial tickets 4ri North ith signers of m.-i, rat-nllm, In I ha not Kfate Ktftcttnn IHTBllon I innei.in.l The signs that point that way mul tiply' every day. The Democrats of the State have come to understand Craig and to love and appreciate him and like his brand of Democracy. The sort Qfygrlt that majces a man get up mid fight on and on when he has been knocked down time and time again commends Itself to the boys In the trencher Therefore, at this day, it la no wohder that all the tulk is for th Democratic champion of the west. "In Mr. Morehead the Republicans have found a 'Winner, and force of circumstances will muke him their rext State leadfr notas head of the organization, but as standard-bearer for the rank: and file, the fellows who do not work jast lor the pie they si? ehead but for the principles of thy G. O. P. All the time John Motley Is goina to kick, but once In harness he I will tighten tho trace chains and move load, and If the row which has en deliberately sprung In the Dem ocratic party by ambitious and de signing men continues the Spray Con -BMfsman will almost, if not entirely, reach the goai. carrying with him a Hepublicar; Legislature. "In any event, with two parties tomposed cf white men, the one Rain ing all the wnile and the other stend- ny losing; ,-sortn Carolina promises manufacturing coarsr i-otton zA rome interesting peltriral develop- does not need . rot. it. on Thse mcnts. Party tie-? nre not as strong w,na should read an a.l.;r. S there as they used to be." ! D. A. Tompkins made teeently Would this correspondent mind Richmond tiefore tii- r.amlng a fei t.arats? It iA trrfe that facturers. Mr. Tom :!.: he nscrted some time 'ago that his clearly the mliaiiia;'- friend. i.Morer end, would be nominated over the United Statef. for Governor by the Republicans tho South in the man . a ; next time, and it w ould be Interesting j-roducts. England' t to know the reason for the faith that have an Inheritance m ils In him. What Republicans, for ex- edge and skill. It a'nDle, Identified -with the partv lead- dance of labor which ushiD. nun who have Dut their tlrao about. Its merchant end monev Into r.olltnrn nnd who ara foods from the vnl'is t. all parti Always o the ground when there is he worlds- Capital is aiKtds"' inrty work to be done, are bent upon interest rates are Imv. Titers the nomination of ,Mr. MoreheoJ? It 1 cotton exchance in Mi.," :.--r v is true, as this corresnondent seems buyers from al1 over the nurld rri to realize thnt th TLennhllrnn nartv Ai d where !ri es lire t.xrd has been "growing- all the while." It basis of Manchester hss arown under the leadershlb Of . l ankine system the men who contributed very largely, the market centra ' to the eleetfon of Mr. Vrvrehenil -n-hen ' eures safetv to credits as there were nnl ent at the appointed h doubtless kept turn ants Indoors e.-i" r l.i . Kie upon such dr s glorious ici'ais i i n '. iit meeting by rain: Wnh 1 upon effete and W.nT.l- : There was a time when th.- .mm of these rain-shy d.si n.lantf did fear to brave the w the elements but nf t pire of Knglam! -,im sufficient to drive the, scendants, thes, and downspriiiKs, in , I here were mil'. t , tlircp pi ent. ' Ill fare.s -N- Ian, I t.. i:i? Ing Ills a pre, wh.i, ..(h ai-.-f lates and rains d- l,i And tins w In less than h nnnnh .iff: ;!n' ni ty Mecklenburg Pfrl.i'.iteiD ")! tlon. Alas anil k ' li-w -,,m we forget. And, hs tm ,1o always rain on M, ki, i.Ljir I) ration days? A Lucid I'xposltinii. Troy, N. Y., Budget. There are free tra it"., v. in i that the South, w.ih in ilv.iji I and comparatively low rapt-rui i-ntt'-n rr.a ':-'.-d Kis .i:id and pven 1.1-e of com ipe 111 knd l:.o" an aa not ni on ost Kn?! which extend." "1 rH., , hal stitr,tiiriP he Mmself had little faith In the en- Because of suhsictznd ftn.shirip tfiorlse, but he seems to have felt lm-' ton Is landed In Munchester " rnI pelled, probablv out of considerations, lyas It Is in Fall River r .iri " I of "respectability," to repudiate the Southern manurm-i -it m : atllve friendship and good will of"the This would ieem to a i' men who served him after the bal- showing. 4 1 - ill. witU li it n 4 Jx-V 4 111 3 4 was ui IW " i The KedccoraJ East RoomIJere, whoever may wish oaa shake the hand of Mr. Taft oo PnbUo wefjuon since Adams' time. On formal ecea. frame and csortod to ef eMrosT plLa '"'-. --' ' - v ':7l7--;7-- -7;-r7:y- ':7 .1 V - 7y'7 T--y7 '-17 H
The Charlotte Observer (Charlotte, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
June 27, 1909, edition 1
18
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