Mr. FESSENDEN. Before that amendment is acted upon, I deem it my duty to make a statement to the Senate with reference to it, to explain it. In the deficiency bill that we passe at the beginning of this session, we appropriated $46,000 for the repair of the President’s House, and it was supposed at that time that that was ample to cover everything that was necessary and called for. We have, however, a full statement made by the ComrPubBldg before the commit tee, from which it appears that, large as that amount was, a very considerable portion of it was taken up in the payment of bills that were found to exist against the President’s House, which had accumulated before the time that appropriation was passed, and of which the ommissioner knew nothing. In consequence of that and of the unexpectedly large repairs that were needed there, especially in the upper part of the house, the house being in a very dilapidated condition, they have got to a point where there is no provision whatever left for the East Room. The East Room has been dismantled with reference to repairs, and is in a very unfit state. The curtains are cut to pieces and much defaced; the furniture is all worn out, pretty much, as we understand; and in order to be in keeping it will be necessary when it is re aired to have new curtains! 850., and to furnish everything up $20,000 will undoubtedly be necessary, if we undertake to repair it at all, in order to put the East Room in a proper situation. The repairs of the building have necessarily been large. The building and the furniture were very much dilapidated. The question presented itself whctlmr the appropriation should be made; whether the East oom, which is the only room that is usually open to visitors, should be left in its present situation or should be put in a proper condition. The committee thought, on the whole, that while we are about it we might as well make the house decent, nlthough the appropriations are unexpectedly large, arger t minwas anticipated; and for that reason we recommend this iw propriation.