the property to be transferred. As of this date, OctobeRr
11, arrangements have been made to have a survey of the
property prepared by the General Land 0ffice of the
Department of the Interior. The work is to be started on
the survey Tuesday, October 12.
 
    5. The President, his wife, and five children, are to
retain a life tenancy in the property.
 
    6. The property transferred is to remain taxable so long
as the life tenancy is retained. (Congress can authorise
the
property to be taxed even though it is transferred to the
Federal Government. )
 
    7. The United States is authorized to make improvements
upon acquiring title and such improvements are to be exempt
from taxation.
 
    8. The consent of the life tenant is not necessary for
any improvement which the Government may make.
 
    9. The existing open view to the river across the Boreel
tract to the south and west of the main house is to be
retained. A provision contained in the will of the
President's father, Mr. James Roosevelt, whereby this view
can be maintained is to be incorporated in the deed
transferring the President's home to the Government. The
deed will also include a similar right over the balance of
Wheeler Place west of the premises to be conveyed.
 
   10. An accurate topographic survey of the property with
all physical improvements is to be prepared by the
Department
of the Interior at the President's convenience.
 
   ll. No major changes are to be made in the house or
grounds by either the life tenants or the United States
Government without concurrence of an advisory committee
composed of the Director of the National Park Service, as
chairman, the Archivist of the United States, and the
Chairman of the National Fine Arts Commission. (The
following paragraph was contained in supplement to original
draft of memorandum,which supplement was signed by Mr.
Hackett and Mr. Epstein,and concurred in by Mr. Ronalds:
"In so far as we can
recollect, the function of the advisory board was to
determine the improvements and whether a life resent was
considered to have abandoned the premises by virtue of
non-occupancy or failure to keep same in good repair. The
President's though was to keep the residence and surounding
grounds in a condition as nearly approximating the
condition
prevailing at the expiriation of his life estate without
permtting any major change. The right to effect a mjor
change was given to no one. Inasmuch as the aforesaid Act
of Congress already permits the Government to make
improvements to preserve the premises, the only function
left for the advisory board to perform is to pass upon the
finality of a life estate and any alteration by a
life tenant.")
 
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