The daily exchange. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1858-1861, 1858-12-27
THE PRESIDENTS HOUSEHOJD EXPENSES

Correspondence ofue Boston Courier /
WASHINGTON, December lS.-To a large majority
OF all the strangers to the federal metropolis, who
visit Washington, there is object which excites
so much curiosity as the Executive mansion. How
often do we hear the inquiry, Chow much does it
cost the President a year to live?" More especi-
ally is the question asked by of New England and
the North where harsh climate and reluctant soil
constrains us early in life, to watch every item of
expenditure. There is always a desire to inspect
the apartments of the Presidents House, to see if
domestic life in it can be, in fact, different from do
mestc life elsewhere. There is no doubt that pub
locations by the democrats of statements in relation
to Mr.. Adams billiard table, in the east room; and
by the wings of the gorgeous furniture, including
gold spoons, of the White House during Mr.. Van
Burens occupancy, has inspired and sustained most
OF this unreasonng desire to visit every portion of
the Executive mansion.
We have heard tsad that the billiard-table story
about Mr.. Adams lost Kentucky to the Wings and
there be doubt that the gold-spoon speech of
Mr. Ogle, in relation to Mr.. Van Buren,, damaged
the democrats very seriously.
The truth is, that up to the time of Mr.. Polk the
White House was not decently furnished Congress
then made an appropriation, which, being iudicious
ly expended, improved things somewhat. After
that no considerable appropriation made till
the year 1858, when some fifty thousand dollars
were appropriated for heating, ventilating, paint
ing, charging and refurnshing the house. The re-
sponsibility Of applying this appropriation to the
purpose intended by Congress devolved on
Captain Lee, then of the Typographical Corps of
the army, and we think the money was expended to
the satisfaction Of everybody. For the first time
the house was made comfortable to live in The APP
planes for warming the house by hot water and
which were furnished by Walworth & Mason of
your city, cost, it is sad more than ten thousand
dollars, including expense of putting up The fur
niture of the house is substantially the same car
pets and all, purchased by Captain Lee in
1858.
The silver in the house, am told is mostly that
bought in Paris during the administration of Mr..
hut Al.
the house. One in the bedroom, a portrait of
Washington, which cut from the frame and
secured by Mrs. Madison when Washington was
occupied by the British during the war of 1872.
Another, in the Presidents office, portrait of Boil
ivar, the South American patriot. There are no
household ornaments about the house, except vases
scattered here and there mantels and articles
brought from Japan by Commodore Perry. The
White House, in a word, is furnished more like a
first class hotel than first class private resi-
dence. There are articles of use in abundance,
rich and massive, but no articles of art or adorn-
ment.
But to return to our question. What does it cost
the President each year to keep up the Executive
mansion?
First, the President receives twenty five thous-
and dollars salary. Next, he receives house. gar
den and stables free of expense. The house is fur
nished and the garden cultivated by the govern
ment. Every article of furniture necessary is fur
nished by the United States The government also
lights and heats the house. 1t pays for steward
to take care of the public property and fireman,
and for no other domestic servants The Executive
office is in the Executive mansion, and for the for
mer the government provides private secretary,
clerks to the secretary, two messengers and por-
ter. For all domestic servants, however, except
steward and fireman. the President must pay out of
his own pocket. He must pay for his cooks, his
butler, his table servants, bis female servants, his
coachman and grooms, &C., &C., as any other per-
son does who employs such retinue of servants
He supplies his table, with the exception of garden
vegetables, as any other private citizen does, BY
his own purse. So with his stables. In short, the
only things furnished by government are house and
furniture, fuel and lights, steward and fireman. gar
den vegetables and flowers. All else is matter of
private expense.
With these items as basis of calculation, any gen
teman who keeps eighteen more servants of both
sexes, who keeps stable filled with horses, as does
Mr. Buchanan, who dimes persons besides his own
family, every day, and once week gives dinner
to forty invited guests, can form some notion how
much, out of twenty-five thousand dollars, remains
at the end of year.