The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1858-12-29

TGs PRESIDENTS DOMESTIC ARRASGEMgNrs.-A
correspondent OF the Boston Courier, writing from
Washington, tells how much of President Bueh.
ausns salary goes for his expenses and how little
don't. us says:
The truth is. that up to the time of Mr. Polk the
White House was not decCntly furnished. Congress
| tnen made an appropriation. which, being iudi-
| ciously ex pended improved Things somewhat Al
| ter that 10 considerable appropriation was made
till the year 1853 when some $50 o. was snnrrnri
sted for heating, yentilating. painting eIlargit q
and refurnishing tho Eouse The responsibility Ot
applying this appropriation TO the purpose intend
| cd by Congress was devolved on Captain Lee then
oi the Typographical Corps Of the army, and we
think th~ money was expe nded to the satisfaction
OF everybody. For the first tins the house was
| made c,0. f5rtaJEe TO live in. The appliances for
warming the house by hot water, and which We're
furni-he by Waworth NasJn, OF your city cost
it ia s id, more than ten thousand dollars inClud
ing axnense OF putting up. The furniture Of the
| house is substantially the same carpets and all
aud purchased by Cap. Lee in 1858.
The silver in the house, am told is mostly ,hst
bought III Paris during The administration OF Mr..
Monroe There are but two three pictures in the
house. Nne in the red room, portrait of Wash
ington, which was cut from the frame and secured
by Mrs. Madison wteu Washington was occupied
bv the British 0uring the war of 1872. Another in
the Presidents ortice portrait of Bohyet, ths
South American patriot. There no household
ornaments about the house, except vases tered
here and there on manteis, and articles brought
from Japan 10y Commodore Perry The Whits
House. in word, is furnished more like a first
class hotel than fTst-c!aSs private residence
There are articles of use in abundance ricb and
massive, but no articles of art or adornmfnt.
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
Thousand dollars salary. Next, he receives house,
garden End stables free of expense The house is
furnished AM the garden cultivated by the Govern.
ment Every article of furniture necessary is fur.
nished by the United States. Tae Government alec
lights and heats the house II pays for stew to
take care of the public property and fireman. and
no other domestic servants. The Executive off CO s
in the Executive mansion, and for the former the
Government. providesa private secretary. clerks to
the secretary, two messengers and q porter For
all domestic servants however except steward and
fireman. the President must pay Cut Of hisown poe
ket lie must pay Tor his cooks his butler hie ia.
sle servants his female servants his coschnan and
grcoms &c &C., as any other person does who en-
ploys euch c retinue OF servants He supplies his
iabie with the exception of garden vegetables, az
any other private citjzen 6oes by his own purse.
SO With hi4 stables. In short the only things fur
njshed by Goverpmentare house and furniture, fuel
and lights steward and fireman garden vegetables
and flowers. All else is matter of private expense
With these items as basis of calculation, any gen
tleman who ket ps e9 9hteeT servants of both
sexes who keeps stable nled with horses, as does
ar Buchanan. who dimes persons,, besides his
own family, every day and once week gives din
ner to fyrty invited gnests, can form some notion
bow much. sut of twenty Ave thousand dollars re-
.ips at the end Of a