The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-06-05

How the Members ..sve-Who can At
ford It and NAo Cannst-Personal
Sketches.
II republics are uugrateful" in anything it
ia m respect to paucity Of compensation at
taching to the most important services and
most exalted position in the government. The
meagre 5000 per annum paid to Cabinet
minister -6ill do little moro than pay the rental
o. respectable furnished house in Washing
ton, ard to live at all generously involves 8
heavy draft upon the private fortune OF the en-
We'd head of department.. Happy is hewho
has the ability to endure the e1hausting drain
for the allotted period Of four years. and is en-
abled, without running in debt, to live and en-
tertsin in style becoming the Home Minis
ters of the great atrepublic OF the Western hem-
isphere. The New York Herald, in the course
Of long article on this subject, says:
FALSE ECONOMY.
That system of so-called economy in this
direction, which demands the highest talent
and the most arduous labor for the most
limited compensation, is il-judged, and In
furious to the public service, is seh-evldent
fact. Poverty may afford the needed stimulus
to efertion in rare iustsn ,es; but success is,
after an. the assistant and precursor TO great
achievements. When the principal personal
probe N is how to pay the butcher and the
baker, the mind is ,arcely in ft condition TO
grasp intrics to questions Of publo policy 0r to
sdminister important affairs OF state. wns'
wonder is it, chen. nmen have gone forth nom
high positions. With debts socpmoiased ano
spirits broken, to lead life Of obscure pover-
Il? Or 1hs ahould we consider it strange
that in some the Law Of nature should assert
itself and counsel accumulations, when circum-
stances are favorable, at the expense or the
pubic purse2
How diherent is ell this in Ems lasl, where to
make hay while the sun shines is altogether
unnecassary. To be an officer under the Bri-
Lisb crown for few months is to secure an
ADEQUATE income for all time. Every e1-ofti-
cial is pensioned for life, and the stipends-
outside the royal family, which are exception
aily high-reach all the way from $500 to $6o,.
O00. Ex-potcemen and lester carriers get the
smallest SUNG, ex lord ohaBceliers the highest.
Cabinet ministers receive as salaries suns
ranging from $50, 900 down TO N0. 600 per year;
and. however brief his term OF service, pen
sion for life OF equal amount attaches to the
head of q department and his children. This
system, OF course, creates an immense list OF
costly pensioners, who become heavy burden
upon the taxpaying public. But it has its COM
5Ss
nation which supports the army Of pension e1,
officials is not better off than the government
which pays but poorly and suffers not unfre-
uuently from incompetent or dishonest ser
wants, who do not scruple to make the most OF
their brief term and uncertain tenure or omoe.
Happily, the heads Of the various depart sa1
stituted. are wholly above reproach or sus:
plcion OF dishonesty. Possessed, as some OF
Them are, OF respectable fortunes the Cabinet
of President Grant does not represent large
aggregate Of wealth, and some Of the members
depend almost wholly upon their salaries for
support. Iu this view OF the case it is inter
esting to know how the heads OF the govera gaor,
ment live; and We challenge comparison
with any nation for the rigid simplicity and
economy which characterizes the home lie OF
the chiefs Of our Republican Court.
THE PREsDKNT.
The head Of the nation resides with his farni.
Iy at present, as is we'll known, at the white
House, 30 giving no grand dinners or costly en-
tertalnmenLs, but receiving at his table iDfor-
mally q few select friends. The Executive
Mansion will be closed only for brief period
during the season, and no summer resort will
be fitted up for the family Of the President.
A few weeks absence at the farthest Will sut-
fee them for the approaching heated term.
This will be passed at the seaside. The use
OF an elegant residence-the most delighil lul in
the vicinity OF Washington leside"
property OF General Hiram Walhrldge, was
rendered to the President by the proprietor q
Few days since, ai. 6a. tee offer was courteously
ousy entered into. The president will take
an excursion to the Rocky Mountains. accom-
panied by General Dent and small party OF
friends; and, the pressure from the Paclhc
side being almost irresistible. Will probably
visit San Francisco. Meanwhile, Mrs. Grant
and the family will pass Q few weeks at New
port.
SECRETARY FISH
Ia the only member OF the Cabinet who is
really keeping house, en- fdnaLe. He has
taken the elegant mansion No. 215 Fifteenth
street, corner Of I, lately Occupied by Senator
Morgan. Mrs. Fish remains with him for the
present, and administers the kindly hospltali-
ties Of the establishment with cultivated grace.
Secretary Fish ID gentleman Of the old school,
graduate Of Columbia College, OF literary
and artistic Tastes, enriched by extensive travel
and much intercourse with good society in tor
eign lands. He has an ample fortune, and, as
his sons and daughters are settled in life, he
can afford to live on scale OF hberality which
would be wholly inconsistent With the meagre
salary OF q Cabinet officer. he was sixty years
Of age on the Sd Of August, 1868. HIS public
life commenced IN 1S4S, with his election to
Congress. 10 person Governor Fish presents
tho appearance Of refined, digni6ed gentle
man. He is Of medium size and height, with
fCrid complexion strong, prominent features,
ano side whiskers deeply tnged with gray. He
IS q rapid and earnest conversationaist, and
dispatches business as he conducts conversa-
tion-with energy. He will,maKe good Sec
rotary of Stale, and will leave the Office $50, 900
poorer than he entered it, because he will live
far beyond $4,000 per annum, as has been his
custom for many years, and no public money
will adhere to his fingers, however great the
opportunities.
SECRETARY BOUTWELL,
Attained to his fifty.fIst birthday on the 28th
day OF January, 1859. He is self-educated
gentleman, commencing his pubic career as
o member OF the Legislature OF Massachusetts
in 1842. His private fortune is limited, and in
his mode OF life at the seat OF government he
Indulges in no needless expenditure. He re-
sides, as he did while in Congress-, al board
ing house in Twelfth-street. The guests at
that highly respectable house are numerous in
the Washington season, though at present the
number ID small, consisting Of Solicitor Ban
field, of the Treasury Department; Solicitor
Hale special attorney r the government in
all cotton cases; Mrs. Gurley, widow of the
Rev. DR.. Gurley General Clarke, late
Executive Clerk OF The Senate, and MIR.
Thomas Hood, late Of Wisconsin. Secre-
tary Boutwell, entertains little company, though
forced to receive q host OF offce.seekers who
fail to gain Abundance at the fortified door Of
his Office in the Treasury building. His family
reside at his home a. Groton Junction,
Mass, and will not brave the heat and dust of
the capital until autumn. He will then seek
to ocure modest house and one suited to
his not very extensive means. Personally