The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1874-11-13
Ghe Daily Atgns.
THE PRESIDENTS SALARY.
Bring it Back to the Old Landmarks.

From recent Speech by Mr.. DooHtAe Of Us.
The Presidents house, gardens, cons
servatories and stables are all furnished
and kept in perfect order in all their de
tails. at the public expense; stewards,
doorkeepers, and a band Of music for all
public receptions are furnished without a
dollars expense to President. All the
! furniture, carpets, beds, tables, to the mi
nutest thing which convenience or luxury
can desire are furnished by the Govern
ment The whole establishment is alsc
warmed and lighted throughout all this
at an expense to the public Treasury Of
500, 10000 or $4,000 year.
But you ask me, What then, does the
President pay out Of his salary?
He pays his cooks, the walters upon his
table, the driver of his carriage, and the
servants who wait upon his family and his
guests; he pays for what is eaten and
drank at his table. By custom, it is ex.
pected of the President to give several
States dinners and in the course of the
year to entertain each member of Con
gress, the Judges of the courts, the for
egn Ministers, his Cabinet, and OCCASION
ally distinguished strangers-in all, prob
ablytfive hundred persons. IF such din
ners should cost $40 tor each person, So
900 would cover that expense. OF the
$4,000 remaining $4,000 ought to pay
his other family expenses. That would
leave him $4,000 per annum clear.
Now, what does experience show? Let
me state some instances, Mr. Polk, of
Tennessee land while Mrs. Polk, that ac-
complished lady, was in the White House
it was never more popular, saved about
$4,000 out of four years saaries-about
$4,000 a year.
Mr. Pierce did the same. Mr.. Buchan-
an did nearly the same. Mr.. Lincoln,
when elected President, was worth about
$4,000; and his estate, upon his death,
was about $4,000. 1t must be borne in
mind, too, that Mr.. Lincoln received his
salary in greenbacks, when theyswere not
over sixty cents in gold, and when prices
were the highest
Mr.. johnson saved from his salary, in
three years and a half, 100000 or $780,
600, and that, to, when greenbacks were
still at discount Of twenty five per cent
And, it must not be forgotten, none of
these Presidents ever accepted presents.
Mr.. johnson refused the present of
carriage. Whatever may be said in crit
icism of Mr.. Johnson's public course, all
parties agree that the White House was
never more gracefully kept and presided
over than by his daughter-Mrs. Patter-
soma perfect lady and model of a Re
publican mistress of the White House
Let me tell you fact which has never
been published, but which | had from the
ladys own lips. just as she was about to
leave, at the end of Mr. Johnson's Ad
ministration, the steward of the house
took an inventory, and found that not one
article of furniture was missing or broken
not sheet, towel or napkin was lost and |
the house was in perfect order from top to
bottom. She told me another fact, which |
know the wives and daughters Of the
farmers of Wisconsin will be glad to
hear, When she went into the White
House she purchased two excellent cows.
from the milk of these cows she made all
the butter, used all the cream, aad made |
all the ice cream used in the Presidents |
family during the term. When she went
home she shipped these cows to Tenness-
ee. Is it any wonder, ladies', that Mrs
Patterson received the first premium on
butter at their late fair last fall?