Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1874-11-18
TILE PRESIDENTS SALARX.
Bring il Back to the Old Aand-
marks.

Bring il Back TO the Old sInnd-
marks.
From a recent Speech by Mr.. Dooliale Of Wis
cOnsin.
The Presidents house, gardens,
Conservatives and stables are all fur
nished and kept in perfect order, in
all their details, at the public eX-
penses stewards, doorkeepers, and a
band of music for all public recep-
tons are furnished without q dollars
expense to the President. All the
furniture, carpets, beds, tables, to the
minutest thing which convenience of
luxury can desire are furnished by the
Government. The whole establish
ment is also warmed and lighted
throughout all this at an expense to
the public Treasury Of 100000 or
$4,000.
But you may ask me, What, then,
does the President pay out of his sal
AIRY.
He pays his cooks, the walters upon
his table, the driver of his carriage,
and the servants who waits upon his
family and guests he pays for what
is eaten and drank at his table. By
custom, it is expected of the President
to give several State dinners and IN
the course of the year to entertain
each member Of Congress, the Judges
Of the courts, the foreign Ministers,
his Cabinet, and occasionally distin-
guished strangers-in all, probably
five hundred persons. If such dinners
should cost $40 for each person, 3d.
900 would cover that expense. Of
the $4,000 remaining $4,000 ought
to pay his other family expenses
That would leave him S10,000Iper
annum clear.
Now, what does experience show :?
Let me state some instances MIR.
Polk, Of Tennessee candy while Mrs
Polk, that accomplished lady, was in
the White House it was never more
popular), saved about $4,000 out of
four years salaries-about $4,000 a
year.
Mr.. Pierce did the same. Mr.. Blu
chanan did nearly the same. Mr..
Lincoln, when elected President, was
worth about 100000 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 they were not over
sixty cents in gold, and when prices
were the highest.
Mr.. Johnson saved from his salary,
in three years and half, $4,000 or
100000 and that, too, when green
backs were still at discount of twen-
ty-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 criticism Of
Mr.. Johnson's public course, all par
ties agree that the White House was
never more gracefully kept and pre-
sided over thanh his daughter, Mrs.
Patterson-a perfect lady and model
of Republican mistress of the White
. House. Let me tell you fact which
has never been published, but which l
had from the lady's own lips. Just
as she was about to leave, at the end
OF Mr.. Johnsons Administration, the
steward of the house took an inven-
tory, 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 an
other tact, which l know the wives
and daughters of the farmers of Wis
consin 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, and
made all the icecream used in the
Presidents family during the term.
When she went home she shipped
these COWS to Tennessee. Is it any
wonder, ladies, that Mrs. Patterson
received the first premium on butter
at their late fair last fall