The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1874-11-19
Presidential Dignity.

EA-StHdlOG d. IA. ltOollttlt, lUi lildNN
years a leading member OF the republican
party, IN 4 recent speech in Wisconsin on
the decline OF public virtue, the departure
from genuine republican simplicity and
the growth of extravaganza and luxury,
took as his example that part OF the salary
grab instigated by Grant and engineered
BY Ben Butler. which yet remains a law
the increase OF the presidents salary from
80, 900 to $50 600 year, on the plea that
it was necessary to support the dignity
OF his position and the Inequalities of the
executive mansion The facts on which
NJ Doolittle dwell are well worthy OF at
tention
First. ii should be remembered that the
presidents house, gardens, Conservatives
aud stables are all furnished and kept in
perfect order in all their details at the pub
lie expense; stewards, doorkeepers and a
band Of music for all public receptions are
furnished without dollars expense to the
president All the furniture, carpets beds,
tables, to the minutest thing which con-
venience or luxury can desire, are furn-
ished by the government The whole es-
Enlistment is also warmed and lighted
throughout; all this at the expense to the
public treasury of 100000 or So, 200
There is not much left for the president
to pay unless he has recourse to tricks by
which under other names he can make the
nation give him household servants. Grant
has to pay his cooks, the walters upon his
table, and 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 The president is ex-
pected to give dinners to persons Of dis
tiuction The number whom he thus en-
teroains is probably five hundred persons
in a year. At SO piece, which seems
all ample allowance, s., 900 would pay for
this item. OF the $50, 900 remaining So
600 ought to pay his other family expen-
ses. That would leave him SIG, 900 per
annum clear.
fAPeiie 4iNo - 'uieAS Il lall lest u Witt
a presidents expenses really are Of these
Mr. Doolittle presented the following IN
terestng and Instructive facts and in
4,,,,o,
staHNeo'
Mr.. Polk. OF Tennessee. land. while Mrs
Polk, that accomplished lady, was in the White
House it was never more popular) saved about
$4,000 out of four years s;laries-about So
600 year.
Mr.. Pierce did the same Mr.. Buchanan did
nearly the same. Mr.. Lincoln when elected
president, was worth about $50 900; and his eS-
tate 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 worth over sixty cents in gold, and
when prices We're the highest.
Mr. Johnson saved from his salary, in three
wears and half. $50. 900 or $50 900: and that
100. when greenbacks were still at Il discount
Of twenty five per cent. And it must not be
forgotten. none of these presidents ever accept
ed presents. Mr.. johnson refused the present
Of carriage. Whatever may be said in criti-
cism of Mr.. Johnson's public course, all par
ties agree that the White House was never more
gracefully kept and presided over than ty his
daughter, Mrs. Patterson-a perfect lady and
House. Let Inc tell you Il fact which has never
own lips. just as she was about to leave, at
the end Of Mr.. .Johnson's administration, the
steward of the house took an inventory. and
found that not one article of furniture was MISS
ing or broken: not a sheet towel or napkin was