The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1875-07-22
Our Expensive President.

| columns OF figures to show the vast in
crease of expenditure at the White House
under the administration of President
Grant. The presidents annual salary, up
to the second term of Grant, has always
been $25, 900. AS is well known, the
| President doubled his compensation on the
eve OF his second Inauguration by signing
the salary-grab bill. He allowed ma-
ority of the forty second congress to APP
propriate the peoples money for their
own pockets, and they gave him an OPP
portunity to benefit himself in the same
way. But, besides the presidential salary
there are many items in the appropriation
bills under the heading of compensation
for employees of the White House and for
the building itself, its furniture and the
grounds attached to it. 1t is positively
asserted that a large proportion Of the
money thus appropriated is not applied to
the purpose intended by the law. For
several years SIC, 900 have been appropri-
ated annually for refurnishing the execu-
tive mansion, s. 900 for fuel, $40, 900 tor
the presidents house, and from s. 600 to
$40, 900 for the greenhouse. 1t is main
tanned that there is nothing to show for
these large appropriations, either in i'm
proyements, or in the furniture OF the
White House, or the fuel consumed The
following is a comparative statement of
the annual average of the presidential ex=
penses for the last twenty-five years.
Under Taylor Fillmore ---------------S "A o66
Under Pierce, democrat Il $50
Under Buchanan, democrat OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES 4G 575
Under Lincoln, (Republican 81, 100
First term of Grant, (Repubican) -- U4726
Second term of Grant. (Repubcan) -------- ll92s9
| Thus it will be seen that since the time
OF Abraham Lincoln these expenses have
more than doubled In the last year of
Lincoln they amounted to $47 800: in no
year under Grant We're they less than $50,
| 600 The matter deserves special attention
| for two reasons. In the first place it is the
| President himself who has directed atten-
ton to the money question in his late
manly letter on the third term But
after all it is not 50 much the amount of
| money which he gets as the manner in
which he obtained the doubling of his
salary, that ought to be kept in view. The
figures furnished by the Sun are . com
plete answer to the Presidents claims of
having made a "sacrfice" by accepting
the presidency. Virtually he claimed that
he has lost money by becoming President,
And to this one reply is that he has been
paid very literally, if not e1trayagantly
The other answer has been given by Vice
President Wilson, when he told Mr.. Grant
without naming OF addressing him-that
the presidency is ian honor by the side of
| which uncounted wealth must weigh as
nothing" ..
A comparison of the items Of these ex-
penses for three Presidential terms Will
give an idea Of the enormous increase made
by the present administration. We give
| them below
FISCAL YEAR lSn;-j1-PIERCE.
Act making appropriations for certain civil
expenses for year ending June 80 1877:
Compensation OF the President. -. t25 900
men 900
Compensation of two doorkeepeis. l,03S
Conversation of furnace keeper 800
Annual repairs, improving grounds,
sc r. OOO
Fuel for Presidents housp 500
-
Total -, 4o?
FISCAL YEAR lS64-G'-IINCoLN.
Act appropriatine for legislative. executive.
arl ;r,io;,l a,,,oos e., ,,,a o,,,.,,,. 1,,,,,
~ ' " INV '>''t ''''''if' '''''
'o' iooo'
Compensation of the President. .... 80 900
Compensation o. Secretary to sgn
land patents ''-"o
COMPENSATION "l private oe'lt'iS' ,.
omrensation If two night watrhmrn Doo
Compensation Of two doorkeepers. l,2oo
compensation OF furnace keeper. 600
Contingent expenses and stationery. 1900
Art concentrating for SnnIrv civ O vnpncps.
,,,,,,,, o,,a;u, &c I,hita tIa,, ooo
MI e. ,Vhit TANK ~ 49, 'i'''7N' So y ,"W
, u'i ~ :" i'o l,ouoc. -'f'o
''ei'aii liis anu ien'tl'is I'i9 itsii'Gh' ooo
summer iesi'ehce '' 7"loei iioile "'"'"
,r -n,
Act appropriating for legislative. executive
anu Judicial expenses Tor the year ending June
W. $685. a.. n., .-o,oo
Compensation of furnace keeper 80. St4
o9 81 s51 aach q Two policemen a' scn
Compensation of one night Waterman 800
Co osaon Of Of o,e nlgm5 usher A. oo
81 200 each. Observation-Disclosures. 2,4oo
on,pensato " pl.ia.o ' 40
Compensation of two Executive
Condensation at ' Of steward t.'S so 200
Compensation of messenger 200
land patents .....' LOO
Contingent expenses and stationery. 5000
,.1'''' p0'''7c '.'''''a'' WV
Eillira rrnnnd south Of Evoout;,o
Mansion ....,........... 10000
'@T Man ,nS 'u'D So"'' % Executive "a