The daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1873-1877, 1875-03-20

In addition to these items were the reg
ular appropriations of $4,000 for lighting
the Capitol and the Executive Mansion in
gross, without discriminating as to the
consumption of either and tor repairing
and extending water pipes and cleaning
the springs that supply the Capitol and
Executive Mansion, $4,000.
Before Gen. Grant became president
the practice was to furnish the White
House anew at the beginning OF every
term Of four years. Since then an annual
appropriation OF ten or fifteen thousand
dollars has been regularly made, and ap.
nlied to other objects under the name of
furniture. So too an appropriation OF
$4,000 a year has been made for repairs,
which could not be expended and never
has been, no matter what Measurer Bah
cocks vouchers may pretend to show,
which have an elasticity as remarkable as
his ring measurements.
Every year some new charge has been
Struggled into the supply bills and thus
made the basis of standing approprla-
ton. like that of $4,000 for the grounds
south of the Executive Mansion, upon
which not oue-teuth part of that sum was
expended last year. In the height OF the
war the contingencies of the president
we're raised from one to three thousand
dollars, and now they are SIX thousand, IN
the face of the double salary enacted by
the back-pay grabbers of the forty-second
congress.
There is a great delusion in the public
mind purposely created at Washington in
regard to the expenses which the president
is supposed to incur by his official functions
The receptions do not cost him a single
dime. The lights, heating, music, flowers
attendants aud ushers, are all provided
for from the treasury, and no refresh
ments of any kind are eyer served.
The so-called state dinners are NOR
limited in number under Grant than an.
of the other presidents. They are con6n
ed to certain selected members of congress
the heads of legations only, the judges o
the supreme court, and few faVorites.-
Altogether not more than one hundre
and fifty guests were entertained at then
last winter. - a
Heretofore, the usage has been for th
president to invite both branches OF con
gress at regular intervals to dine With hln
without regard to politics at all. GeI
Grant has narrowed this honored custor
down to his own partisans aud small Sc
lection from the Opposition, who hay
voted without scruple for ring measure
and liberal appropriations.
The private hospitality of the Whit
House is niggardly, if not actually NEAR
All the groceries and other supplies ar
obtained from the army commissariats 6
wholesale prices. OF course the presideI
gets the pick of everything, Subordinate
seeking promotion take care of that. !
large kitchen garden attached to th
White House, kept at the public expens'
furnishes vegetables for his table. Th
green houses, maintained at cost of $40
600 year, provide the ornamental tiov
ers, and the horses in the stable are fe
free.
There is good reason to believe that
large part Of certain appropriations, whit
were never made until Grant inauguratt
the scandal, is diverted to maintaining h
household, so that he may be said to Ii
almost without cost in princely styl
Yet he solicited the increase of his sala
and laid the foundation for the indece
grab which contributed largely to the dow
fall of the Republican party.
Every president from Washington
johnson was content with the old salar
Some of them, who were by no means p
nurious, and maintained generous esta
lishment, retired with a considerable b;
ance on the credit side of the bank a
count. Mr.. Buchanan always lived like
gentleman, entertained the Prince
Wales and suite as his guests witho
sending bill to congress, and kept a he
pitable house He did not spend all
pay. Fir. Lincoln saved quite sos, 0O0, al
Mr.. johnson nearly as much, although /
guests were more than treble those of |
greedy successor.
When the presidents salary was ma
$4,000 year instead of $25, ZOO, prof
Use was openly made in the house tn
these shameful. perquisites would be c
of. 1t has not been kept, but quite I
reverse is true, for Mr.. Garfield a
his confederates have expended them al
added new items And this, too. in Il
midst Of q general suffering and in presen
OF new taxation.