The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1878-02-07

ton. He has charge of most of the
details of records and the general work
of the office. The lew also provides for
two Executive clerks at $4,000 each,
which positions are held by Mr.. w. H.
Crook and Mr. w. C. Chaplain, both of
whom were there in Grants time.
There are several other clerks, who are
employed under a practice by which the
President details men from the depart
ments for special work at the White
House. Private Secretary Rogers has a
shorthand amanuensis, Mr.. Henley, who
is borne on the rolls of the Interior De-
partment. The Presidents steno-
grapher, Mr. Gustin, is borne on the
rolls of the Post-office Department, as
Private Secretary to the Postmaster
General. Another clerk for general
work, Mr.. Price, is borne on the rolls OF
the Paymaster-General's Office. Mr..
Moreton, who cuts up the newspapers
and keeps the scrap-books for the Presi-
dent, is detailed from the Congressional
Library. In addition to these clerks
there are five messengers, who are
detailed from what is known as
"the general service force" of the War
Department Two ushers are carried
on the rolls of the local police force.
The Steward of the White House is pro-
vided for by law, and receives a salary
of 81, 800. Besides all his clerks, the
President has the constant service OF
one of his sons, who is a good worker.
The duties of the private secretary are
not very onerous. He is much sought
by people who think that he has intlu-
ence with the President and many office
seekers pour their stories into his ears
rather than wait to have an interview
with the President. tits probable, how
ever, that none of the Presidents as
sistants have very much influence over
his mind. They are. however, frequent
ly able to obtain places in the depart
ments for their friends.
The President of the United States,
during session of Congress, can never
newspapers. The White House is
literally supplied with newspapers, only
a few of which are kept on file. Presi-
dent Grant used to have one of his Sec
retaries cut out the leading editorials on
political topics in the New York daily
papers, and occasionally from papers
published in other cities, which cuttings
were handed to him in a bunch for his
perusal late in the afternoon or in the
evening. Mr.. Hayes does not follow
this system; or rather, he has materially
modified it. 1t is the duty of one of
the clerks at the White House to take
charge of all the newspapers received.
Enough of them to fill a bushel basket
are received every day. Many of them
are unimportant. The newspaper clerk
cuts from most of the influential papers,
such editorial and other matter as he
thinks ofinterest to the President, which
he afterwards pastes in scrap-books, of
which series is kept.
Meetings of the Cabinet occur on
Tuesdays and Fridays at the hour of
noon, and never on any other day I'M
less some question of unusual import
ance has arisen, which renders it neces-
sary to hold an extra meeting, which,
of course, can be held at almost any
hour, as the secretaries all reside with
in ten minutes walk of the White
House. The meetings of the Cabinet
are held in the room in which the Presi-
dent ordinarily receives visitors, and
where he spends most of his time. The
President sits at the head of the table
with his back toward the southern win
dows, and the members who come in
with their portfolios under their arms,
are seated on each side of the table, the
Secretary of State having the first place
on the Presidents right, and the Secre-
tary of the Treasury the first place at
his left. Regular methods of doing
business are pursued. The President
presents any subject on which he may
desire to consult the Cabinet, and after
wards each member brings up the SUBJ
jects which may have arisen since their
last meeting, and upon which the ad-
vice of other members of the Cabinet is
desired. The meetings usually last two
hours-rarely over three hours-and Of
ten not more than half an hour is con-
sumed. But after the meetings are over
individual members often remain for
special consultations with the President.
| have heard the question asked,
"When, amid all these multifarious
and never-ceasing cares of office, does
the President of the United States find
! time to think ?'' This is a question that
can not undertake to answer