Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1879-03-14
How Hayes Lives.
A DECIDEDLY ECONOMICAL STATE OF
AFFAIRS AT THE WHITE HOUSE.

"A DEClDEOL4 ECONOMlCAA o. AAA VI
AFFAIRS AT THE WHITE HOUSE.
The course of the President has. Of
course, set people talking about his man
ner of living, and the comments are not
very complimentary. Indeed, the Presl-
dent is accused of being unbecomingly
ecsnomical-not to put too fine point on
it. The President receives an annual sal
AIRY of $50 ,0O0-a good, round income, it
must be confessed. There is no way OF
finding out all of his pickings or allow
ance, but some of them am able to men
ton. H. the first place he gets his house
rent ano furniture free. Not curtain or
chair or blanket OF napkin Or towel does
he have 10 buy. All his fuel is furnished
by the government, and not a cent does he
have to ply for gas. His vegetables are
raised III the public gardens by a gardener
paid by tie government. His steward is
paid by the government and so are his
cook and his ,cOachman. How many other
servants our GOOD government pays for
do not know; but so far as | can see Mr..
Hayes only expenses in the White House
are for meats and groceries. Even his
doctor ard his medicine are PAID tor by
the government. Even his beef comes
from the government butcher: and he pays
only the cost lice which the govern ment
paid on he ito f. In other words. the
F, government buys an OK alive for beef,
| paying, Say four cents per pound. The
| President gets the beef at the same
| ratio, but his steward is not fool
| enough to take the legs, the neck, the
| head or tie rump, and SO the
| White HI use table is supplied with sirlOin
stake, tender DIN steak, porter-house steak
and rib roasts for four cents per pound.
while the department clerk, on 81 200 a
year, pays from fifteen to twenty cents per
| pound for his beef. The CommiSsary OF
Subsistence has to kill beef for rations for
soldiers, and it has long been the practice
TO give the President, the army officers and
| the nigh civil officers beef and groceries at
prime cost. The reader has now pretty
fair idea OF what the President has to buy?
The President does not buy wine or liquors
how economical temperance is! Wines
have always been big item in the White
| House, for it was never conducted on
temperance principles before. Wines be-
ing out of the question and all the ad-
! vantages counted, will any head of a
household who is accustomed to good
living tell me that it costs Mr.. Hayes more
than $40, 900 year to live? If the family
is charitable / have not heard of it. True,
bouquet of flowers is occasionally sent
to fair or a hospital, but, bless you.
the flowers were raised in a government
conservatory cared for by the government
florist. Even in the Summer time the
President pays no house rent. but lives in
house belonging to the old soldiers of the
country and supported by contributions
from the soldiers inathe regular army.
When the question is solved as to whether
the President is not living on 10000 a
year, will somebody please tell me for
what purpose $4,000 year is given to the
President? Is it not to enable him to live
in manner becoming Chief Magistrate
have talked with many experienced gen
tlemen. and it is the common opinion here
that Mr.. Hayes il saving from his salary
about $40. 600 year. True, it will be a
good thing for young Mr.. Webb Hayes
and the two other sons. and this, nc
doubt, is a sufficient reason for Mr.
Hayes course. Would it not be in keep
ing if he would, just before retiring from
office, recommend the reduction Of the
PRESIDENTIAL salary on the ground that the
services are not equal to the compensa-
ton.