Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1880-07-12
SAVING MONEY AT The WHITE HOUSE.

Hayes's Stinginess and Paxsim0ny-LayinE
Dy the ASollars.
Ii. J. RS letter to the Philadelphia Times.
The president, his wife, his sons and his
daughter and the servants paid for by the
government have all gone to the old Sol
diers' Home to spend the summer-a very
economical move, and one that will enable
the president to lay aside few more hun
dreds of dollars than he otherwise would If
he had to support himself. The old SOL
dier's have, as you know already, very
beautiful park near the city and some
handsome houses. The place is supported
by their comrades in the regular
army, who contribute twelve
and a half cents a month from
their pay. One of the finest houses in
this park is set aside by somebody for the
use of Mr.. Hayes. Its furniture is owned
by the soldiers, its gas bill is paid by them,
the vegetables on the presidents table are
raised by them, and Mr.. Hayes no doubt
is very glad to make use of all of these
things gratuitously, for it enables him to
save a little more money to take back
with him to Fremont. Last winter res
Olution was introduced in Congress, and,
l think, passed, providing for an investi-
CATION into the management of this home,
but nothing seems to have been done.
Speaking of saving money in the
White House l am reminded OF a
conversation l had some time ago
with Fifth Auditor Ella, who was for
merly member Of Congress from New
Hampshire, regarding President Pierce.
Mr.. Ella said that he knew General Pierce
very we'll, and that there could not be
found more courteous, dignified gentle
In <I,o of, ,,rnpNrIQtv
and during his term everything in a social
way in the White House was Of the high
est order, His entertainments we're of the
most expensive, his wines were of the
costliest, and the whole atmosphere of the
White House was liberal and becoming.
Mrs. Pierce was a capital housekeeper and
was capable of experimenting an immense
establishment like the White House. Cen
Pierce's unfortunate disease was the only
bar to the perfect domestic administration
of the presidents house. His desire fol
drink came sometimes once 4 mOntl
and sometimes it would not come for siA
months. When it came, however, he gave
up to it entirely and remained concealed
from the public until he got over it. There
was conviviality about his sprees. Ht
always went off alone, and at such times
nobody could manage him but his wife
No doubt his absence from his reception
room day after day during his periods wa:
accounted for by those about the White
House as such things have been accounted
for in more recent days, by such explana
tiOns as Il heavy cold, "chOlera NOR
bus" ''iaundice." etc. Generel Pierce
great trouble, however, was a brOthe
who never would stop sowing his wild oats
The General had paid his brothers. debt
again and again, but it did no good
While General Pierce was Presi
dent his brother was PARTICULAR.
reckless, and after the General
term expired and he returned to COncor'
he .'made medicine as the Indians say
with his wayward brOther-in Othe
words, he had a very earnest talk will
him. At first the brother did not care t.
talk abaOt it, but the general demanded
to know of every dollar Of indebtednes es
against the name of Pierce. He explained
their father had left them an HONORABLE
name and Il name that should be respect
ed everywhere. He said that OH accOun
OF their father and on his (the generals
own account it would not do to have un
paid debts. And there and then Franl
Pierce paid out s2O,OOO, nearly half hi
fortune, to pay the debts of his brother
During his term as president Genera
Pierce saved from his salary abou
S12, 600 a year. Mr.. Lincoln did not saw
anything Andrew johnson saved abou
$50, 1000; General Grant saved nOthin
during his first term, but saved about $50,
600 during his second. There is littl
> doubt that that Mr.. Hayes during hi
four years will save at least S16O, 600, O
SAC, 900 year.