The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1880-05-13
WHAT HAYES COSTS.

up the deficiency bill, which passed the
House of Representatives few days ago,
is one for contingent expenses of the
Executive Office, including stationery
therefor, one thousand dollars" for the
current fiscal year. There is no excuse
for any deficiency in that Office, aud this
loose pIactiCe ofvoting away the peoples
money on false pretenCes deserves the
severest reprobation.
Before Gen. Grant became President,
the sum voted for contingent expenses
was small, yet abundant for the object.
Until the last year of the civil war, one
thousand dollars per annum was appro.
priated for Mr. Lincoln. In 1864 the ap.
preparation was raised to two thousand,
on account of exceptional demands on
the Executive Office.
The Republicans of the Forty-second
Congress not only doubled Grants salary,
in violation of the precedent which had
stood untouched since the foundation of
the Government, but they increased the
pay and emoluments of all his surround
ings, and voted six thousand dollars a
year for contingent expenses of the ex
ecutive cffice," or three times as much
as the highest sum ever received by Mr.
Lincoln.
Last year Congress appropriated "for
contingent expenses of the executive Of
flee, including stationery therefor, six
thousand dollars" And now, before nine
months have passed away, this money
is all gone, and the Fraudulent President
asks for a thousand more. We under
take to say, and all experience justifes
the assertion, that six thousand dollars
year cannot be legiimately expended
for proper contingencies of the executive
Office, because the only expense to be in
Cured is for ordinary stationery and
postage stamps.
This money is practically an addition
to the salary of the executive, and was 50
utilized, partially, by Grant. Hayes has
turned Iully three fourths of this into the
fund for maintaining his personal house
hold, and in that way has saved 80 much
of his regular pay. No man ever ocCu
pied the Executive Mansion heretofore
who made business of converting the
office and its opportunities to money
boarding, as Mr.. Hayes has done, and
that, too, by the meanest of contrivances,
The cant about temperance in mere
dodge in the line of economy, for it is
notorious that the sCruple disappears
when the expense falls on somebody
else.
The cost of keeping up the executive
establishment has Increased out of al
proportion to any necessity that exists
for the expenditure. II is not the dol
lars and cents alone that provoke Criti-
csm upon this extravaganza, bu the far
more serious consideration that it is a
departure from the simplicity of the faith
ers, and is an attempt to initiate the
pomp and parade Of monarChial govern
ment.
Take the items of 1879 as an illustra-
ton:
Compensation of President. 900
Compensation Of private secretary .......,... 3&O
Compensation Of assistant secretary..o..... 2,25O
Compensation Of two Executive clerks, at
&U.U 4,UJU
COMPENSATION of rapher.......,........ 800
COMPENSATION of steward 800
Compensation ofmessenger and usher",..." 200
Compensation of furnace keeper 1854
Compensation OF one night Watchman.""." 900
Compensation Of one night usher.,u". ,.... 200
Compensation Of two day ushers at 81 400. 2,SO0
Compensation OF one usher at secretary door l,2OO
Compensation Of two doorkeepers at 81, 200. 2,4OO
Compensation of one ceTk...........-,.,...." 800
CONDENSATION Of one clerk 400
CONDENSATION of one clerk .................. 1900
Compensation Of one telegraph OPERATOR. LOO
Compensation of four messengers Ito wait
on three clerks and telegraph operator
nominally, but really servants) at 81 200 4SsO
Tho horses for messengers to be furnished
by Secretary Of War, nomnaly for use
OF messengers, but really for secretary's
carriage. cost not given. New item..... 80,
Contingent expenses. oUO0
Grounds south of Executive MansiOn"....... 0OO
Reiurnishingr repairs and greenhouses...., 2oOOO
In addition to all these charges, fuel
and light are supplied free, there is
large kitchen garden attached to the
grounds that furnish hay for the horses
In fact, the occupant of the White House
is at no expense but for the food and