American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1881-06-25
The Fraudulent Ex.President,

Aside from the infamous means BY
which Hayes reached the White House,
he was a gross personal fraud. In
answer to the charge that he saved
most of his salary, he recently stated
that the aggregate to his credit at the
end of four years was $66,OO0. That
statement was false, like others ema-
mating from the same source.
The President may be said to live in
public, and the expenditures of the
Executive Mansion are an open secret.
He receives $4,000 year for salary.
The White House is lighted, heated,
furnished and repaired by appropr;a-
tions. Attached to it are stables, a
kitchen garden, and large con
servafories, supported by public money.
Secretaries, clerks, stationery, steward,
and servants, disguised as "messen-
gers" and ''ushers," are regularly voted
by Congress.
The public receptions which figure
SO largely i'll court journals and in
snobbish correspondence do not cost
the President cent. Maintenance OF
his household, and such entertainments
as he may choose to give, arc the only
expenditures he incurs. The former is
diminished through supplies drawn
from the army commissariat at whole
sale rates. and the latter under Hayes
exceeded in meanness all previous ex-
perience.
In addition to these advantages, there
is contingent fund provided for the
President, without any real necessity
whatever. 1t was originally intended
to cover accidental items in the Execu-
tive Office that could not be stated in
the estimates. Mr.. Lincoln was allow
ed 81 900 for this purpose. The fund
was increased for General Grant, in the
sweeping extravaganza of that time.
But Hay es wanted more, and he begged
for larger appropriations, and got them,
as follows:
1877 81 go 1873. s., 900
1873 G,UUJ 1850. --........-.. 5000
Total. ...-.---..r.--.. ..-.--......- S2!,o0o
1t is believed that most of this money
was applied to the expenses of the
Hayes family. Before the era of prodi-
gality, the custom was to refurnish the
White House generally for an incoming
President. Under Ring rule, in order to
provide jobs for favorites, this practice
became modified, and of late wears
furniture and repairs" are standing
items in the appropriations for the
Executive Mansion. HAYES received
the following sums for furniture, etc. :
1877 $50 900 1879. Ss5 600
1873. ......... =. $500 1850. ........... $J,G0J
Total S9o,0O0
A committee recently visited the
White House and reported the furniture
as old and worn out, and every visitor
familiar with its equipment for years
knows that the changes have been few
and inexpensive since the departure of
General Grant. What became of these
large sums is a question to be answered
by Hayes. They were not invested in
furniture. certainly.
The law fixing the salary of the
President does not name time for its
payment. The custom had been to
pay at the end of each month. OF
course, it could not be properly paid
until legally earned. But Hayes de-
manded his salary on the first Of each
month, when not dollar was due to
him. The disbursing officer of the
Treasury quietly re nonstrated against
this unlawful exaction, and then he
changed the date of demand to the fif-
.eenth of each month, when the salary