Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-01-17

What il Costs to Occupy the White
House.

What 1t Costs to Occupy the White
House.
VERY LITTLE OF THE PRESIDENTS SALARY LEFT
AFTER DEFRAYING ExPENsEs-THE COST OF
sCALE-THE WHITE HOUSE TABiE-ExPENsEs
OF ENTERTAINING GUESTS ETC.
81 see that there has been considerable talk
lately about the Presidents expenses and how
much OF his salary he ought to save during his
term, said wel-informed gentleman to STAR
reporter the other day 1.-The President receives
q good salary. know" he continued, but his
private expenses are heavier than one would
imagine. and venture to say that glance at
his check-bOok at the end Of the year would
show the greater part Of his $4,000 expended.
and mostly in maintaining his private house
hold. To be sure the President has a great deal
done for him at public expense. and it is well
that such is the case. or President would have
to be very rich man necessarily. Everything
pertaining to the official branch of the White
House is paid tor b. the government; but to
meet the private expenses the President has TO
go pretty deep into his pocket. The service of
the White House costs him but comparatively
little. The steward WHO is prominent figure
there. is government officer. Although he is
the Presidents caterer. and is appointed by him,
be is under $4,000 bond. and Is respons. bile
for everything that is brought into the White
House. III new carpet or some furniture is
bought for one OF the parlors the bill is not paid
by the commissioner. of public buildings and
grounds until the steward has approved it by
certifying that the goods have been received as
described.
THE FRENCH COOK.
who ia considered of his - moi, q
out Of the Presidents pocket at salary of
Sl,SUO. The table servants are paid from the
same source, think although am not sure on
that point Until recently the Presidents priv
ate servant was paid by him 800 per month.
think he is now on the rolls of the White House,
having been given vacancy which occurred
some time ago. His cOachman, Albert Haw-
kins receives $50 per month. and the French
maid for Nellie Arthur is of course paid by the
President So you can scarcely say that the
private salary list is very big one, but there
are great many other expenses II costs quite a
sum to keep Allan Arthur at college and provide
Tor him as Presidents son should be provided
for. There are dozen horses in the stable be-
longing to the Presidents family aud kept by
him- That alone Ia an annual expense Of at least
$1,000. The expenses that have enumerated
are comparatively insignificant. It is
THE WHITE HOUSE TABLE
that makes the heavy drain upon his pocket
book. | guess there is no doubt that we never
have had q President who dispensed the hospi-
talities of the table with such q lavish hand as
the present occupant of the White House The
series of state dinners last year far surpassed
anything of the kind ever given before. each
one costing him at least $500 His frequent
private dinners almost equal them The Presi-
dent is very fond of the delights of the table
He always has the very best the market affords,
ana almost always has company at his table. A
higher compliment cannot be paid q man than
to ask him to dinner. 1t is not generally known,
but it is none the less fact. that President Ar
thur Is continually paying this compliment to
his friends. He does not always confne his in
vitations to his own political party but many a
prominent democrat has been invited informally
to dine at the White House The President
rarely sits down TO dinner without from two TO
eight guests. His dinners invariably consist of
nall dozea courses. accompanied by as many
different kinds OF wine. Everything is of the
very best quality obtaiuable, and | suppose the
average White House dinners cost
FIVE DOLLARS A PLATE.
twenty-five dollar dinner kept up all the
year round VIII make a pretty big hole in
$4,000 Besides the President is every now
and then giving what are called little lunches,
but they are In reality quite extensive affairs
After the reception the other evening to the d.
plomatic corps for instance, the receiving party
were invited to handsome little supper The
steward Is given almost carte blanche in supply
ing the White House table. and so long as every
thing Is first-class the President never grumbles
at the expense. great many ofthe purchases
are made here. but the steward has no hes-
fancy In sending to New York, or elsewhere. for
some delicacy of the season. The wines are all
Of the finest brands, and the cigars. which are
purchased In large quantities, are all imported.
No. The President cannot be called great
smoker. He doesn't smoke now as much as he
did earlier in his administration In fact. T
think he confines his smoking to evening He Is
NOT AN EARLY RISER
but accomplishes great deal after most people
have sought their beds at night. am not sure
but think he follows the French plan of par
taking of cup Of coffee Immediately after
rising. and then goes to work. About noon his
breakfast is brought to him In his private office
1t is very simple meal and is brought on a
salyer and the President partakes OF 1t from a
little table or stand, which is in his private of
nee. His dinner, which occupies good portion
OF the evening is the meal Of the day. As said "
there were any means OF getting the figures the
heavier than people imagine. The fact Ia the
President Of the United States
OUGHT NOT TO BE BOTHERED
with such expenses. think it would be O good
plan to make a liberal estimate Of the expenses
Ofthe White House, both official and domestic. ex-
cepting, of course, all personal expenses and ap-
propriate certain amount annually for de-
frayin@ them. I don't mean that the President
isn't allowed large enough salary to meet
them, but there ought to be some system and
regularity about such matters. If need be. the
Presidents salary could be reduced to $50. 600
to make things even. Ny idea is to take such
matters out Of the Presidents hands and then
there would be certainty of White House hos
FATALITIES Oh suitable scale. There have been
cases, and are liable to be more where the oc-
cupant OF the White House thinks more OF his
salary than OF the honor Of his position, with
consequent tendency TO economize to such an
extent as to cause general comment and even
modification. There could be many improve
ments made in the White house itself as well as
the mode of running it."
SIX CENTS A NAME.