Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-02-15
THE PRESIDENTS EXPENSES.
What It Really Costs to Maintain His
Dignity In Washington.

The President receives q good salary,
but his private expenses are heavier than
one would imagine. A glance at his
check book at the end Of the year would
shcw the greater part of his $4,000 ex-
pended, and mostly in maintaining his
private household. To be sure, the PresI-
dent has a great deal done for MIN at
public expense. and Il Is well that such is
the case, or IA President would have To be
"a very rich man necessarily. Everything
pertaining 10 the official branch of the
White House Is paid for by the govern
menu; but to meet the private expenses,
the President has TO 90 pretty deep into
his pocket, The service Of the White
House costs him but comparatively little.
The steward, who is n prominent figure
there. is a government officer. Although
he is the Presidents caterer, and is ap-
pointed by him, he is under 5000 bond,
/ and is responsible for everything that is
brought into the White House. If
a new carpet OF some furniture
is bought for one Of the paTlOrs
the bill is not paid By the Commits
sIOner Of Public Buildings and Grounds
until the steward has approved II by certi-
tying that the goods have been received
as described. The French cook, who is
considered master OF his art, Is paid
out OF the Presidents pocket a salary of
81 800. The table servants are paid from
the same source. Until recently the
Presidents private servant was paid by
MIN Si00 per month. He is now on the
rolls of the White House, having been
given a vacancy which occurred some
time ago. bis 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 a very big one, but there are a great
many other expenses. 1t costs quite
sum to keep Alan Arthur at college and
provide for him as a Presidents son should
be provided for. There are dozen horses
in the stable belonging to the Presidents
family and kept by him. That alone is an
annual expense OF at least $1,000.
The expenses enumerated are compare
IL insignificant. IL is the White House
table that makes the heavy drain upon his
pOcketbOOk. We never have had Presi-
dent who dispensed the Inequalities of
the table with such a 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 5000.
His frequent dinners almost equal them.
The Presld mt is very fond of the delights
Of the table. He always has the very
best the market affords, and almost al
ways has company at his table. a higher
compliment cannot be paid man than
10 ask him to dinner. President Arthur
is continually paying this compliment to
his friends. He does not always cOnine
his invitations 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
half dozen courses. accompanied by as
many different kinds of wine. Every
thing is Of the very best quality Obtain
able, and l suppose the average w hlte
House dinner costs 50 plate.
A SO dinner kept up all the year round
will make a pretty big hole in the $5O,OOO.
Besides, the President is every now and
then giving what are called little lunches,
but they are in reality quite extensive af-
fairs. After the reception the other eve
ming to the Diplomatic Corps, for Instance,
the receiving party were invited to
handsome little supper. The steward Is
given almost cart blanche in supplying
the White House table, and, so long as
everything is first class, the President
never grumbles at the expense. A great
many of the purchases are mace mere, put
the steward has no hesitancy in sending
to New York or elsewhere for some deli
cacv Of the season. The wines are all Of
the finest brands, and the cigars, which
are purchased in large quantities, are all
imported.
The President cannot be called a great
smoker. He doesn't smoke now as much
as he did earlier in his administration.
In fact. he confines his smoking to even
ing. He is not an early riser, but ac-
c0mplIshes a great deal after most people
have sought their beds at night. He fol-
lows the French plan of partaking of
cup of coffee Immediately after rising,
aud then goes to work. About noon his
breakfast Is brought to him in his private
Ofiica. 1t Is a very simple meal, and IS
brought on a salYer, and the President
partakes of It from little table or stand
which is in his private office. His dinner,
which occupies a good portion of the
evening, is the meal Of the day. II there
were any means of getting the ngures
the Presidents table expenses would Oe
found much heavier than people imagine.
The fact is. the President of the United
States ought not to be bothered with Such
expenses. 1t would be a good plan TO
make liberal estimate Of the expenses
of the White House, both official and DO
nestle, excepting, OF course, all personal
expenses. and appropriate certain
amount annually for defraying them.
don't mean that the President isn't al
lowed a large enough salary TO meet them,
but there ought to be some system and
regularity about such matters. IL need
be. the Presidents salary could be reduced
to $50 600 10 make things even. MY ldea
is 10 take such matters out OF the Presl'
dents hands. and then there would be
certainty of White House Inequalities on
a suitable scale. There nave been cases,
and are liable to be more, where the occu-
pant of the White House thinks more Oh
his salary than Of the honor OF MS posi-
ton. with a consequent tendency TO econ
omize to such an extent as TO cause gen.
eral comment and even modification