Morning journal and courier., 1886-08-13
WHITE HOUSE EXPENSES.
What it Costs to Care for and Maintain n
 the Presidents Home.

From Washington Letter.
 Nearly every good housewife ''cleans \ house" once or twice year, and the mansion of the nations chiel executive does not es- cape the annual rejuvenation which is a characteristic of American home life. Un- like most private houses, however, the White House undergoes it's overhauling in | the summer time while it's occupants are of ! on their annual outing. The work furnish es employment for a small army of servants for score of days or more. Notwithstand- ing the fact that the mansion is kept in good order at all times, the annual house cleaning never fails to disclose plenty of work to be done and sweepers, scrubbers and clusters hold high carnival during the continuance of their reign. The upper as well as the lower floor undergoes the process of rejuvenation. The musty old books in the library, many of them dating back to the days of Dolly Madi- son and Susan Monroe, are all taken out and dusted. The two pianos in the house are tuned up, and when the doors finally opened to the public the house is in the most exquisite order and ready for another years siege of dinners and receptions. As may well be imagined, it costs very pretty pen ny to keep the establishment in order. The sixteen thousand dollars for keeping the house in order for the next year, which be-
 came available on July 1, is not by any
 means all that has been spent upon the man.
 sion since President Cleveland took posses
 sion sixteen months ago. MT. Arthur left
 large cash balance unexpended of the last
 appropriation during his term, according to
 a time honored custom that the outgoing
 President shall leave lump sum for the
 incoming President to make any changes he
 may desiIe.
 Nothing new has been bought in the
 house since Mir. Arthur left it in such
 complete and beautiful order. It undoubt-
 edly though requires large sum to keep
 it in condition. The cleaning of the huge
 crystal chandeliers is 8 considerable item of
 expense. The whole lower floor is lighted by
 these enormous crystals, each one with thou
 sands of pendants. There are no less than
 three dozen of these chandeliers in the East
 room, the Blue, Red and Green rooms, the
 two dining rooms and the corridors, and
 once year each one has to be taken to pieces
 and every part carefully cleaned and put
 back in its place. The care of the carpets and curtains also require the spending of
 money. The handsome lace draperies are torn at nearly every reception and these have to be carefully repaired, to say nothing of the taking down two or three times year to be washed and darned. Some people wonder how the President can pay out of his salary the numerous expenses attached to his ofice
 There are separate appropriations. Be- sides his salary of $50,0 900 the estimate pre- sented to Congress this season asked for $36,- 064 additional to pay the salaries of his su- bordinates and clerks. His private secretary is paid $3, 250, his assistant private secretary $2,25O, his stenographer $1 800, five messen- gers (each) $1 200, steward $1, 800, two doorkeepers who each get $1 200, four other clerks at good salaries, telegraph opera tor, two ushers, getting $1 200 and $1 400; night usher, getting $1,2O0; a watchman, who gets $900, and 8 man to take care of fires, who receives 1864 year, In addition to this there is set down $8, 900 for incidental expenses such as stationery carpets and the care of the Presidents stables. And further on, under another healing, there is 8 de- mand for nearly $40, 900 more. Of this $12,- 800 is for repairs and furnishing the White House, 2,50O for fuel, 5000 for the green house and $15, 900 for gas and the care of the stables. The White House all told costs the country, in connection with the President, considerably over $125, ,000 year, and at that rate it is cheaper, relatively to the work done than the service of ConCress