News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1886-08-19
WHITE HOUSE EXPENSES.
| What 1t Costs to Care for and Maintain the
| Presidents Home.
From a Washington Letter.

From Washington Letter.
Nearly every good housewife 'scleans
house" once or twice a year, and the
mansion of the nations Chief Executive
does | OF escape the annual rejuvenation
which is a characteristic of American
home life. Unlike most private houses.
however, the White House undergoes its
overhauling in the summer time while
its occupants are off on their annual
outing. The work furnishes employ
ment for small army of servants for a
score of days or more. Notwithstanding
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, scrub
bers and busters hold high carnival
during the continuance of their reign.
The upper as well as the lower floor I'M
dergoes the process of reiuvenation.
The musty old books in the library,
many of them dating back to the days
of Dolly Madison and Susan Monroe,
are all taken out and busted The two
pianos IN the house are tuned up, and
when the doors are 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 we'll
be imagined, it costs a very pretty penny
to keep the establishment In order. The
SIC, 900 for keeping the house in order
for the next year, which became avail
able on July 1, is not by any means all
that has been spent upon the mansion
since President Cleveland took posses
sion sixteen months ago. Mr.. Arthur
lett 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
Ieemake aay ch&nSes he may desire.
Nothing new has been bought in the
house since Mr.. Arthur left it in such
complete and beautiful order. 1t I'M
doubtedly, though. requires a large sum
to keep it in condition. The cleaning
of the huge crystal chandeliers is con-
siderable item of expense. The whole
lower floor is lighted by these enormous
crystals, each one with thousands 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 cur
tains also require the spending of
money. The handsome lace draperies
are tom at nearly every reception, and
these have to be carefully repaired, to
say nothing of the taking down two or
three times a year to be washed and
darned. Some people wonder how the
President can pay ut of his salary the
numerous expenses attached to his
office.
There are separate appropriations.
Besides his salary of $50, 1000, the esti-
mate presented to Congress this session
asks for $50, 054 additional, to pay the
salaries of his subordinates and clerks.
His private secretary is paid So, $50, his
assistant private secretary So, $50, his
stenographer $500, five messengers
(each) $1,000, a steward $1,000, two
door keepers who each get 81, 200, four
other clerks at good salaries, one tele-
graph operator, two ushers, getting
81, 200 and 81 400; night usher getting
81, 200 Waterman, who gets $500
and man to take care of fires who re-
ceives 1864 year. In addition to this
there is set down $S, 900 for incidental
expenses, such as stationery, carpets,
and the care of the Presidents stables.
And further on, under another heading,
there is a demand for nearly $40, 900
more. Of this, nearly $12, 500 is for re-
pairs and furnishing the White House,
So, 500 for fuel, So, 900 for the green
house, and SIS, 900 for gas and the care
of the stables. The White House, all
told, costs the country, in connection
with the President, considerably over
1925, 600 year, and at that rate it is
cheaper, relatively to the work done,
than the service of Congress.