Wichita eagle., 1886-09-12
WHITE HOUSE EXPENSES.
VIA; 7. Costs To Care Fer and Maintain
the Preside Et's Home.

the Preside Ets Home.
Nearly ever good housewife :. ears
house" once or tafee ye:,r, 81: the
mansion OF the nations Chic Exec tiye
does not esc... c the an,,al ~ uv.:nation
which is characteristic OF American home
life
Unlike most private houses, hose ever,
the White House und"r-oes lis over
hauling in the summer time while its
occupants are of on their annual outing.
The work furnishes employment FOR a
small army Of servants for score of
DAYS or more.
Notwithstanding the fact that the man.
sion is keit in good order at all times,
the annual housekeeping never fails to
disclose plenty OF work to be dcre, and
sweepers, scrubbers and busters hold
high carnival during the continuance of
their reign.
The upper as well as the lower foor
undergoeS the process OF regeneration.
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 To well imagined. it costs a
very pretty penny to keep the establish
ment in order. The $1,000 for keeping
the house in order for the next year.
which became avaiia lie on July lst. is
not by any means all that has been spent
upon the mansion since President Cleve-
land took possession.
Mr.. Arthur left large cash balance
unexpended Of the last appropriation
during his term, according TO time
honored custom that the outgoing Pres
ident sEali leave lump sum for the in
coming President to make any changes
he may desire.
Nothing new has been bought in the
house since Mr.. Arthur left it in such
complete and beautiful order. 1t IN
doubtedly, though requires large sum
to keep it in condition.
The cleaning of the huge crystal chan
delier5 Il 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 r. ON, the Blue, Red. and
Green rooms, the two dininS-roomS and
the corridors, and ,nce 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 requires the spending Of money.
The handsome lace draperies are torn at
nearlv 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 alo darned.
Some people wonder how the President
can pay out of his salary the numerous
expenses attached to his Office.
There are separate appropriations.
Besides his salary of $4,000, The esti-
aske for $36, OG4 additional, TO pay the
sala' les OF his subordinates and clerks.
His private secretary is paid So $50.
his Il isistant private secretary 81 80. his
S; enographer 81 800, five tie<sS engers
(e ,c.) $1,000, steward 81 800. two door
kcepers who each get 81 200, four other
clcras st good salaries, one telegraph
OPP rator, two Cshers, getting 1920 and
81, ACC; u night usher, getting 81, 200; a
Waterman, who gets $500, and a man to
take care Of fires, who receives sS64 a
YER.
II ed ion TO this there s s. Gown
$50 ; e;tl-ntal OK - g.. So. as
st;tioieg carpets, and t"a care OF tue
Preside = - lies.
And uri!c On, under another head
ing, tn ~ i :; demand for nearly SAC, 600
more. OF this. $3.50 is FIR repairs and
furnishing the White Ii 40. 81, $50 for
fuel $1,000 for the greenhouse, and
SIS, $50 for gus and the care of the
stables.
The White House, all tod, costs the
countrr, II connect W; h the Presi-
dent, considerably over SI25. GO q year,
and 81 that rate It is cheaper. relatively
TO the wo k done, than the service Of
Congress. 81 Washington Letter.