Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-07-19
WHITE HOUSE EXPENSES.
THOUSANDS NEEDED TO KEEP
UP THE MANSION.

which Congress Votes for the Purpose
-Omce Holding Not the Paradisicai
Existence Most People Imagino-The
Great ObjectOr and Some of His Peculi-
arities,
WASHINGTON, July l7.-Nearly every
good housewife "cleaus house" once or
twice year, and the mansion of the ma
tlon's Chief Executive does not escape
the annual rejuvenation which is a char
acteristic of American home life. Unlike
most private houses, however, the White
House undergoes it's OVerhaulng In the
summer time while its occupants are off
on their annual outing. The work fur
nishes employment for a small army
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, scrubbers
and busters hold high carnival during the
continuance of their reign. The upper as
well rs the lower floor uudergoes the pro-
cess OF rejuVenatiOn. 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, aud when the doors are finally opened
up TO the public, the house Is in
the most exquislte order, and ready
for another years siege Of dinners and
receptions. AS may. well be imagined it
costs very pretty penny to keep the es-
tablishment in orGer. The $4,000 tor
keeping the house in order for the next
year, which became available on July 1,
is not by any means all that has been
spent upon the mansion since President
Cleveland took possession sixteen months
ago. Mr.. Arthur left a large cash balance
uueXpended of the last appropriation
during his term, according 10 time-hon-
ored custom that the outgoing President
shall leave lump sum for the incoming
President to make any changes he may
desire. Nothing new has been bought in
the house since MIR. Arthur lett it in such
complete and beautiful order. IL un-
dOubtedly, though, requires large sum
to keep it in condition. The cleaning of
the huge crystal chandeliers is cOnsid-
cradle item Of expense. The whole lower
floor is lighted by these enormous crys-
tais, 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 aud the corridors, and once a
aud every part carefully cleaned and put
back i'll it's 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 he 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 out OF his salary the
nf m No
office. There are separate aDprOpria-
tions. Besides his salary OF $4,000,
the estimate presented to Congress this
session asked for $36, ,064 additional, to
pay the salaries Of his subord mates aud
clerks. His private secretary is paid
81, 80, his assistant private secretary S2,-
2j0, his stenogra pher 81, 800, five messen-
gers, each I,2OO, a stew ard 81 800, two
dOOrkeepers, who each get 81 200, four
other clerks at good salaries, one tel6-
graph operator, two ushers, getting $1,000
and ST., 400; a night usher, getting $1,000;
a Waterman who gets 5000, and a man to
take care Of fires, who receives 1864
wear. In addition to this there is set down
$4,000 for incidental expenses, such as
stationery, carpets, and the care Of the
Presidents stables. And further on, un-
der another heading, there is a demand
for nearly $40, 600 more. OF this, sl2,500
Is for repairs and furnishing the White
House, $500 for fuel, 81, 900 for the green
house, and 5000 for gas and the care Of
the stables. The White House, all told
costs the country, in connection with the
President, considerably over $l25,000 a
year, and at that rate it is cheaper rela-
lively to the work done than the service
OF Congress.
THE COMING GAIRTIEs.
Since it has new mistress who Will
doubtless make next winter very brill
liant one socially in official circles, the
W White House will probably be given an
unusually thorough oYerhaulinR this sum-
mer. Mrs. Cleveland is manifesting great
tact IN inaugurating what may be called
court circle. The old dOwagers,
whose social rule has con-
trOlled society here through
variety of different administrations,
undertook TO matroniZe the Presidents
bride and received cold shoulder for
their pains. Mrs. Cleveland is selecting
her own friends, and is inviting small
groups OF the wives Of Senators and Rep
resentatIves TO pass a social evening with
her at the White House. This delicate
attention secures their loyalty, and next
winter she Will have around ber circle
OF ladies who Will give tone to society, and
with whom the family Of the diplomats
anu Ol Tue SupIfiIS COuIb VIII 10 kIhu W
exchange ciyllitles. Meanwhile she
is enjoying herself in her
own way, taking daily drives about Wash
ington, visiting the capitol and attending
the theatre with the President. White is
her faVorite dress when at home, and she
drove out q day or two ago wearing a
white wool suit, with a white straw bon
net trimmed with black velvet. At one
of her recent receptions she wore a short
dress OF white silk null with yoke and
sleeves Of Valenciennes lace, and pur-
pie pansy brooch with a diamond in the
centre. The pansy is her favorite flower
and at Wells College her pet name was
PaDsy.
TRUTHS ABOUT OFFICE HOLDING.
Big pay and little work are two ac-
compartments which the people at large
almost invariably associate with office
holding at Washington. A more mistaken
idea would be difficult 10 imagine. The
life of a minor office holder at Washington
is far from being the sinecure most peo-
pie imagine it ls. A department clerk
who received his envelope OF dismissal on
July /, IL warning others against
accepting Federal appointments here.
He asserts that a fair estimate OF
the number Of clerks employed
in the departments is 1900. The
average salary paid them Is about $1,000
a war not n cent more. III married.