The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-11-28
LIFE IN THE WHITE HOUSE.
Uncle Sam Does Not Provide for All of TIT
President's Household Expenses.

Uncle sam Does Not Provide for All OF the
Presidents Household Expenses.
Milwaukee S~entinei's Washington Letter.
Perhaps the lady readers of the Sentinel
might like to know something of the experiences
which Mrs. Garrison will have when she reach
es Washington as the wife of the President
VIII she pack simply her trunks with wearing
apparel and move into a house completely fur
nished and filled with beds and bedding, silver
ana tAoiewear, servants and cooking utensils,
or will all or any of these have 10 be brought
along or provided after she gets herel That is
q question very often asked. and with il a good
many others, as to horses and carriages, coach.
men and waiting maids. cost OF and payment foi
the necessaries of the kitchen and dining-room,
etc. It is a curious fact that all the Cabinet
officers are furnished with horses and carriages
ct government expense. but that the President
is not The Cabinet officers are Furnished horses,
carriages and coachmep, and the horses are kept
at government expense. IL the President wants
any of these things he must supply them him
self. There is a stable near the White House,
built during Grants time. with plenty Of room
for horses, but every President who comes fluids
it empty. And, OF course. il costs him a lot Of
money to fill it. Whoever sells a horse or car
riage to the President or the United States ex-
poets to Get about % per cent. more for it than
he would If he sold it elsewhere. OF course,
the President must have three or four Carriages
and several horses. Whether General HARRISON
will bring any with him or buy them is not
known. Probably he will buy new carriages,
and, OF course. q Presidents horses must be
thoroughbrede. And he need not expect much
Of them after he gets through his term in the
White House either, for Washington pavemen;s
are hard on horses, as President Cleveland's big
seal. browns show. The President is also obliged
to furnish his own driver. Albert Hawkins, a
big colored man whom Grant brought here be-
fore he became President. Is still driving at the
White House, as he has done ever since Grants
term, and will probably be re-engaged by Mr..
Harrison; but if he does 1t will be at his own ex-
pense, for the government does not pay Albert's
salary.
Inside the White House Mrs. Harrison will
find employees waiting to be reengaged and paid
for their services. The steward, who has charge
of the kitchen and dining-room, the various
subordinates who sweep, and dust, and cook,
and attend to the table and table ware-they
are all private employees. Down in the base
ment, If you pass at the proper time, you see
the laundry work of the White House going on.
All these employees are, however, paid privately.
Of course there is a yearly appropriation for
the contingent expenses of the White House.
but this is intended more to keep MP the furnit-
ure and furnishings generally than to pay the
cost Of the Presidents living or the hire OF his
servants.
One thing that Mrs. Harrison will find is o
completely furnished house-solid silver, the
finest of china, linen for the table and bed
chambers. elegant furnishings In the parlors
and fairly good in the private parts of the
house. The private bridegroom is on the first
floor, just across the ball from the state dining
room. This is the oily room on she feet floor
used by the family of the President. The par
lors are used for callers. and the entire family
or living" rooms are on the second floor. There
are, perhaps, half a dozen Of these. scarcely
more; . sitting-reom or two near to the circular
'library-room," where the President sits during
his business and working hours, and several
handsomely furnished bedrooms and dressing
rooms. An elevator carries the family down
stairs at meal-tIme and whom they 90 down for
other purposes If they desire it. but as a rule
they walk mp and Town the broad, easy and
luxurieusly carpeted stairs and through the
handsome and always attractive corridors which
lead the way to the dining-rooms and parlors on
the first floor. There they find everything ready,
for the experienced steward is able TO relieve
the mistress Of the White House OF all the
cares Of housekesping-if he is well paid for it