Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-04-12

yond a few articles in the vegetable way the
nation provides him with very little in add
ton to his salary of $4,000 a year. He has
even to pay out of his own pocket the wages of
his cook and maid servants as well ss the hire
Of his coachman and the price OF the fodder
for his horses. When he gives a state dinner
which is clearly an official and not personal
affair, he has to pay for it. Not only does he
not get anything cheaper than other people on
account Of being President. but he has actu-
ally to give more than ordinary folks for what
ever he buys. At least a STAR reporter was
informed. The moment it is known that he
desires pair OF horses the price of the ami
mails jumps so per cent. 1t is the same way
with everything. As for horses and carriages,
the President must buy his own.
1t is true that the President does have some
things allowed him. He has his dwelling rent
free. which means that he is permitted to oc-
cupy few rooms upstairs IN an office building
called the Executive Mansion. When he gives
an entertainment the rooms wherein he re-
ceives his guests are decorated for him in the
highest style of the art with plants and flowers
from the great city greenhouses. supplemented
by what the White House conservatories are
able to supply,
ALL FREE OF CHARGE.
Surprising that the entertainment is dinner.
all the equipments of the table, including the
napery, silver, china. glassware. mirrors and
other centerpieces. well as the floral decora-
tons. are provided gratis In fact all such
household accOutcrmonts. well as supplies OF
linen and furniture of all sorts requisite are
placed at the Presidents disposal When the
things wear out Congress replaces them by ap-
preparation. Only little while ago So 900 was
paid for a new china set for the President.
Although the Chief Magistrate of the United
states has to pay his own cook and chamber
maids. butler and house keeper are paid by
the government to take care of his dwelling.
The butler is a bonded officer known officially
as the steward" whose duty it is to look after
the domestic affairs OF the establishments. He
sees to the heat and lighting -both of them
supplied at the nations expense--and pur-
chases all the provisions for the Presidents
household. The house keeper superintends all
such things as ordinarily come under the super
vision of person acting in that capacity. 1t
is true that the chief executive must provide
his own horses, carriages and coachman, but
one strictly official turnout is given him. with
groom in addition. Also there IL appropri-
ated each year $4,000 for White House sta
tionery, kilograms, library books and other
contingent expenses. Last. but not least, 4
yacht is placed at the Presidents disposal by
the Navy Department-the United States
steamer Despatch. which is always kept ready
for his orders and service. Mr.. Cleveland
would never make any use of the Despatch.
but no other President has ever entertained
any scruples on the subject Mr. Arthur found
the vessel especially available as a pleasure
craft MIR. Harrison had
ONE FUNNY EXPERIENCE
on board Of her not long ago. He had to make
an address from her deck to a crowd of people
at the navy yard here. But just as he was
starting in Baby Mckee set up such howl that
the President was obliged to take that inter-
estlng infant from the arms of a naval lieuten-
ont and =, ;1x A.
speech, the vociferation of his small grandchild
almost drowning his own oratory.
After all. perhaps, 1t would not appear that the
President Is so very badly off as to perquisites
Cabinet officers have more reason to complain
They have absolutely nothing outside of their
salaries of $4,000 year, save an equipage
apiece, and that is only obtained by very
loose construction of the law which provides
two horses and a carriage for each department.
1t has been customary through many admins
trations for the Secretaries to use these Off
cial equipages for their private purposes. Sec
retarv of Agriculture Rusk. when he was APP
pointed TO his present position. for the pur-
pose-as he on one occasion expressed it-of
keeping the flies off the administration"
provided himself. for the depar tmr Mt with one
of the finest pair of horses in Washington and
a brand new carriage of fashion somewhat
out OF style. the coachman sitting low down in
stead of aloft. In this vehicle the ladies of his
family make their social rounds. Secretary
NoDIe alSo mas Il stunning PAIR OF department
horses and the SWEETEST kind OF a victoria. Sec
Rotary Blaine's carriage Is like Mr.. Rusk's only
not so new. This is the only cabinet "perk,'
and it must be said that the Secretaries are
fairly entitled TO it. inasmuch as their official
situations impose on them certain duties of
social nature which ought not to be permitted
to draw from their slender pay.
PLANTS AND FLOWERS NOT 'sPERKs"
Members of the cabinet can and do get
hnwDrs nd MIA M
gardens OF the city near the Washington mon
ument for decorative purposes when they give
entertainments, but this is not in the same
sense perquisite. iuasmuch as they depend
for such favor5 entirely upon the good will of
the superintendent of public grounds. If he
chooses 70 oblige them III this way they get the
things and not otherwise Many Congressman
and other persons of distinction are similarly
supplied by the courtesy of the high official
who controls all The parks. public buildings
and things that grow IN the capital city OF the
Union.
The other day STAR man was interviewing
Col. Macdonald. the fish commissioner, when
the colonel but certain weli-known Repre-
sentative. Said he:
Il want you to give me some gold fish and
one of those big tanks OF glass that you have
such a lot of down stairs You can send en-
up to my house, / supposc!'
IL.
The fish commissioner replied that he could
not possibly spare one Of his large aquaria.
and finally compromised on glass bowl full Of
gold fish, which he said he would duly deliver
After the legislator had taken his departure
Col. Macdonald informed TIE STAR reporter
that such applications were constantly made
to him by Congressman. In one case. not
hitherto reported. a western Representative
was seriously offended because he was not
given special permission to fish in the carp
propagating ponds at the base of the monu-
mcnt.
When they want to obtain gifts of plants.
Congressman are obliged nowadays to apply to
the Department of Agriculture although they
are literally supplied with flowers by the
Botanical Gardens. Formerly they used to
make acquisitions upon the horticultural gar
dens, bu; they carried their demands TO such
excess, some members expecting las many as
seven hundred plants apiece annually-eIough
to stock n small florists shop-that law was
passed prohibiting the giving away OF anything
at all from the city greenhouses, though thou
sands OF rose bushes and other things of the
sort are thrown out at certain times OF the year
and any one can have them for the picking UP.
congressman, however, want them in pots, sent
home without charge for eXpressage.
Another congressional perquisite is free tele-
graph. ma orlty of the Representatives and
Senators enjoy 1t. To any member who chooses
TO apply for lt-and in most cases application
Is promptly made--the Western Union COM
! panY sends, rs q matter of courtesy, n little
book containing 100 stamps each one about
TWICE THE SIZE OF POSTAGE STAMP.