The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-07-17
UNCLE SANS HOUSEKEEPING.
now THE wHIrE HOUSE, CAPITOL,
and DEPARTMENTS ARE MAINTAINED.

The PreSloents o"cint Eenfby-"oW sho
Drnw- lIls ssiary-Hss,nrss of Runu'ne
the t'api'oi-The Huge Fiat House Occp-
pled By War, state, and Navy.
WARRINGTON. July 1911 tho President OF
the United States asked every ono to dinner
that requested an invitation. he might as we'll
set up hotel ut once Literally hundreds OF
people apply every year to Col Ernst master
Of ceremonies 1.-THE White House, for biddings
to break bread with Benjamin Harrison and
his. family. They are usually visitors here.
who consider 1t quite matter Of course that
they should be welcome Mt the table OF the
Chief Magistrate. Frequently they are much
offended at refusal OF the privilege OF taking
pot-luck Mth the Executive. WHO. having been
placed In office by their votes. is paid for his
services and provided with his residence "out
OF tho pockets Of the tnxpayers."
Formerly the Marshal OF tho District OF Co.
iumhia was always ex-of1cio master Of cere-
monies at the Executive Mansion. introducing
the guests at receptions and attending to other
social matters. When Frederick Douglass was
chosen for that office. his color disqualifyinR
him. these polite duties wero made Part Of the
functions OF the Superintendent Of Public
Grounds. appointed from tho Engineer Corps
Of tho Army. Under Mr. Harrisons Admlnis-
tration naval n.tache-Lieut. Parker. q. S. N.
WAR assigned to assist Col. Ernst Wherever
kooo Ouc VI tHpso keHuicIueu uC-
companies him. to look out for his comfort
and safety. His official family Includes. besides
his private secretary. who signs his business
letters an assistant secretary. Mr.. Pruden. who
keeps the records Of appointments and bills.
and carries all messages to Congress. and two
" executive clerks''
Ono Of these clerks acts As disbursing agent.
paying Mr. Halford and all the other Govern
.ment employees at the White Houae. except
only the President. On or about tho 9th day Of
every month Mr. Harrison receives . check
for s.. o8 from the Treasurer OF the United
States. Sometimes 1t comes by messenger
and sometimes by mail. II It should be for
gotten any time he would be apt to send over
to the Treasury and inquire about It The
other executive clerk opens all the letters that
como addressed to the President, except such
a. are obviously private. Many people write
Personal on envelopes enclosing misslvos
which they desire to meet Mr.. Harrison's own
eye but these are treated Just the same As any
others. The least important Of the epistles
that reach the President are as rule. labelled
private and confidential"
OF the other four clerks employed at the
White House. ono IL q young woman who type
writes letters from Mr.. Halford's dictation.
Probably she receives more offers Of marriage
every year. usually accompanied By photo
woman In the United States. Two OF the
others are telegraph operators. Messages
about all sorts of business matters are con-
tinually flowing into the Executive Mansion
from cranks Among the demands they make
are demands for money when they are hard
up No ot ~ man ia a. fed to BY sS
occasion vis tor came 20 him with q request
for sullicient SUN in cash to build himself
u modest home" Strangers IN Washington
sometimes ASK MN Tor ralIrOad tickets and
now and then nm tndtvidual turns UP with .
cheek TINT ne wants Mir Hnrri. , t to endorse.
Six guards are on !uty at the White House.
lhrgeIy 70. the ru-pose 81 .rotcctinE the Pres;
men OF great Muscular strength and expert
enc, in detectivs work; So welfare they train
crank Or crook TO get 10y iheIn is almost I'm.
ld.si:lo. One OF them. :VhO stands nearest
Mr.. Harrison at his rerenttnns. has an arm as
Ixerutiye Nal-io az i it wore the strongest
murders there. bar ut the theatre. Garfield
was a>sassinatod ct the railway station. Al.
own p'iv,Ie servants. including his rnaciman.
the Government, tfkes care Of thn White
h?He n %ts Ind frs s"p s sSs
were and n'n. ana hires u housrkceler and
steward 70 keen the establishment in order.
kecpns .l.ne is The %are Of the GapitoI;, it
costs &G,.Qu0 annually to run the building
charge .! it. in inr him. besides two clerks
and Il dra '.hts,nn. nro seven c4rpentterswho
have i!onW d work to ocrupy ,hom the year
ArOun". there az" acres upon acres Of paint
ed surilce. inside an ont, requiring the CON
slant. affection Of six PAINTERS. while four
plnmh"r" do nothing but mend and renew the
niIanEr":e'.t, for water and gas, Six garden
ers nIrd 10y tw'n assistants. keen the sur
rounding "ronn,s and walks looking pretty
scruublns the ,rridors every morning. wash
Ing the steps e"rrYlnG freGht &c; Tho. is a
r6oi and l.a> IS sure that i. doesn't leak.
Al {" hi, 1ofnng to do MI,h ths affairs
s.rctiye wings Of the Capitol. II Is the same
Would clean the windows outside il Chief JUS
tie Fuller askel hi t. 90 So but he would not
VINO act us atirnlants in IN, cloak room during
scse;ous. When the l.ouse has adjourned they
COMMITTEES room has attached 20 II a mes sen or.
whose duty it is to keep tho room In order.
Some OF the persons who get appointed as
messengers consider themselves Above such
uen.al cr1Iloy'nent AID hire others TO per
I form this part o! their work.
ON the Senate side thing are managed In
the same way. only that ii is tn Sergeart-a at
Arms VINO direct. tho housekeeping Among
Rom adjoining the Marble loom. where tho
Chief ENesntiy" goes for the Lnrposs ., sign
. srss 'f it Gs' an Of thu De"n,uf
In tn, world with huge mirrors from floor to
o ans .md t tSs
Sergeant, AT Arms Of tho Scna,- attend to ell
quarters occLLied hythose loGisln'iv" bodies
| Respectively. They al. give out the contracts
| for cleaning the carpets.
Zach wing Of the ,aritol has chief on.
gineer. tarea n siS'ant engineers. ana nve
flremen to look nftcr the vast an! compic9ted
! system nf engines md machinery required for
| heating, lighting. vcntlttiOn. pumping Of
water through the building, &c, Sixteen great
| revolving fans. the biggest Of them siXt""n
| feet in dlanetcr. and somewhat resembling
! tho radlrwheeI of a .'tenmbnat. snrp'y the
| great structure with fresh mir which they
| suck through euhterriHean passages from
! stone towers 500 feet away. TINT are open TO
| the SKY and drink il the pure atmosphere from
! far aiot. StnEdinG in, ono. of Ties" tunnels.
| through which an artificial hr""z" rnshes CON
| tinuu.iy ct the rat" Of iwcnty-"iX miles an
hour, one feels unpleasantiy chilled hu'ing
galleries are, crowded; every, nem,e err And
cubic feet Of fresh air every minute.
| We're i not for such yantilnting ,ievices neo-
! ple could not hreat he CON fortahiy in the cham
beers 1ecupird by the senate All ll"nse which n
| are Ike grcnt hoXes without windows. shut
| of from amy direct supply Il air from OUT side