The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-12-03
HARRIsoN's SAVINGS.

The President Will Leave the White House
Almost q Poor He Entered It
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 2.--"Ifit were not for
the Presidents ability to practice law there
would actually be reason for seriously con-
sideripg his means of livelihood"
The above expression, uttered by q menu
ber of the Presidents household to your
correspondent to-day. was said In conneo-
tion with some comments upon an article
which was recently widely published upon
the subject of Presidents Harrison's prob
able savings from his salary during the
past four years. The writer of the article
figured that President Harrison had prob
ably saved, OF would by the 4th of March
save. s106, 600 from the Sz0y,O 900 which he will
then have drawn.
II have no doubt,n continued the member
OF the Presidents family, that upon the
face of things, people who visit the White
House, and who have kept casual run Of
affairs here, believe the estImat 20 OF saving
of SlO6 600 out of 100000 salary is conserv-
ative and reasonable. But it 10 far from
correct. President Harrison will go ont of
this house next March with less than S50, COO
of the 500 600 he will have drawn as salary
in four years. Where has it gonef Well,
the channels for spending money here are
as devious and various as are the rivers OF
the mountains. and i might add that q
thousand dollars make about as much Of an
impression here as the addition of q drop
of water would make to the Mississippi.
An impression prevails that the Presi.
dent can live, IL he wants to, out OF the
contingent fund of the White House. The
contingent fund is q nightmare and bug
aboo. 1t isn't sufficient TO keep up repairs
aud pay the men and women who work
here. 1t requires close figuring to make
ends meet There 10 large force of clerks
and watchmen about here: and IL takes q
Great deal OF money TO do the papering.
painting, frescoing. carpeting. TO pay for
the heat, and light, and water, and thou
sand other things.
Why" said ho.. do you know that
President Harrison has had TO pay the ex-
penses of the stables out of his own pockets
He has, And he has had no opportunity
to pay many Of the legitimate expenses of
running the house for the public out
of the contingent fund. The White
House has undergone thorough renova-
tion during the past four years. From the
paper On the walls. the carpets, paintings.
etc., to the chinaware and almost every
thing else in the dining-room. the
been new work, new things. lt
required economy here, there every
where. The President has been
liberal entertainer during the past three
years. There has been scarcely day when
visitors have not been in the White House,
and much of the time we have been glad to
have all our spare rooms full OF our frienda
There have been many state dinners. pri-
vate dinners. luncheons and breakfast
All these have been paid for out Of the
Presidents private funds BE has made no
effort to stint the position he occupies
when il comes TO entertaining; and yet be
has not been lavish. He has simply tried
TO be decent and to have proper apprecia-
tiOn of the position he holds.
when President Harrison goes out of
the White House be will not be worth, all
told. 100000. He will not be poor man.
in the sense of having nothing: but for an
ex-Preeident and man of his abilities. he
will be IN extremely ordinary circum-
stances. His determination 10 resume the
practice OF law at Indianapolis has not been
solely from o desire TO secure recreation.
His income, when he quits this house.
will not be near enough TO maintain him
1 with proper dignity. i mean that he
could not entertain his friends as he would
wish and keep up his station in life unless
he added by his own exertions to his in
come. The President has had TO carry
many expenses of q private nature for
many years He has extended O helping
hand to a number of persons who have hac
| been reasonably liberal in charity: be has
| tried TO help the church as much as he
| could; he has contributed 10 The campaign
| funds OF his party. and. without regard 20
| the balance he would have at the end of
his term, he has had an eye single to the
| proper thing"
The speaker. had IL not been indelicate
might have added that the President was
| put to very many thousands of dollars ex-
| pense In the illness of Mra Harrison and
other members of his house: and when ft
| come to catering TO such demands he has
| known no such thing as impecuniosity,
The best medical skill. servants. nurses snf