Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1893-01-06
Presidents Savings.

President Harrison will probably take
more than bali of his salary with him
when he retires from the White House on
the 4ih of next March. An outside Osti.
mate of his expenses past and prospective
during the four years Of his term leaves
balance of 100000 from the 5000, OOO
which he will have drawn.
No President since Grant has ever lived
up to his salary. There is really no rea-
son why be should. The government pro-
vides bonse for him, furnishes it and
supplies the servants. Even the barber
who trims the Presidents beard is a
salaried employee OF the government.
When Grant came into Office the salary
of the President was only $4,000 an
nually. Yet several of Grants prede-
cessors had been able TO save some money.
Buchanan left a fortune of 100000
Lincoln SIS, 900 and johnson $50 900.
Probably the poorest Of the Presidents
was Jefferson. He would have been
bankrupt il Congress had not apprOpri-
ated SO, 900 to purchase his library. Madi-
son left a very small estate and Monroe
died poor. Washington, as every one
knows, married the rich widow GUSTS
and his estate was worth more than a
lauarter of million. John Adams wal
worth, perhaps, $4,000 at the time Of bis
death, and John Quincy Adams had
mans aged TO save about the same amount
by prudence and economy. Van Buren,
did not draw a cent of his salary during
the four years of his term, but drew it all
in lump SUN, 100000, when he went
ont OF office He lett an estate as large
as that of Washington. Jackson left q
large landed estate Polk left $l50,000
Fillmore was a rich man and some Of his
money, like Washlngton's came to him by
marriage. Pierce saved $40, 900 out Of bis
Presidential salary.
Grant spent a great deal Of money
while be was in the White House, and all
that he took with him when he left the
Presidential Office was lost in the failure
of his son. His family was supported by
fund provided by his friends, and final
~ became rich by the sale of his memoirs
HAYES took more than half his salary
with him when he left the White House
| The Garftlds were not in the White
House long enough to accumulate much
money, but the Garfield family is now
supported by public fund. Arthur lived
better than the average President during
his term, but he was not able to spend
all of his salary. Cleveland took with
him from the White House at least $50, =
900 of his salary, and be made great
deal more than that in his real estate
specnlations around Washington.
When President Harrison cana into
Office he was worth perhaps $4,000 He
had accumulated this mOoey little by
little in the practice of law. His old Law
partner, Mr.. Miller, now the Attorney
General was worth perhaps four times as
much, but he accumulated this money by
fortunate speculation in real estate
General Harrison never had the faculty
for money making; be never seemed to
see anything outside his chosen rJfesSion
the law. But he lived modestly, and ont
of the large fees which be received from
time to time he put by a little until be
had accumulated enough to invest in
some manufacturing property IN indian
apois. The estimated value OF this prop
erty (Which the President still owns was
$40. 900. In addition to this General Har-
rison Owned the house in which he lived.
Since he came to Washington the Presl-
dent has been drawing sl60 a day from
the Treasury. and he has not been able to
spend one-half that amount. lie has to
buy the food which goes on the White
House table and pay the old colored
nanny who cooks il, but the other ex-
penses Of the executive Manson down to
the purchase Of matches are provided for
in tho annual Appropriation bills The
total expenses OF the executive Mansion
are about $3.50, 600 year. There is an ar
preparation for the care, repair aud fur
nshing of the m ,n,ion, the care OF the
greenhouse, improvement and mainten-
auce Of tho grounds, fuel, gas aud then
the salaries of the employees of the tx
ecutiye office and the steward, the mes
sengers, the doorkeepers, the watchman
and the engineers of the establishment
The President has in addition to this .
contingent fund of s. 0C0, which he may
spend as he chooses without rendering al
itemized account to Congress. This 10 th'
only contingent fund except the COO
tingent fund of the State Department
for whIch no account is demanded b.
Congress.