Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1895-09-17
WEALTH OF STATESMEN
Grevy and Theirs the Wealthiest OF the
Dead Presidents.


Grevy and Theirs the wealthiest of the
Dead Presidents.
There seems to be an impression
among the French people in general,
according to the Paris Figaro, that the
various French presidents have been
men of great wealth. This arises pos
sibly from the fact that the civil list of
the presidents is 1900, 900 francs $780,
OoO) a year. But the journal declares
that the impression is erroneous. "Tnis
is not even true" adds the Fig
arc, "of NJ. Grevy. This affirmation
may seem paradoXical regarding the
father-in-law of Mr.. Wilson. 1t is,
however, absolutely true. When NJ.
Grcvy became president in 1879 he had
an income of 10000 francs. At his
death, in 1891, he left, in addition to his
former fortune and the estate of Mont
sous-Naudrcy, real estate in Paris val
ucd at 2,0O0,0 900 francs and 10000
francs in bonds and stocks. These
COCO, 900 francs represented the savings
of NJ. Grcvy during his nine years as
president. He drew 100000 francs q
year, and as an old man did not use
more than the half Of it. The French
criticised him severely for his niggard-
illness; but when Il man is 50 years old
andha$ always lived simply, it is ilnpos-
siblc Tor him to spend 100, 600 Il month.
But he Is also the only one who made
anything out Of the presidency.
Tho first president of the republic,
NJ. Theirs, vas twcnty-scvCn months
in Office, but without pccuniary profit
to himself. He had married Mile.
DoSnc in 1882, and when he died, forty
fOur years later. the considerable pat
rimony Of his wife, added to his in
come from the History of the Consul
ate and the EMPIRE the fruit Of n long,
laDOrlOu$ life, did not AXE q fortune
OF more than 5000, 900 francs. This in
cludcd the value of his famous house
III So. Georges place and his collections
of art, estimated to be worth a large
amount. But NJ. Grcvy and NJ. Theirs
were the only presidents in twenty-five
years (~cXccpting NJ. Casimir-pcricr)
who after leaving the Elysce were not
obliged to use the omnibus in making
their tour about Paris. Here are the
others:
"All the world knows that Marshal
MacAlahon, in the course of his presi-
dcncy MAY &c, 1878, to January 80,
AO'"J NhS "a AAo tb llO1lld IulS al
his death in 1898 he owned only two
small estates, sold Il year ago. He was
obliged to live from his salary as field
marshal.
"Wc now pass from a marshal whom
the presidency impoverished to NJ. Car
not. Sadi Carnot, Il modest, conscicn-
tious man, rcligiously spent his whole
income from the state, and his private
income In addition thereto. This pri-
waite income at the time of his election
amounted to so, 900 francs, and this he
left TO his widow and children when he
dicl. His widow declined the pension
offered her by the government.
1T is said hat Gambctta, for many
years leader Of the republicans and
prime minister, paid his cook more
than many Il cabinet minister received.
However, he left an income of 5000
francs to his son and a bundle of
bonds
another president of the chamber,
Burdcau, died poor, and the chamber
had to care for his heirs. Jules Ferry
also lcsscncd his fortune by politics."