The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1900-11-16
DOES 1T PAY To HOLD THE
HIGHEST OFFICE?


the goal.
On our list of presidential profits
enter first perpetual fame. Since
history began it has never lost the
name of single executive who stood
at the head of a mighty nation. Good,
bad, weak, Indifferent kings or presi-
dents of consequential states alike
share the assurances that their names
will ever be printed in all civilized
languages and pronounced by all civil
lied tongues.
Consider next the items of pecuniary
gain. The presidential salary is
5000, 600 term. $3.50 day, 1915 an
hour 1t looks large, yet many
Americans in private business receive
the same regular pay. The president
of France receives more than twice as
much. Our president, of course, pays
no rent for the white house or for its
stables. Congress annually appro-
PIRATES small fortune to keep them
in repair During Arthur's admins
tration it made special appropriations
of 800 900 for refurnishing the man
sion. while in Cleveland first admin
istration $7S, 600 was given. White
house repairs and furnishings have cost
more than one and three-quarter
millions within the last century. The
coal, wood, gas and electric light bills
of the mansion are paid by Uncle
Sam, who further allows his chief
servant -, 600 year, cabinet OH
GERS salary, for stationery, record
books, books for the executive library.
kilograms, Office furnishings, care of
the presidential stables and the car
riages, horses and harnesses used by
the white house Office force Add to
this an annual salary of 81, 500 for the
white house steward, whose business
it is to superintend the housekeeping of
the mansion. The government further
pays the presidents valet, his wife's
maid and the groom of the white
house stables. 1t pays for washing the
linen and for the house cleaning of
the mansion. Moreover presidents as
a general rule, have no doctor bills to
pay. In Washington there is always
stationed an attending physician for
the officers of the army and navy, and
their families living there.
The president, as commander-in-
chief of the army and navy, is legally
entitled to this professional service.
The big expense of Garfeld's illness
after his assassination was paid by
congress
Car loads of gifts come into the
white house during each administra
ton The white house garrett is always
full TO overlooking with useless pre-
sents Among the articles presented
TO President Mckinley have been Mos
pounds an India tiger skin rug 111a
feet long, pair of antlers worth
50, 800 a MOSAIC table, a toilet water
set of gold and cut glass with gilt
stand, a set of gold and silver toilet
articles in morocco case. bronze
lamp on base of onyx, numerous
pieces of fancy work. embroidery,
tapestry. carved wood and paintings,
400 OF 500 pipes, no end of Manila
Havana and Porto Rican cigars and
uncountable medicines. Some time
ago the French ambassador presented
Mr.. Mckinley with two exquisite
vases made in Frances national porce-
lair works at Serves and selected by
President Faure before his death.
Every president receives from far and
wide eatables and drinkables of every
description. Every Thanksgiving and
Christmas day he receives anywhere
from dozen to score of turkeys
Most of these birds come from Rhode
Island. and it is the boast of their
raisers that they are fed only ON grass
hoppers. On Thanksgiving day two
years ago the president partook of a
2S-pound bird, the record breaker of
this administration. Grants table
was once graced by 34-pounder.
Various presidents before McKinley's
administration have been given ex-
pensive liquors and wines by the bar
rel
The comforts assured by the presi-
dency may be assured next upon this
list of profits. Harrison and other
presidents have complained that the
white house is an evil combination of
workshop and dwelling under one roof !;
yet what there is of it has ever been
luxuriously maintained. When a
presidents wife desires new furnish
ings, new ornaments, new decorations
or new housekeeping utensils for her
official residence, she need not ask her
husband for the wherewithal she
simply summons the master OF the
white house ceremonies-a conded
army officer, who disburses the appro
priations made by congress. These
funds are regularly given with the
understanding that they are to be ex-
pended as the executive family sees
fit. In this way Mrs Grant purchased
for the white house table silver
canoe, still used for containing floral
decorations at state dinners, for which
was paid $1,000. During jackson 8
administration s. 800 was paid for the
second hand ancestral silver service
of Baron De Tuyli, Russian. Mrs.
Hayes had painted a set Of China
which cost $l5, 000 All such articles.
of course, remain the property of
Uncle Sam from administration, and
no presidential family can appropriate
a dollars worth as souvenir. In the
practical housekeeping of the execu-
tive mansion the presidential family
is entirely relieved from care. The
steward does all the marketing and
has the superintendent OF all ser
wants. The master of ceremonies and
assistant secretaries attend TO all ar
engagements for social functions, even
to the seating of the guests at dinner
and the issuing of invitations. The
official maid attends to all personal
wants of the first lady of the land,
Just as does the official valet to those
of the president. Presidents have
usually selected personal servants
who are expert BARRIERS, but Mr.. Nc
Kinley has always preferred to shave
himself.
The white house is redolent the year
round with perfumes of nature
choicest flowers. Uncle Sam furnished
a large conservatory and several green
houses for the exclusive use of presi-
Dental families. Whenever music is
desired for state functions the great
Marine band or any of the army or
navy bands can be ordered to the
mansion by its commander-in-ehief.