Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1901-05-10
THE "WHITE HOUSE"
ITS OCCUPANTS HAVE LITTLE
WORRY ABOUT DETAILS.

Everything Is Managed for Them by En-.
ployss SaIared by Government - 500. .00O
Spent in Furnishings the Past Six Years
The Silverwarc-The State Dining Rooms
The ParOrs- One Of the Main "Cogs" a
Colored Man Change in the White House
Grounds.
Mr.. Mckinley says that one reason
why it suits him first rate to be Presl-
dent for another term is that his wife
who is half an invalid, will be during
that period altogether free from do,
mestic cares, such as n married woman
in private life can hardly escape. The
executive mansion is run like hotel,
without the incidental publicity, and
Uncle Sam does the housekeeping
everything being provided for with
such completeness that the mistress
of the establishment is burdened with
no task or responsibility. She is not
obliged to puzzle over the choice ol
viands for to-day's dinner and to-mor-
rows breakfast, because all of that
business is attended to by a butler
who is on the governments payroll
Nor is she compelled to issue any or.
ders to the maid servants, inasmuch as
the official housekeeper overlooks
them. When q banquet or reception
is to be given everything is managed
by master of ceremonies, who is an
army officer and an expert in the busi.
ness, and even the seating OF the guests
is arranged by salaried attache, who
also sends out the invitations.
Of the many tasks and anxieties
which oppress the everyday housewife,
even if she be weil-to do, not one both.
ers the lady OF the White House. All
of the beautiful bed linen and table
linen, as we'll as the silverware and ex-
quisite china, being government prop
erty, are cared for as such. If napkins
or sheets need repairs they are mended
without bothering the mistress OF the
mansion on the subject, and broken
crockery is replaced as if by the magic
of genie-compelling lamp. She is
not obliged to give any instructions
about the taking up OF carpets in early
summer, and the house-cleaning is
done at proper intervals automatically,
as it were. No trouble about servants
ever comes to her ears, and If the cook
scolds or chambermaid gives warning
the matter is not brought to her atten-
ton.
The White House chambermaids
and parlor maids, indeed, are men,
four in number, who do their work in
a highly superior manner, and get
what most housewives would consider
extravagant wages, $50 month each,
for their services. On special occa.
sions, as State dinners, they do duty
as walters. In the great, white-tiled
kitchen, which has range like that
OF hotel, with modern appliances to
match, three wOmen-a cook, an as
sistant cook and a scullion-are em-
ployed, and during the social season
this department is under the superin-
tendence OF French chef, engaged at
fancy salary. Two additional wo-
men work in the laundry, which
has hot-air compartment for drying
clothes. But all of these under SER
wants are paid ont of the Presidents
private purse.
Since Mr.. McKinley's first election,
four years ago. Congress has been hold
ing down the expenditures for the
White House. It has appropriated
each year $4,000 for the scare, re.
pairing and furnishing" Of the execu-
tive mansion" to be expended by con.
tract or otherwise, as the President
may determine" This is regarded as
a minimum allowance, giving no mar
gin for extras. In addition, however
81 500 is given annually for the pay OF
the butler known officially as steward)
$1,000 for fuel; 5000 for keeping up
the greenhouses, $1,000 for the salary
of the head gardener, $1,000 for the
care and lighting of the grounds, and
$4,000 for contingent expenses
which include the keep of two horses
stationery, furniture, carpets and mis-
cellaneous items. This makes a total
of $46,5OO.
1t is easily seen that if the President
was obliged to maintain his official
residence out OF his salary he would
have little left to live upon. As it is
with no rent to pay, fuel and lights
provided, and other advantages already
mentioned, his necessary expenses are
relatively small, and, in effect, the
stipend he receives from the govern
ment is far in excess of the nominal
$4,000 year allowed him by statute
The item of furnishing" is intended
to cover only linen, crockery, etc. As
for the large allowance for fuel, it is
accounted for by the fact that 225
tons of coal are used annually for heat.
ing the greenhouses.
Since Mr.. Mckinley first became
chief magistrate, however, Congress
has made no special grants of money
for the White House, such as were
frequently allowed during previous ad.
ministrations. Andrew Johnson got
$l35. 600 in this way for refurnishing
the mansion it having run down pretty