The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-01-09
COSTS MR.. ROOSEVELT.
Heavy Expense Of UNFOLDING White
House Dignity.

the president every day writes Wash /
ingtOn correspondent. The official din I
ners are OF unusual elegance and taste, I
as becomes the occupant of the White
House. There has been no indication Of
extravaganza or Ostentation in any or
the functions The most and least that
can be said is that the president Is
sulendfdly maintaining in a social way
the dignity of his office To do this. ne
will leave the Office poorer than when
he entered it.
Everybody in Washington thoroughly
appreciates the fact that the salary OF
$500 900 a year and the $4,000 allowed for
contingent expenses do not meet the nee
( essary expenses of the White House. the
stables and the executive office me peo-
pie of means who live at about the same
social pace as the president and his fam
! ily are compelled to live by reason Of the
demands which custom as well as pro-
prietv make. never fail to comment on
the financial burden which election to
/ the presidency imposes.
Contrary to the popular impression
I President Hayes spent more money than
anyone who ever occupied the White
House President Hayes served refresh
ments at all Of his receptions. The cost Of
feeding the multitude which forces Its
way into the four formal receptions each
year and the innumerable card recep-
tons IS an item which only hotel man
( 5gements can appreciate. for no family
+ in private life has ever had to experience
because Mrs. Hayes planted herself firm
I ~ on the temperance question No ac-
curate statistics have been kept, but 1t
( is not an exaggeration to place the total
number OF persons who attend the four
I receptions to the diplomatic corps, the
army and navy, congress and the pub
lie a 5000. President Hayes fed"
these thousands. No other word so
properly describes the exhibition given
as to call it a feed" But President
Hayes was rich. and he could lose every
/ year as much money as he drew from
the national treasury without embar-
rassment When Hayes retired from the
/ White House the refreshment feature at
the four formal receptions disappeared.
Garfield was Door and had to make his
salary pay running expenses. Arthur
was too much o. a gentleman to tolerate
such a display as several thousand per-
sons clamoring for food presented.
Mr.. Roosevelt is neither rich nor poor.
In New York they call him poor in
/ Kansas City he would simply be CLASH
fed among the well to do. His personal
income is probably less than $4,000 d
year. Miss Alice Roosevelt has a larger
private income than her father Half
the fortune of the first Mrs Roosevelt
was left to her daughter. Mr. Roosevelt
has never touched the other half Out of
his salary of $4,000 and his small per
sOnal income the president must do
more entertaining than any other indi-
/ vidual in the United States All the en-
tertaining in which the president and
Mrs Roosevelt participate is done at the
/ White House There is no WaV of re-
paying White House social obligations.
From the beginning of a presidential
term until its close the president of the
lnited States is host. From his salary
the vast reisnue Of White House serv-
ants must be paid. Congress appropriate
$4,000 a year for the contingent exoen-
Sos of the executive. This includes the
stationery. record books, books for the
library and the White House sta bles
MOI cent OF II IS left to help eefraE
any other expenses. The government
does pay the White House steward. He
is given salary of s.. 500 year.
President Mckinley's steward nov
has another job in the government ser
vice, President Roosevelt brought witt
him from Albany Pinkney White, who
is not white, but black. and was stew.
ard when Roosevelt was governor 81
New York Out Of his own pocket Pres
1dent Roosevelt must pay his house
keeper. bedroom maids. cooks. coachnnar
( and all other servants The linen silver.
ware. glass and china are furnished By
, the government.
The flowers are also furnished by the
government, and the Marine band sup
+ plies the music for all White House
entertainments. For the stables the
4 government employees q stable boss anc
one helper Negro help has alWay VS.
2 been the rule at the White House. II
would seem odd to those who have been
visitors at the White House ever since
the time Oh Gfdnt 10 see a QUSTtn2 cloth
, IN the hands of white servant, anC
there is a White House tradition that
+ the chicken must be cooked by a negro
auntie"
It is not too broad an assertion to say
That Il Will cost President Roosevelt
twice as much money to occupy the
+ White House three years as it die
President Mckinley during his full and
, part term. President Mckinley came
to the White House confronted BY a bis
personal debt. He paid every dollar
that he owed, and at his death had q
, rev thousand dollars for Mrs. McKin-
ley But 1t was necessary for Mckinley
to practice close economy.
Even the moderate entertaining HI
had planned was prevented by a ser
les of personal misfortunes in his i'm
mediate family, and since the wa
America had not had such a quie
social administration as that of Nc
hlnley which President Roosevelt hai
I followed with the liveHest
4 Ihe total appropriations for all pur
r poses IN the executive department ag
n gregate $40 040. The presidents SALARY
K is $ou,000. and the contingent expenses
a Of the executive office are SIS. O0o. II
I tne executive office the government hai
< maze provision for the various score
e taries and clerks just as in any Othe
e business department of the govern
d ment Ihe secretary to the presiden
ii receives $4,000 a year two assista n
secretaries S.. 900 each executive clerk
d and disbursing officer 50 600 two clerk
d dt SzoV0 each. six clerks Of Glass 4. on
e clerk Of Class 4. who shall be a tele
ia kraph operator; steward a. 81 800 ushe
It 20 tne president at 81, 800. chief door
o Keeper at Sl.S00; four doorkeepers a
Se e1'zuu tour messengers at 81 200 tire
p messengers at $500. Waterman at $500
e one fireman at $500: in all, s45 040
" Tea Ten Cents Cheaper.
y Boston Journal: