The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1904-10-16
Washington and Van Buren Had
Independent Means When
They Took Office.
SOME OTHERS WELL TO Do.
Arthur Said TO Have Been the
Most Extravagant, His Fa-
nous Dinners Costing
Thousands of Dollars.
snErTkL

FTpuBL1c s?ErThL
Washington. Oct. 5.-George Washing
ton and Martin Van Buren, were the
wealthiest men ever elected to the Presi-
dency. but nearly ali the Chief Execu-
lives managed to leave the White House
well of. although come possessed little
wealth when elected.
Van Buren, was SO wealthy that he did
not trouble to draw his salary until the
expiration Of his four years, when he
signed for 100000. Every expense OF the
White House outside of that provided for
out of his own pocket. :,
George Washington did not need the
money for living expenses. but he drew his
money with as much regularity as the de-
partment clerks. He had so much prop
erty to dispose of that his will covered
twelve closely written pages. and If put In
type would make five columns of q news
paper.
James Monroe's Will contained only 162
words. He was a poor man. He lived
web. but not ~extravagantiy. while Presi-
dent. yet he left the White House almost
pcnnlless.
FOLK. FILLMORE and Pierce were wealthy
men. and left large estates when thew
oleo. Madison. too. had a good bank ac-
count and plenty of real estate, but the
money he left to Dolly was scattered 10 the
Wlnos by a worthless relative. For her
husbands papers Congress paid her sao.Ooo.
ana this was ali she had.
andrew Johnson was comfortably we'll
Oh, owning a mill. farm. store and other
Tenn. A"o o'eeh'iie'
buchanan was wealthy. too. as was also
andrew Jackson. but the latter w,a i'm.
debts OF his SON. lNe
John Quincy Adams died rich. He owned
mncn property In Boston and Washington
his VIII is filed in the Recorder of WINS;
once In this city. and is OF great length
Ike ANDREW Jackson. Mr.. Adams had a
~. SoMection OF walking canes. and
ensse were bequeathed to his friends
Inomas Jefferson always. ACCORDING ,o
nistory- made muchSdisplay and was rated
S,.s ~eaIthy. but in old age he was re-
cease entertaining with such a lavish 49,
az monticello. Congress paid him sas Ga
= large portion Of his valuable lbrarv
i n1 h JniI sum was economically spent dur.
Whlayn Henry Harrison was known &c
~ H man, and when in the White
a eood me ner eaIed little for style. He saved
erateiy Fiction rieb q ~ ms salary and died mod
aafrlson. was likewise economical Sa'saI
asoennsey n enjoyed a good law practice /,
utS TERM
GRANT LIVED WELL.
.seneral Grant while in the White Hou.e
ilseo wen. but at the same time he saved
money. the salary of the President bejne
Ia'sed from SS.0oo to 5000 while h. NO.
sefsihE MS second term. General Gran,
z z larger stable Of ~thoroushbreds tbsn
to- : Ib5 eSso and when he took a fancy
IF = noLSe ne generally managed to hny
~ 1ekdrdiess of the price Duy
wealthy; although worth considesabh mo- not
faaEIem ns second &c 7 term expired. An en-.
,ea MN to pledge his swords. medals .ndd
s,0a ~ 70 VII. Vanderbilt for the loan ~
~ ~ 70 clear his name OF the diserace
oe Ts mad brought upon him. ~
The most eItravaEant Presjde,.
arlnur. who not infrequently gave Si,naS
into the y WHY'S mneh na as 500. When he went
Ely III nall a million. His predecessor. car
sessasoa oied a poor man. The people raised
vofsS haaoor MIS-. Garfield. and Congress
Hayes ser was a p sesnssd Of Is 500 annually;
ine ms ms ,hncnmbency Of the White House
HAYES e NE 9nsrea no vine to guests. Nj.
because he was not fnanciaIiw a NOT
put simply because he did ny. ape pe
ceIs IN great social functions Mt. Lin
House. and n9G ha gh zen ne entered the White
Term he would perhaps have r.,, ~
worth only a few hundred more thar Abb a
Ennior Win. I0r ne was not economical.
NTnipioyes OF the White House saw that
VT: Lincoln gave away much none ssae
9gtssUgppae whom he believed or knew to Be in
Grover Cleveland was paving +.~a
.sss than 5000 when he was elected Pres. e
~ uie nrst time but TODAY he 1s
snsrday Ny: Cleveland was not a lavish
SPeroer urinE his incumbency OF r.
Malte House. drew mis- salary with ree1,e
tality and made Investments in Washi5g-
ton suburban real estate.
3IT. MrkfnIay ~oc -az-
the White House. He was In debit
o1S ~ irueaI MANAGEMENT and the assist,
nc OF friends he was accumuIatinr
M. "nen tne assassfn's bullet ended
President Roosevelt was comfortably
49, Eoen ne was called to the chief er-
Wv chair: not wealthy, but FAR from
poor. IT is safe 10 say that should he ha
reusea ~ The November election he viii
ease me White House a poorer man than