The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-06-28
FAVOR PENSIONS
TO EX.PRESIDENTS
McCleary Would Not Raise the
Salary of the Pres
ident.

Washington, June 2S:--RepIesentatiye
James H. McCleary Of Minnesota, who
expects to be the chairman of the ap
preparations committee in the next
house, does not believe in an increase in
the president salary, but would look
with favor upon giving all ex-presidents
a retirement, pension. He calls atten-
have iicN "a at al any 20 one time, and 50 to the
small drain on the treasury which such
an outlay would constitute. General
Hayes, who lived until 1898 was, for
much Of the time after Arthur Is death
in 1886, the only living ex-president,
just as Mr.. Cleveland is now.
At the outbreak Of the civil war,
Van Buren,, Tyler, Fillmore, Pierce and
Buchanan were all living, bu this was q,
presidents, seemingly preserved that
they might witness the great tragedy of
war, whose causes they had seen SO long
grow. When Lafayette visited this
country in 1924 he found every presi-
dent except Washington living. But
they do not survive SO long now.
Cheaper in the Old Days.
It was cheaper maintaining the White
salary, than now. The. Virginia presi-
dents brought their slaves with them to
The White House, and maintained much
f the dignity Of the old regime. They
ad ice gathered from the Potomac,
Jhich came much nearer the mansion Is
7alls than now.
The whole establishment was simple
compared with the present White House.
It was not lighted by gas until 1S48,
and freplaces did not give way to
general system of heating until 1863.
R1,t that Ooo11nantq IN tho 6ovc of 70
simplicity lived poorly by comparison
with our own times is not supported by
the records. Jefferson, who made the
greatest reputation for simplicity,
seems to have played to the galleries 4,
some extent, and not to have been so
democratic as his biographers would
have the present generation believe.
Dolly Madison's Regime.
Dolly Madisor's regime at the White
House was an epoch-maker in establish
ing standards of etiquette This was in
some part due to her selection Of Jean
Pierre Sioussat, young Frenchman, as
master OF ceremonies. Dinner parties
and receptions occurred weekly, and in
addition the president held levees One
celebrated institution Of this period was
the "dove parties'' which Mrs. Madi-
son started with view to bringing the
relations.
There seems to have been some re-
lapse from these standards of entertain
ment in the succeeding administrations.
The National 'Intelligencer gives the &C.
count Of a reception in Monroe g time
which, while smacking Of partizan hos
tility, doubtless reflects the direction in
which things were tending. It says:
A Monroe Reception.
The secretaries, senators, foreign min
listers, consuls, auditors, accountants, Of
f1cers Of the army and navy of every
grade, farmers, merchants, tradesmen,
priests, lawyers, judges, governors and
nothingarians, all: with their wives, and
some with their gawky offsprings, crowd
to the presidents every Wednesday
evening; some in shoes, most in boots,
and many in slippers; some snuffing
others chewing and many longing for
their cigars and whisky punches left at
home; some with powdered heads, others
heads a comb had never touched: few
hid by dirty collars reaching far above
their heads and as stiff as pasteboard.
The demands in entertaining keep
pace with everything else. No longer
apo than Pierce IS time, the president
liked to have acquaintance, especially
from New Hampshire, who CHANGED to
be in the city, drop in to pass the even
ing with him. Tyler used to sit about
his fireplace waiting for the New York
mail which arrived late in the evening.
Would Amaze Timers.
Old-time entertainers would be
amazed To sae the coatrooms TODAY at