The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1906-11-22


In the appropriation for the fiscal
year, s25, 900 appears for the presi-
dents travelling expenses, an item
unimpOrtant In itself. except as con-
shutting the fifth regular appropria-
tion which Affects the life OF the &C.
cupant Of the White House. While
the school, book information that the
president receives salary of $4,000
a year il sufficiently accurate. 1t is
not strictly SO, as ordinary people
measure incomes. Sixty thousand
dollars is appropriated for the care Of
the White House, including refur-
nishing as we'll as repainting. The
fuel for the White House and its con.
servatories is also supplied by Uncle
Sam. Formerly the greenhouses
we're directly connected with the
mansion itself, covering what is now
the west terrace, but In the McKim
restoration they we're removed to
the monument grounds; they are
still carried on the appropriation
bills, however, as White House af-
fair.
The president is thus relieved Of
the cost Of furnishing and caring for
the White House, heating 1t, or sup
plying It with flowers. A second ap-
preparation bill carries $4,000 for
lighting, and this includes every
thing from his lamp on his study
table to the arc lights outside, which
are q part of the illumination Ia
Pennsylvania avenue. 1t Is even
specified In the statute that this
grant shall pay for the White House
matches, as well as stoves and fue
for the watchman's lodge. Another
item carries $4,000 for the contin
gent expenses Of the White House
This covers the telephone and tele
graph service and stationery. ant
provides for 1.-THE official stable.
which is a different thing from tn
: presidents stable, although the tw
. may occupy the same building.
fourth item OF CSC, 900 pays for tn
J White House employees, most o
} whom are on official duty, although
J few, like the steward and four OF tn
upstair maids, may be regarded a
personal In their obligations. 1t
very hard to separate president
personal relations from his Official
and the appropriation bills wisel
} make no serious attempt to do SO.
} This roundabout system OF CON
! pensating a president doubtless &C
. cords with the American conser'
atism much better than would on
direct payment covering the whol
J sum. But the present arrangement
J gives rise to many anomalies. re
! example, the Government provide
|. four horses for MI. Loeb, the pres
dents secretary, and pays the wage
, OF the driver and the groom. Bu
, the president himself must buy d
D own horses and carriages, pay for u
\ grain which they eat and compei
safe the men who take care OF then
4 The government does furnish, hos
\ ever. the presidents driver" oil
, OF the offjces most coveted by u
) colored population Of Washington.
also furnishes thu stable lighted al
: supplied with water and feed. III
chief cost OF being president com
| 10 the entertaining, for which q
m government furnishes only the 10
E and flowers, and the services OF II
h, helpers
" This travelling expense approprl
lI tion settles one OF the most diffiicl
lb questions with which the occupar
M al the White House have had to de
~ They ought not to go as idea
y. heads" accepting favors from
" great transportation companies, a
w they can not afford TO make 81
w trims In the manner that custom p
M scribes, at their own expense. Uni
~ minor officers OF various grades, Il
"a can not discover ofiicial business Ct
w inc them to places that they want
ny 90 at various times They must
Nt across the continent as ION trip
III and congress has done well to
M for these. The new union station
8 washington has been built VII