Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1907-03-27
THE PRESIDENTS PAY
Regular Salary supplemented
by Appropriations


by Appropriations
e In the appropriation Tor tn
: fscal year, $25, 600 appears for In
r Presidents travelling expenses, a
r, item unimportant in itself, ex
I cept as constituting the fifth reg
y ular appropriation which affect
che life of the occupant of tn
White House. While the schoo
e book information that the Pres
ident receives salary of $50,
3 year is sufficiently accurate, il
,, lie not strictly so, as ordinary peo
! pie measure incomes. Sixty
thousand dollars is appropriate d
| for the car. Of the White Hoese
including refurnishing as well us
repainting. The fuel for the White
( House End its Conservatives is aso
furnished by Uncle Sam. Formerly
the greenhouses were directly con-
nected with the mansion itself, cover.
ing what Is now the west terrace,
but in the McKim restoration these
were removed to the Monument
grounds; they are still carried on
the appropriation bills, however, as
a White House effair.
The President is thus relieved
of the COST of furnish ing and car
ing for the White House, heating
it, or supT lying it with flowers.
A second app opriation bill car
ries, 1920, 600 for lighting. and this
includes everything from his lpmp
on his study table to the arc lights
outside, which are a part Of the
illumination of Pennsylvania ave-
nue.. IL is even spe cified in the
statute that this grant shall pay
for the White House matches, al
well as stoves and fuel for the
watchmnn's lodge. Another item
carries $50, 900 for the contingent
expenses of the White House. This
covers the telephone and telegraph |
service and stationery, end |
provides for "the official stable"
which is a different thing from
the Presidents stable, although
the two may occupy the game
building. A fourth item O!
100000 pays for the White House
employees, most of whom are on
official duty, although few, like
the Steward and four of the up
stairs maids, may be regarded az
personal in their obligations. 1t is
very bard to separate Presidents
personal relations from his official,
and the appropriation bills make {
no serious attempt to do go.
This roundabout system Of com.
a President doubtless
.ccords with the American conser.
7atism much better than would one
iirect payment covering the whole
'un. But the present arrangement +,
gives rise 30 many anomalies. For '
Example, the government provides :
cur horses for the Presidents
ecretary, and pays the wages OF =
be driver and the groom. But
he President himself must buy his
wn horses and carriages, Fay for I
ne grain which they eat and COM
ensate the men who take care of s
hem. The government does z
however, the Presidents a
river, one of the Offices most coveted P
y the colored population of Wash. o
lgton. 1t ulso furnishes the stable
GIFTED and supplied with water IN
nd feed. The chief cost of being Il
resident comes in the entertain al
~, for which the government p'
finishes only the fuel and fJw- pI
-s, and the services of a few Sc
elpers. til
This travelling expense appro- II
ration settles one of the most
Ifficult questions with which the tr
,cupants of the White House o,
ave had to deal. They ought not hr
go as "deadheads," accepting at
.Vors from the great Transports in
On companies, and they csnaOt ge
ford to make 81 ch trips in the Al
amer that custom prescribes at oil,
+ir own expense. Unlike minor
icers Of various grades, they ii,
mot discover official business th
ling them to places that they m.
art to go to at various times. IF
icy mast go cross the continent Il
trips and Congress has done m
III to pay for ii csc. The new no
ion station in Washington has M
en- built with speciaI entrance ma
r the President Of the United IN,
ates, to save him the risk and goo
'uble of going through the pub. of
waiting rooms with their et- No
ldant crowds. - Boston Tran (
ipt. -
Begging Trouble VIII
IN putting up the stes to the pre-
II