The Washington herald., 1908-03-22
ANNUAL COST OF THE WHITE HOUSE

II costs the American people a little
less than Soo600 q year 10 nay the salary
OF the President OF the United States. to
maintain his mansion and executive Of
hces. and the naval vessels which are
held az his disposal This is a tax OF
about siX-eights Of a cent upon each man.
woman, and chId-eertsinly not heavy
burden, compared with what It costs 10
support the royal families OF the old
world The cost Of keeping in commission
two naval yachts is included. As 10
whether the whole Of these sums is prop
erly chargeable against the President
is matter upon which there is a differ
ence Of opinion.
The naval vessels were not built ex-
pressly for the Presidents use, nor are
they officially assigned to that duty. says
the Kansas City Journal They are held.
however, at his disposal. and while they
are subject to any other business which
may be required OF them. there is not
much else for them 10 do in these piping
times OF peace. Those who insist that
the cost OF keeping in commission the
MayfiOwer and Sylph is a proper charge
against the cost OF the Chief Executive
argue that were Il not for the fact that
the President uses them the vessels
would be placed out Of commission.
thus effecting an annual saving Of about
$4,000. The answering argument is thai
the same would hold true OF all the other
vessels Of the navy. We're il deemed wise
policy to lay them up and discharge their
crews Just because we have not a war on
hand.
$4,000 for Travelling.
The second item. that Of $500 for the
Presidents travelling expenses. was voted
for the first time AT the last session OF
Congress The enactment states that the
sum is TO "defray the travelling. expenses
ef tife president and his invited guests. %
and the item was subject Of heated de-
bate in both houses Of Congress. Op-
ponents OF the appropriation declared il
was an attempt 10 indirectly increase the
salary OF the Chief Executive. The law
giving the President this money 10 en-
able him to go travelling was the indl-
rect outcome OF the aroused public sen
timent against transportation abuses. In
years past il was not considered improper
for the President 70 travel in special
trains furnished by the railroads without
cost 70 him or 10 the government. but
this practice came in for condemnation
along with the acceptances of passes BY
members Of Congress and the judiciary
In response to this aroused public senti-
ment Mr.. Roosevelt announced that in
the future he would accept no transporta-
ton favOrs from the railroads. Congress
had 10 make an appropriation or the
President would have been obliged to
stay at home or pay out OF his own
pocket the cost OF his trips
The total OF $4,000 includes substan-
tally every expense in which the Presi-
dent involves the American people. aside
from the enormous cost each four years
of the Presidential election. There is no
available way in which comparative fig
ures can be secured from other countries.
for royalty entails upon a people ire
mendous indirect expenditures. aside from
the amounts voted directly 10 the rulers.
What European Rulers Cost.
The civil lists Of European sovereigns.
however. furnish an interesting compari-
son. II is a small and unimportant coun-
try, indeed. which does not vote its ruler
for his personal use more than the entire
amount charged up as expenditures on
behalf OF the American President. The