Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-02-21
THE WHITE HOUSE AND THE PRESIDENTS
SALARY COST COUNTRY $4,000 ANNUALLY

government pays the salary of a fireman
at 1864 a year, and of steward at
1900
Two thousand five hundred dollars are
spent each year for fuel. and there Is an
annual appropriation of $4,000 for the
maintenance Of the White House STAPLES.
In addition to the amount the Presi-
dent spends in public functions. break
fasts. luncheons and dinners come with
almost daily regularity. and each OF them
is an expense. Then. too, there are times
when q guest Of the nation. or q pubic
character from foreign land has to be
entertained. 1t is estimated, however:
that these entertainments. with official
receptions, cost the President. all told,
about one-tenth of his entire salary
Thousands of dollars in postage are paid
The President has few extraordinary
expenses, and 1t is not thought that the
ones he has to meet make any consider
able hole in his salary Of more than
$1,000 a week, or approximately $3.50 a
day.
Another item that the government pays
indirectly that may be charged to main
tenance of the White House. Is medical
attendance for the President and ms ram
lily. He has physician. usually the
surgeon general Of the army or the navy
in the present instance, Surgeon Cen
eral Rixey Of the navy Is medical off1cer
to the President-Or some medical omcer
Of one of the military services. Meol-
pensary or a member Of the Presidents
family can receive treatment at either
the Army or Navy General Hospital.
X
The Executive Mansion was the first
public building erected when the seat OF
government was moved from Philadel-
phia to Washington. President George
Washington selected the site and laid the
corner stone October Is, 1892. 1t was not
completed for several years. and George
Washington watched the progress made
with interest. 1t was first occupied by
John Adams in 1900. The building was
designed by John Hoban, friend of the
first President. who drew his ideas for the
structure from the mansion of the Duke
of Leinster, near Dublin, Ireland, and
planned it almost as replica.
When President Roosevelt moved in he
found that practically the only change that
had been made in it was tendency to
modernize the ornamental work. He i'm
mediately took characteristic action and
called upon Congress to provide fitting
residence for the chief executive. and the
money was Immediately forthcoming.
Under his instructions the White House
as he officially designated 1t, has been re-
stored to all it's original architectural
beauty and grandeur, in addition to being
made a home with all moQern comforts
and conveniences. The public entrance
is through a colonnade on the east. and
there is a magnificently furnished and ap-
pointed state dining room. An office
building. designated the executive Of
fees. was built and all the old, wornout
furniture sold at auction. 1t was re-
placed by new, simple and sanitary
pieces.
In the basement, Mrs. Taft the new
mistress. will find two large kitchens. a
laundry room and a wonderful pantry.
which contains an electric dish heater
with capacity of three thousand dishes
and plates. At the state dinners over
which Mrs. Taft will preside the viands
prepared in her two kitchens by one OF
the best chefs in the country will be
served on a $4,000 set of Wedgewood
china. besides the new glassware bought
under the direction of Mrs. Roosevelt
and the historic silver plate which has
| been collected by matrons of the White
House since the days of Martha Wash
! ington.
This remodeling and refurnishing Of the
White House cost the government $500. $50
| small sum to be expended on the resi-
dence of the President of the United
States of America. 1t is now, however, a
fitting home for the ruler Of the land.