The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1909-01-26
$4,000 For Contingency, Clerical
Force, Attendants and Keeping of
White House Grounds Provided.
Cost Of Maintaining a President.

Washington, D. C.-The debate in
the Senate on the proposed increase
in the salaries of executive officers
and Judges has turned the attention
of both branches of Congress to the
actual sums provided for the personal
or official expenses of the President.
That their total is far in excess of the
$50, 1000 salary voted each year was
pointed out by Senator Borab, while
Senator Bailey declared that $85, 900
was appropriated each year to lie
subject entirely at the Presidents
discretion.
The House has been following the
debates closely, especially after Sena-
tor Borah's amendment, holding the
Speakers salary down to SIS, 900,
was adopted, and Representative
Madden was quoted in the Senate as
having estimated the total cost to the
country of maintaining President
for one year at $383,000.
For the fiscal year ending June 80,
1909, Congress appropriated a total
of $4,000 for the support of the
President and his personal attendants
and Office clerks. This sum doesCnot
include such occasional details of
clerks from executive departments as
he might need when the rush of pre-
pairing messages has oyercrowdeG his
regular force.
The lump sums for salary and
clerk hire come in the legislature, ex-
ecutive and judicial bill. They are
for the Presidents salary, $4,000;
for salaries of the executive office
force, $69,920, and for the executive
Office contingent fund, payable at the
discretion of the President, for tele-
graph and telephone service, furni-
kture, horses and harness, SIS, 900.
The Improvement and maintenance
of the White House grounds, a few
acres within the high iron fence,
makes the first item $4,000 on the
sundry civil bill, which is drafted by
the committee of which James
Tawney is chairman Horses and
vehicles, their purchase and main
tenance or hire, and the ordinary
care, repair and maintenance of the
White House adds to this $4,000,
which is to be expended at the Pres
ident's discretion.
Next comes $4,000 for fuel for the
mansion, greenhouses and stables,
while $4,000 was appropriated for the
maintenance and care of the green
houses attached to the White House,
An additional $4,000 provides for re-
pairing the greenhouses. Another
appropriation put solely at the Presi-
dents discretion and accounted fot
on his certificate only. is $4,000 for
travelling expenses.
The sum of $50 keeps six arc
lights burning on the White House
grounds. The last item is $4,000
for printing from the executive office.
The expenditure of this last sum de-
ponds largely upon the number of
special messages written by the Pres
ident.
The items that attract the great
est attention in Congress are those
subject to the discretion of the Presi-
dent. They make total, besides his
salary of $4,000, of $4,000. Be-
sides the care of the White House
and grounds and the purchase of
horses and vehicles, which takes up
$4,000 of this discretionary appro-
priation, the rest of this sum is for
contingent expenses which may never
arise. The money is subject at all
times to the Presidents order.