Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1909-05-13
All Negroes Look Alike to Mrs. Taft.

Washington, May S.-President and
Mrs. Taft are going on the principle that
il the Government is TO economize, econ
omy ought to begin at home. Therefore,
the running expenses Of the White House
are being cut down. Since March 4 saw
ings and curtailments have been effected
in various directions about the Executive
Mansion.
Mrs. Taft is responsible in large meas
ure for the savings that have been brought
about. For one thing, when the new ad
miniStration took possession of the White
House il was found there were nine laun-
dresses. This number has been reduced
to three.
Formerly there was an engineer, an
assistant engineer and plumber about
the establishment. One man is now re-
tanned 10 do any engineering work or
plumbing that is necessary.
Under the Roosevelt regime Pinkney,
the colored steward, was an important
functionary about the establishment. Now
steward is no longer kept. Pinkney has
gone on the Government rolls as a mess
enger. Mrs. Taft obtained a first-claSs
housekeeper, Miss Jefferson. The man.
agement of the White House in large
measure rests with Miss Jefferson, who
attends to the buying Mrs. Roosevelt
used TO do much of the buying for the eS
tablishmeni herself.
One of the important reforms wrought
about the White House consists in reduc-
ing the number Of tables at which the
negro servants take their meals from three
to one 1t used to be, before March 4,
that there were three tables for the colored
help. One table was for the high caste
part of the force Of servants. Here
Charles Reeder, the coachman Pinkney,
the steward, and few of the elite OF the
servants assembled and dined on the fat
OF the land, having what the White House
family had. The second table was re-
served for the chef and the middle class
Of servants. The third table for the laun-
dresses and Scrubwomen. Now, il ap-
pears, these distinctions have been thrust
aside, and Miss Jefferson has caused all
the colored help to eat at the same table.
The days OF terrapin for some and no ter
rapin for others have gone. All the ser
wants are treated alike Doubtless this
has caused some dissatisfaction; but if
there has been any murmuring il has been
done under cover. The White House is
too good place to work and the wages
are too good to imperil job by complain
ing about distinctions of caste at the din
ner table.
These and other reforms have been eff
fected. OF course, il will not require as
big bill for supplies for the White House
table in this Administration as il did in
the former one. One reason is that
luncheon is not made as much OF by Presi-
dent Taft, as Mr.. Roosevelt insisted on
having a lot of people TO lunch. He hated
to eat alone, and he liked to take advan-
tage of lunch to extract an infinite amount
of information out of a variegated asSon-
ment of people. And the amount OF in
formation he got in this way was aston
ishing. President Taft does not eat
luncheon himself, save an apple, and so
the chief White House functions are now
dinner, which are quite up to the best
White House standard.
II the various department and bureaus
90 at the economizing business as thor
oughly as the White House has, it will be
possible to make some reductions in ap-
propriations.