The De Soto County news. [volume] (Arcadia, Fla.) 1898-1924, 1916-09-21
WHAT THE NATION PAYS
ITS PRESIDENT.

When President Taft was in
the white house a law was pass
ed fixing the salary of the pres
ilent at S7j,OOO annually. This
law became effective at the be.
ginning of President Wilson $
administration. I'm addition 20
this salary the chief executive
has certain perquiSitcs which
make his annual income quite a
large sum pf money. At least to
the average plain citizen it would
seem nrgc-cvcn princely-but
compared with what the heads OF
several other governments get it
is insignificant and trivial. In
deed. there are number of per
sons in private life in this coun'
try whose income is considerably
greater than that of the preSi.
dent.
Naturally it is necessary for
the president to do considerable
travelling each wear; he is called
to this and that part of the coun.
and when he goes of course
he is expected to travel in style
and dignity that is in keeping
with the office he holds. If a
president should accept any IA
yor from the railroads Il great
hue and cry would be raised, so
the only thing to be done is for
him to pay in full as he goes for
himself. his secretaries, and all
who travel with him.
If he went down into his own
pocket for this money it would
make formidable inrOads into
his salary and well nigh bank
rupt him. The chances are that
under such circumstances the
president would cut out his trav'
. els almost entirely. Congress
provides an allowance of S2J,OOu
year to pay his travelling eX'
pcnscS; when the president
wants to 90 anywhere he doesn't
have to borrow the money OF
draw on his savings, he simply
uses some of the appropriation
made specially for that purpose
If he desires to relieve the mo
notony of railroad travel by 4
voyage at sea or if he feels in
need of eXhilaration and change
of scene, the presidential yacht
Mayllower. with handsome, pa
| Iatial apartments, and every kline
of convenience. is at his dispose
for as long as he may wish. The
yacht is furnished by the govern
mcnt and all her officers anC
men are paid by the government
as are all the expenses inciden
to her maintenance and opera
ton.
The time was when the whit,
house carriages, horses, coach
men and fOotmen were REGARDED
among the big sights of the cap
ital city, for congress has Ion!
provided the president with {
means for getting about Wash
ingtOn and territory adiaCen
thereto. Now automobiles hay,
taken the places of the coaches
7 and horses; the president anC
his household have ready at thcil
call six automobiles, all higI
powered, high class machines
that have cost the government al
average of about $4,000 each.
The white house. whose fam,
extends to every part of thu
world and which is one of til,
most highly valued possessions %
the United States. could never
he restored as it is if il shoul,
destroyed or materially dam
aged in any way. Consequently
the greatest care is taken tC
preserve il and protect it against
! the ravages Of time and the ele
ments. Every year. some time,
oftcner, it is repainted at the
public expense, only the best ma
/ torials being used, and only the
highest class workmcn being EN-
uloyed to do the work.
Recognizing that il might be
embarrassing for the presidents
wife to have To send ont to the
/ npighbors and borrow a few
dishes if company happened ia
drop in UNEXPECTEDLY for dinner
congress makes provision fOI
supplying each incoming presi
dent with n fresh new outfit of