The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1920-07-16
A DESIRABLE OFFICE

ana gets out ana huSJleS until ne gets /
it or loses all chance of getting it.
Governor Cox took this attitude at |
San Francisco and was rewarded. Mr.. I
McAdoo took the opposite stand. He
said he did not want the nomination, |
and for awhile it looked as though he
might decline it il it was offered. He
now can declare with a fair appear |
ance of reasonableness that he was
not a candidate When Mr.. McAdoo |
left the Wilson administration he an |
nounced that he could not offer to |
gerve his country any longer at the
salary paid cabinet minister. He
intimated later on that he could ac-
cept the presidency for the same rea-
son. But such reason is not alto
gether creditable to Mr.. McAdoo. 1t
makes him out rather grasping. 1t
has been estimated that a president |
can save $50, 1000 year out of his sal
airy, or 100000 for the four years
In addition, he lives like prince.
Surely the recompense is not so in
significant that it has no attractions
to a candidate for the Office. More
he has any literary gifts at all, can
make a small fortune after he re-
tires.
A former secretary to an American
president points out that while no
doubt there are many men who can
earn privately more than the presi-
dent of the United States is paid, still
- &<rs 10
retire a poor man. In the first place
he has an annual income of $4,000,
with an additional $4,000 for trav-
cling allowance. It may be added
that none of the presidents of the
United States ever spent $4,000 a
year in travelling. President Wilson
spent more than any of them, per-
lhaps, on his trip to Europe. In the
first place, he crossed the ocean on a
government ship, and we do not sup
pose he paid for much aboard. In
Europe it is not likely that he had to
pay for his railway tickets; it is not
likely that he paid rent. To have in
sisted upon this would have been ali
ungracious thing to the nations that
were only too proud to receive him as
a guest. Moreover. the United States
government made generous extra al
lowance for the presidents visit
abroad. We would suppose that most
of what the president spent would be
in the nature of gifts of various kinds.
When president travels at home,
his position makes it impossible for
him to stay at hotel. He goes al
ways to the home of some personal or
political friend, and if he makes d
slight offering to the servants of the
house this is about as much as it is
necessary for him to do. Needless
to say he pays no rent for the White
House. and private individual wish
ing to live in equal style would have
to spend quite 100000 a year that
the president is exempt from. The
government pays for the large staff
of servants in the White House. Only
the personal staff of the president is
paid by himself. and usually this staff
consists of four or five, including a
cook and couple of maids. When
the president or his wife wants some
repairs made on the house, or some
new furnishings. or when somebody
drops plate or cracks joke, it is
not necessary that he should stand
any of the consequences. All he has
to do is to mention the matter to the
superintendent of public buildings
and grounds and if necessary the
whole place will be refurnished from
top to bottom.
His automobiles cost a private citi-
zen a lot of money if he desires to
live in the style of president. Au-
Itomobiles cost the president nothing.
Neither do horses. He does not even
pay for gasoline or oil or chauffeurs.
liz the president desires to do to the
Itheater or opera, he walks into the
private box that is always reserved
for him and his family at every the
ater in Washington. At every con-
cert or other amusement he is a well
come guest. the management realiz-
ling that his presence in the house is
likely to attract a larger audience.
lShould he evince morbid desire to
go out and watch the Washington
baseball team play game, he again
lenters private box. Then should he
desire to cruise on yacht, there is
THE fine government cruiser May
flower kept for his especial USE It
Icosts him not cent except for mis-
food. A private citizen would be set
back perhaps the amount of the
whole presidential salary to keep a
yacht like the Mayffower in commits
lsion.
The president of the United States
is an honorary member of all the
clubs around Washington He has to
pay no taxes at all, the supreme
lcourt having decided that his salary
lis exempt. Then what does a presi-
ldent spend his money on? Chiefly on
his clothing and his food, and the
food of his private attendants, the
-four or five servants whose wages he
lis responsible for. AS the former Sec
lretary observes, 1.-THE presidents per-
Isonal clothing bill is not large. A
man of sufficient intelligence to be
president is not fop. Furthermore,
he has passed the fop age" A few
Igood suits of clothes are all he re-
Iquires and even these are kept press
led and in good condition by a valet
maid by the government. Therefore