New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-12-21

ulation 10 greater She buys more Of others
because the greater diversifcation Of her In
dustry enables her to produce far more at
home. And if Tennessee were henceforth TO
add Twenty Millions worth of Metals, Wares
and Fabrics to her present aggregate annual
product, she would bug relatively less but aoso-
lutey more from others than she does at pres
ent She would consume more and pay more,
but owe less and depend less on others than she
now does. But the Public Revenue is not in
good part devoted, as it should to great Ma
tional Works; wherefore, in spite of fragrant
prodigalty in our Judicial, Congressional and
still mere in our Military expenditures, we are
threatened with an increase of salaries and
general extension of expenditure in the Exec
utive and Diplomatic departments. The fol-
lowing projects are now in process OF incuba-
ton at Washington and may be expected to
fasten themselves on the General Appropria-
ton bill at the heel Of the Session, viz:
/. An increase of the Presidents salary TO
$4,000;
.. The construction of permanent residences
for the Vice President and Heads of Depart
ments;
3. An increase of the Secretaries salaries
ard
A. An increase Of the salaries of our En-
bassadors and Charges abroad.
Let us look at these in their order:
The President of the United States is now
one of the best paid functionaries in the land.
Though his allowance is nOminally but S25 900
per annum. it is really much more than that.
In the first place, he has spacious aud COM
modous mansion provided and furnished at
the public expense. Then he has son or
other dependent well salaried as a Private
Secretary, and another as Secretary to sign
Land Warrants. Then he has fine vegetable
garden provided and worked at the public ex-
pense, while the products go to supply his
table. Nearly every President has made money
out of the Office, and every one might have
done scat least, since the White House was
built and furnished at the Nations cost.
Nearly every President goes into the Office
poor and accustomed to frugality, while every
one can carry away $4,000 at the end of his
term if he be provident and transformations.
Ga his salary Of $4,000, President is not
expected to entertain extensively, and never
will be. His Cabinet and the Diplomatic
corps are his only habitual guests if he invites
the Members of Congress in rotation twice
during the long and once during the short Ses-
sion, he does as much as can be expected of
him. His leyees are unpretendng and unex.
pensive, without guzzling or gormandizing
But double his salary, and he will be expected
to feed and soak the legions of oflice-seekers,
caim-sgents, cOntract-bOrers and oilers who
inhict themselves ON Washington every winter,
and whose numbers will be greatly increased
by the fact that they have prospect of free
feeding at the White House. Whatever else
may be done, We trust the Presidents salary
may be let alone. 1t is amply sufficient, and o
standing rebuke to the crowned robbers who
suck the life-bOod from the Nations of the
Old World, booming the weaker sex to dis
torting labor in the fields and on the highways
that they may reyel in wasteful luxury.
g As to building houses for the Vice-Pres-
dent and Heads Of Departments, we could
stand that, if the cost were sure TO be kept
within reasonable limits With the under
standing that each functionary should furnish
for himself, we would not object to an outlay
Of S25 COO each, or $4,000 in all, TO build
cOmmodious dwellings for the Vice-President
and seven Cabinet Officers. We apprehend
however, should the building be sanctioned by
Congress, that the expense of each house
would be swelled to $4,000, if not more, before
completion; and then Congress would be i'm
portuned to furnish each edfce quadrcnnialy,
on the representation that il would require at
least the first years salary to furnish each
Minister'S house in style BETTING its extent
end spleneor. On the whole, therefore, we are
inclined to say with Hamlet-we would
Rather bear tsose Ills we have
Than iiy 10 others that we know not Of
3. The Viee-President is the walking gentle.
man of the Washington play, and is very well
paid at present. So is the Attorney General
SO, in fact, are all the Cabinet but the Score.
tary of State. His duties are not particularly
arduous; but he is obliged to entertain the
Diplomatic corps, and ought to be able do itr re.
specially. We should be willing to see his
salary increased to $4,000 if it could be
without drawing after ii an increase OF other
salaries otherwise not
a. As to our Diplomatists abroad, they ces.
far too much already, and every effort to in.
crease their salaries should be inaexibly re-.
sisted. We did favor the idea of equalizing
them, in view Of the greater cost of Gxinn in