The New Orleans crescent. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1866-1869, 1868-11-26
TIE PREsIDENTs SALARY.

The New York papers have been discussing
recently the proposition to increase the Presi-
dents salary to 100000. To give Gen.
Grant the benefit of the increase it must be
voted by Congress before his Inauguration, as
the Constitution expressly provides that the
Presidents compensation shall not be raised
or diminished during his term of service.
The spirit of this prohibition would be vio-
lated, however, almost as fagrantly by the
proposed act between the election and the in
stallation of Grant, as it would be by adding to
his remuneration during his term. The pur-
pose of the Constitution was that Congress,
in either reducing or augmenting the pay of
the executive Office, should proceed wholly
in the dark as to the incumbent who would
be affected by the act so that legislation on
this subject should not, by any possibility,
have the effect of bribing or furnishing a
President. The New York Times, the first to
breach the proposition, speaks of it as emil
nently Just and opportune, because of the
glazing insuficiency of the present salary, as
measured by increased expenses of living, and
because, if not adopted at the coming session
Of Congress, it will be too late to give the in
coming President the benefit of its adoption.
But would it not have been still more oppor-
tune, and quite as just, and altogether free
from constitutional objection, had it been
urged upon the attention of Congress
at the last session? Why did the Times not
think of the deplorable niggardliness of the
presidential salary then To be sure, it was
not positively certain that Grant would be the
next President. But is not an inadequate
compensation as unjust for a Democratic Pre-
sident as for Republican President? We
knew that the country had enjoyed at terri
BILE cost the luxury of being governed by the
Republican party, but we were not aware that,
man for man, the essential expensiveness of
Republican functionary was greater than that
of a Democratic functionary by as much as
500 900 exceeds SOS, 0O0 But, according to
the argument of the Times, the difference is
precisely seventy-ive per cent, and in that
proportion the country would save by getting
rid of the Republican "e0;'nS root and
branch.
The fact is, however, that the Presidents
Remuneration is not necessarily insufficient.
Mr.. Lincoln saved $4,000 out of his salary,
and it is said that Mr. johnson will save about
as much. 1t depends altogether upon the
plan and theory of life pursued at the White
House. If strict republican simplicity pre-
vailed, much less than s25, 600, along with
house and furniture free, would be adequate
If the President held court in his mansion on
scale even Instantly approaching the style
observed by royal and imperial heads of gov
eminent in Europe, $500, 900 would be mig.
gardly allowance for his annual expenses
Hence, the proposed increase of salary is either
unreasonably great or absurdly small. Unless
the next administration is going to be impe-
rial in respect to household appointment and
entertainment state displays and personal
| expenditures, there is no occasion whatever
| for the measure. On the other hand, if it is
to be of that character, then 81, 600, 900 year
| will not be too much for Congress to appro-
pirate to maintaining the court of Washing
ton at the due standard of magnifcence.