The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1868-11-17
SPIRIT OF THE PRESS.
EDITORIAL OPINIONS or THE LEADING JOURNALS
UPON CURRENT ToPICs-CoMPILED EVERY
DAY FOR THE EVENING TELEGRAPH.
The President's Salary.

The New York Tines urges an increase of
the annual compensation of our Presidents
from $25, 600 to Sl00, 600. 1t says
1--WE proposed some days ego that the salary
of the President of the United States should be
advanced to what It WAS tifty years ago Nomt
nally, II stsnds now 1t was then. But inpoint
S25 50 Goo is not t. ohehaf II Il be any more tSan
one-quarter, as mu1n at this day as IL was az
the beginning of tue century. Take the cost OF
living now and compare IL with what 1t was
then-take o the relation OF income and expenuI'
ture Bnd compare them with what they men
were-apd IL will at once be apparent that II the
Presidents salary were put at go ,oVV wnen Ine
Government was founded, II ought TO be es-
tablsheJ, TO say the least at 100000 at the pre-
sent time. ,-, -...,,.,
for years been enough, 10 maintain the Presi-
dent in a proper manner. Inc President Is
compelled, by virtue of his position, TO incur
many expenses that are more or less of n
public nature; and as thiEgs now are, he must
either economize in small way upon these, or
else he must lose the advantages which they
are calculated to give to the public business,
the administration, and the country IL is Gus
tomaTy Tor the President, at his discretion and
pleasure, to en- tertain publicly m msmbers of both
houses OF Congress, the members OF the diplo-
matte corps. important foreign personages aud
other visitors, and, in fact, many representa-
tive individuals whom he would never propose
these ~ a things i subtract ultra very largely from the
sum that is intended To go to his own personal
support; and, II ne were to entertain In any
thing like the style common to thousands OF
private citizens in all the great cities of the
out q dollar to supply his own table, but would
soon plunge himself largely In debt"
Comments BY The Tribune.
There is much weight in some Of the con-
siderations adduced by the Times, and we are
newise disposed to belittle them. We admit
that 100000 per annum now would not be
higher salary for our President in 1869 than
1925, 900 was during Washingtons administra
tion, when our total population was but
1000, ,000, the demands of the station far less,
and the purchasing power of money much
greater than at present. In short, we con-
cede, to save time, most Of the Times pre-
misses. Now hear the other side-
The United States owe a gigantic National
Debt. The sum OF 81, 500, 100000, which is
palpable to ALL is supplemented by pension
list OF $25,000,0 900 per annum, by bounties
and claims yet to be adjusted, by annuities to
Indians, etc. etc. We ought to pay not less
than 5000, 900, 600 per annum to meet the
annual interest and reduce the principal of
our debt; while it is not possible to run the
Government at a cost (ipcluding pensions) OF
less than 800 600, 600 more; making $780,
900, 600 in all, whereof nearly half must be
raised by internal taxes. Our choice would be
to raise $400 900, 600 per annum, and pay off
the last fraction of the debt within the next
twenty years or less; but we have not been
able to make members of Congress regard the
matter as we do. Yet We should fearlessly
appeal to the people, if a clear issue could be
vote to be taxed enough to pay of, with fru-
gal management, at least 800, ,000,O 900 of the
principal of the debt per annum.
Now, such payment, or any payment at all
in reduction of the principal of the debt, in
wolves stringent taxation. We ask the people
to bear such taxation, in order to save their
grandchildren from the burden OF huge
debt. They cheerfully respond to the appeal.
But let them see that their heavy taxes do moi
insure a reduction of the debt-that the money
is used up in higher salaries, larger allow
ances, etc., etc.-and their shoulders will ache
and they become restless under the burden.
The Times, we do not forget, proposes that
the Presidents salary alone shall be increased.
But that would prove neither just nor practi-
cable. If the President is to have $l00,00C
per annum, the Heads of Departments should
have not less than $40, 600 each: nay, they
should have $4,000 Your Secretary of State
must sink into mere clerk if the President is
to give sumptuous weekly dinners, while he
must be content with monthly dole of diplo
matic bread and cheese. So, measurably, with
the rest. To give the President 500, 900 and
leave his Cabinet officers to vegetate on $S000
would create more in ustice and heatt-burnine
than it would cure. Our diplomatic salaries
also, would have to be increased.
We are among those who believe that very
considerable reduction of Salaries emoluments
and allowances is practicable and desirable. We
AOlu tudJ tu6 COSI VI COlltCIluR ToV6uuo
for instance, is greater than it need or should
be. We may not be able to point precisely
to the leaks which should be stopped; but W,
expect much, though we have promised little
from General Grants administration in thu
way Of retrenohment and reform. But sup
pose we begin by quadrupling the President
salary, will not the demand for retrenchmen
be paralyzedl VIII not every subordinate
feel and say that it is mean to pare down hi'
5000 or $500 per month, while we put up tn
Presidents allowance from $25, 900 to 500, ,00
per anrum ?
The President is poorly paid. We woul
gladly see him more literally dealt with
There is one, and but one, way in which thi
can be done withont paralyzing the effor
which should be earnestly made to retrenc
the cost of running the Government. Tha
way lies through resumption of specie pay
meutS,