New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1868-11-16
THE pRESyDENTS SALARY.

THE IHLSl(It-N1 , rtLdI.
The n T. Times urges an increase OF the
annual compensation of our Presidents from
$4,000 to 100000. 1t says:
owe proposed some days ago that the salary OF the
President OF tho United states should be advanced 10
what it was 80 Years ago Nominallyt stands now az II
WAC then But in point OF facthat 49, point of purchas
ing 900 ia not onehalf II it be any moro than
oneouarer rs much at this day as 1t was at the Degh
ming OF the century Take the cost OF living now ana
COMPARE it with what it thcn-take the relation OF
income and expenditure now and compare them with
what they then were-and it will at once be apparent
that IL the Presidents salary were put ut $4,000 when
the Government was founded 1t ought to be established
to say the least at 100000 at the present time.
The existing rate enough and has not for years
been enough to maintain the President IN proper man
ner The President compelled, BY virtue OF his posi-
ton 20 incur many expenses that are, more or IeS OF
public nature and as things now are, he must either
economze In small way, upon these or else Inc must
lose the advantages which they are calculated give 10
the public business, the administration, ana the country.
II customary for tho President at his discretion ana
pleasure to entertain publicly members OF DOth HOUSES
Of Congress the members of the diplomatic corps, I'M
porant foreign personages and other visitors anu iae
many representative individuals whom he would never
propose to invite TO his table as private gentleman
These things subtract worry largely from tho sum that
intended to 20 70 his personal support ana II bo
were TO entertain anything Ike the style common 10
Thousands OF private citizens IN all The great cities OF the
country he would not only 6nd himself without dollar
IN sIrry his own table but would plunge himself
largely IN debt"
Comments By THE Tribune
There is much weight IN some OF the cOnsid-
e,at:ons addutod by Tie Times, and we are
no,yjse disp0sed TO bciittlc them We admit
that 100000 per annUm now would not DC
higher salary for our President III 1863 than
:25, 900 was during Washington'3 Administia-
ton. when our total population was but -Four
Millions. the demands of the station far less and
the purchasing power OF money much greater
than at present. In short. We concede to
save time, most Of The Iiucs5 premises. Now
hear the other side
The United States owe n gigantic National
Debt. The sum Of 32.5OO.OO1.O0O. which is pal
pablo to all, is supplemented by a Pension List
of $2j.OO0,OJO per anuum, by Bountcs and
Claims yet TO be adjusted, by annuities to
Indians. &c, &c We ought 10 pay not less
than S2OOOOO0O0 PEI aunum To meet the annual
interest and reduce the principal of our Debt;
while il is not possible 10 run the Government
at a cost incud;ng Pensions of less than
$780, 900 more; making &oOOOOO,OOO IN all
whereof nearly hall must be raised by Internal
Taxes oar choice would he 10 raise S4OO,0OOOO
per annum, aud pay oil the last friction OF The
Debt within the next 'wcnty years on less; but
we have not been able % make Members OF
Congress regard the natter as we do. Yet we
should feallessy appeal TO the People, II clear
issue could be made, iu the confident hope that
they would vote 10 be taxed enough To pay OF,
with frugal management at least SlolOJ1OO
Of tie principal of the Debt per aunum.
| Now, such payment. OF any payment at all
in reduction Of the principal Of the Debt
/ involves stringent taxation. We ask the people
/ 10 bear such taxation. in order To save thcit
! Grandchildren from the harden oil q huge Debt.
! They chcerluly respond TO the appeal. But
| let them see that their heavy taxes do not IN
| sure A reduction of the Dcbt-that the money
is used up in higher salaries. laiSer allow
anccs, &c. &c-and their shoulders will ache
and they become restless under the burden.
The Times Wa do not forget. proposes that
the Presidents salary alone shall bc increased.
But that would prove neither just nor rrGctl-
cable. II the President is TO have 100000 per
annum, the Heads Of Departments should have
not less than $4,000 each. nay they should
have $4,000 Your Secretary Of State must
sink into mere clerk If the President is to
be content with monthly dole Of diplomatic
bread and cheese. So, mcasugably, with the
rest. To give the President 10000 and leave
his Cabinet officers 20 yegctl;e on $1,000, would
create more injustice and leart-burning than
it would cure Our Diplomatic salaries, also,
would have 20 be increased.
We are among those who believed that n very
considerable reduction of salaries, emolumenis,
and allowancesiis practicable and desirable. We
hold that the cost Of collecting our Revenue for
instance. is greater than 1t need Or should be.
We may not be able 70 point precisely to Che
leaks which should be stopped; but we expect
much. though we have promised little. from
Gen. Grants Administration in the way of
Rctrenchment aud Reform. But suppose we
begin by quadrupling the Presidents salary.
will not the demand for Retrenchment be
paralyzed7 win not every subordinate feel
and say that il is mean TO pare down his
$500 to $500 per month, while we put up the
Presidents allowance from $4,000 to 100000
per annumf
The President is poorly paid We would
gladly see him moro literally dealt with There
is one, and but one, way in which this can be
done without paralyzing the effort which should
be earnestly made To retrench the cost of run
ming the Government. That way lies through
Il Resumption of Specie Payments.
----------
TIE FERRY ACCIDENT