The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1872-12-19
The Presidents Salary.

A few days since Hon. N 2. Banks
NJ. G. from Massachusetts,, offered bill
providing for the increase of the salary
of the President of the United States
from S25 900 per aunum to S5C 900 per
year, from aud after the 4th OF March
next. Upon this measure now before
the law making power of the nation, The
press as usual, has been endeavoring to
throw much light by giving the people
and their Representatives in Congress
the benefit of its large experience and
hoary wisdom on such matters of state,
and craftsmanship.
As the matter now stands the ques-
tion of increasing the salary of the chief
magistrate of our great Republic from
half to full pay, or from $4,000 a year
to $780, 900 a year will be thoroughly
ventilated, and all that friend OF foe to
the measure, can say for and against it.,
in Congress and out of Congress will be
said.
This matter of increasing the Presi-
dents salary is no new thing under the
sun with our people, but has been for
some years topic for conversation with
all classes of citizens as general ques-
tion, without reference to party or party
measures. Now that the question is Of
fcia!ly before the nation, to be disposed
of in an official manner foi the time be.
ing. SO again it will be discussed, we
hope as a general measure. In our judg-
meut the Presidents salary should be
increased as provided for in Gen. Banks
bill, and our principal reason is that the
"laborcr is worthy Of his hire" and to
our mind it is clear that the hardest
working, and most responsible officer OF
the nation should receive the largest pay.
1t is conceded on all hands that the la
bors and the responsibilities of the Pres
ideut of the United States are much
greater then that of any official in the
nation, indeed he is the center of all re-
sponsibility. 1t is his duty to soc that
all the affairs of the nation are properly
and proftably conducted, and to carry on
this great work it is his further duty to
select, ana appoint from alnong all the
people more than 10000 persons to
transact our national business, and for the
Slightest official misconduct of any one
or all of these persons he is held respon-
sible by the people. The honor OF the
nation at home and abroad is committed
to him for the time being, and the eyes
of the civilized world are upon him tC
see how well he does his duty in this re-
gard
The chief magistrate of no nation OF
our magnitude has one half the labor or
responsibility attached to their position
and none receive so little compensation
or pay for service. But We are also {
wealthy nation, with resources and richie:
annually developing and increasing anC
can therefore afford TO pay our chic
magistrate fair compensation for the
services he renders to the nation.
1t may be said that the high homo
and dignity of the office is more valuable
than money, and should go to make u
the deficiency in money compensation
Well, that looks pretty on paper
Still it is a noted fact that most men
whether scientific, artistic, philosophic
whether farmer, mechanic, laborer, o
professional, think good deal about tn
profit as we'll as the honor attached t
official station.