Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-03-23
DENAG0GISA NOT STATESAA v
NIP

DEHAG0GIsK NOT STATESMAN
SHIP.
It is worthy of note that among all the confessed
Presidential candidates in the United States Sem
ate. Mr.. Bayard alone had the temerity to vote
against the bill passed In that body for the reduc
ton of the Presidents salary from $4,000 of de-
preciated greenbacks to 5000, the am cunt paid
before the increase for President Grant last term
OF the other gentlemen in the Senate who openly
aspire to the White House, Messrs. Conklng. Lo.
gan, Morton and Thurman, all voted in favor OF
the reduction. Can this mean that all these gen
tlemen have abandoned the hope of getting the
nomination from their respective parties ! Or did
they vote for the reduction under the impression
that such vote will help them in the Conventions
If actuated by the latter motive, Senator Bayard
vote against the reduction is q more honest one,
particularly as we believe some of the gentlemen
now voting for the reduction voted originally for
the increase. President Washington was paid
salary of $25 900 in gold, when dollar had the
purchasing power Of two dollars of greenbacks
now, and when the population of the country was
not onetenth part, nor the property one-twentieth
of what they are now. Cutting down the Presi-
dents salary to really less than half the value OF
money paid to Washington, Adams or Jefferson,
ored. is small business. Either the Senators have
acted the part of demagogues or they are afraid
of the clamor Of demagogues.-CAicago1 tribune.
One of the very ablest and most fear
less Republican newspapers in the coun-
try is the Tribune of Chicago, the editor
in-chlef of which is Hon. JOSEPH MEDILL,
one of the best of our public men. The
above from its columns is a plain state
ment of facts which must have often pressed
themselves on the consideration ofthought-
full and honest citizens. Our Chicago con-
temporary has even understated the case
against the proposed action of Congress
to restore the salary OF the President to
what it was at the time of the establish
ment of the Government. The expenses
of living in Washington now are consid-
erably more than double what they were
at the seat of Government in the days Of
Washington. The following facts are
very suggestive in this connection. In
1889 the Treasury Department was or
ganized with Alexander Hamilton as Sec
rotary, with salary of $500.
Comptroller $4,000
Auditor 1900
Register 1850
Treasurer 1900
Oliver Wolcott, Jr., distinguished cit
izen of Connecticut, was appointed Audi
tor. Before his acceptance of the office he
made proper inquiries of Hon. Oliver Els
worth as to the cost of supporting himself
and family in New York, then the seat of
the National Government. Under the
date of Sept. 18th, 1889. Oliver Ellsworth
writes Mr.. Walcott the following esti-
mates of living expenses
blouse and stable 5000
Oak wood per cord $50
Hay per ton 800
1t is my opinion that you could live
within 81 900 as your family now is
1t is notorious that the above items in
the cost OF living in Washington at the
present time would be on the average
more than four-fold what they were in
1889. In recognition of these facts the
salaries of the Treasury officials, as well
as those Of the other Departments. were
more than doubled many years since.
Now it may not become US to attempt to
teach the distinguished men of the United
States Senate their duties, but our present
purpose is to give historic facts
Much is said by independent and nom
partizan newspapers of the wisdom and
integrity with which English financial
matters are managed. The following fig.
ures touching the salaries of English Off
Gals are suggestive: the Governor Gen
eral of the Canadian Dominion has q
salary of S4s. 667 in gold. The Governor
General of India has 1921 800 and an
allowance additional Of go 900, all in
gold. The Governor of the English Col
ony of New South Wales has salary of
$4,000 in gold; the population which he
governs being 100000. Victoria, with a
population of 100000, has a Governor
whose salary is 49, 600 in gold South
Australia, with a population of 100000,
has an English Governor with salary of
s24,30o in gold. The salary Of the Gov
ernor Of Cape Good Hope. another Eng
lish Colony, with population of Coo, 900,
has salary OF S29 900 in gold,
Most certainly we would not advise
copying the English example of these high
salaries. But there is reason in the most
rigid Republican economy. One thing is
certain--either the patriotic statesmen of
the days of Washington We're highly ex.
travagant and egregiously mistaken when
they fixed the salary at 1925, 900, else those
Congressman who now propose to reduce
It to that sum are towards, or demagogues,
or both. II is to DO seriously doubted