The daily gazette., 1881-01-29
Bayard on Grant.
THE DELAWARE SENATOR IN FA-
voR OF PENsIO MING ALL Ex-
PRESIDENTS.

YoR OF PENSIO MING ALL EX-
PREaDENTs.
]. s. Chambers, Washington cor
respondent of the Philadelphia Rec
ord, had the following in that paper
Of yesterday
When the idea occurred to a num-
Der of gentlemen in the North to
raise fund for the benefit and use
OF ex.President Grant the opinion OF
Senator Bayard, Of Delaware, was
asked. Without consulting any one
he answered by letter in which he
stated his views to the effect that it
would not be proper to maintain an
ex-Cbief Magistrate by private sui
scriptlon, but that he favored the
passage Of bill by Congress which
would give pension to retiring
President equal to about one fourth
OF their salary while in office. This,
he thought, would be no more than
just, and in keeping with the dig
nifty and honor of the country. The
note was addressed to Mr.. Bayard
at the conclusion of the campaign
last fall, and when he was aware
that such law as he proposed could
have no effect upon a Democratic
President, for it is problemaJical
when one will sit in the White
House.
When Senator Logan's bill to
retire General Grant with the rank
of General came up in the Senate
Mr.. Bayard opposed it on the ground
that law should be enacted for all
ex-Presidents. He had not the least
motive for keeping General Grant
out OF. pension, but viewed the
subject from broad and statesman
like standpoint, 80 as to include Mr..
Hayes and General Garfield and
their successors. His proposition
would give the ex-Presidents
$l2, 500 per year for life, while Gen
eral Logan's bill weuld allow Gen.
eral Grant el3,5 500, and made no
provision for those who followed
after him in the same. position
Senator Bayard was not con6ded to
the narrow limits of single iDdi-
vidual, but had the history of the
country as his text. He remembered
that Thomas Jefferson died insol.
vent; that James Monroe died poor,
and that Franklin Pierce and Millard
Fillmore, after filling the Presidential
chair, wero in reduced circumstances.
IL is understood authoritatIvely thai
Mr.. BayAId's views are that the sum VI
S50, 900 per year, which 10 paid Presi-
dent OF the United States, should be ex-
pended by him while in Office, or so
much IS Is necessary to maintain the
dignity Of that position as tie head of q
great nation. He should not be worried
with bis personal expenses, and left in
. quandafy as 10 what he shall do when
be retires. The Supreme Court Jus
ticss are paid $4,000 per year upon re-
tiiement, while President Is compell'
ed oftentimes to engage in business &c
keep his family.
II Is q notorious fact tha Gen. Gar
teld 10 poor man and unless some
provision of this sort is made for him he
will be compelled TO accept some posi-
tion when he retiTes from the White
House four or eight years hence, as the
case may be. The Gock Of visitors be
is at present entertaining at Mentor has
made heavy drains upon his purse, and
unless aid come from some quarter be
will by financially crippled in four years
The trouble is that the loye for Grant
is overshadowed by the dislike for
Hayes, aud the formers friends do not
desire the latter TO participate in any
such fund as Senator Bayard proposes
These views OF the Senator from Della
ware were known two months ago by
the same persons who nov seek to d,-
stIoy bis character and question his hon.
esty Of purpose. But the motive ID
plain. At least Mr.. Bayard's friend,
think so.
If bill Is not passed at the present
session giving Gen. Graut and all X
Presidents a good retiring income ol
$12,500, Sic, 900 Or $4,000 If they SC
desire, 1t will be the fault of The "stal
wart" wing of the Republican party,
who are laboring to keep President
Hayes from its benefits.
Senator Btyard opposes the reti E.
ment OF ex-President Grant as Gen.
eral, because IL would interfere with
others now in the army who have main-
Iained their relations while he sought
the Chief Magstracy, and should be
honored from that standpoint, which i,
much higher one to the people al
large.