New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-02-15
PLACES FOR EX-PRESLDENTS.
ON A HALF-PAY RETIRED LIST.
MR. W. o. sToDDARD OUTLINES SUCH A PLAN
COMMANDERS IN-CHIEF ON THE Re-
TIRED LIST FOR LIFE

MIR. W. o. sToDDARD OUTLINES SUCH A PLAN
COMMANDERS IN-CHIEF ON THE Re-
TIRED LIST FOR LIFE.
TOT EGktor oJThe Tribune
Sir: Public attention has recently been aslrd 10
subject which I studied while writing my Lives OF
the Prcsidents7 and I beg permission TO offer D
practical suggestion IN the form Of the substance Oh
letter Which recently addressed to the lion Johh
Sherman.
When the Nation takes one Of its most capable ana
successful! men out OF his moncy-mahng groove IN
life. professional otherwise and deliberately maA's
an ex-Presdent Of him. The Nation thereby incurs
responsibility for the support Of that man duiins
MS entire life term Of service as such ex-PrcsideH'
Thus far only the duty Of providing him with quar-
ters. allowances and pay while in active service a.
President has been duly recognized BIZ statup-iS"'
The consequences, as you are well aware, nave u
several instances been deplorable-a lasting siam
upon the honor Of the American people. Otler SUI
liar stains have been nominaIy escaped only by reA
son Of the fact that many Of our Presidents nave
been men OF fair private fortune Perhaps, after AL
the Nation is not entitled TO any selfcongratulauOh
over the fact thai Jaloes Buchanan, for instance
possessed more property in his old age than Gu
Thomas Jefferson or poor, broken-spirted james
Monroe.
II has been suggested by eminent authority that
an ex-Presdent should be made a life member OF the
If he could. by any possibility. escape from his re-
lations TO his own state or party, or cease 10
act and be popularity regarded as te
representative Of either OF boll
Perhaps tina idea can best be disposed of by illus
uation. Imagine, II you viii, the Senate in the OUT
break Of the Civil War; 10 have contained Buchanan
Fillmore Pierce. Tyler and Van Buren, New-forK
would have had four Senators, two Of them not repre-
sen,lng the current will of the state; Pennsylvania
three Virginia, three. acting not acting; New
Hampshlre three. What absence Of political response
bity on the part Of these five Senator's large ana
vet what might not have the resulting variation
In the legislative action Of the day Believing that
there can be danger Of the senate Itself asserting
TO such fundamental change In It's organic structure
will turn from considering that incongruous inveh
ton and offer what seems me a simple solution Of
the problem.
The President Of the United States exercises pre-
eminent civil functions, executive, legislative. lu-
dica but ne is especially designated in the Consttu
ton as the Chief Of the armed forces OF
the Nation. He is General Of the Army and he is Al
miral Of the Navy. At the close Of his lawful term
Of active service he is entitled be retired with half
pay of his grade as Commandern-Chief as President
If again at any time recalled 70 active service IN
the same grade the operation Of the law would but
repca; itself at the end Of the added term Of duly
| surely It is not right that the Commandments
! Chief Of the Army and Navy Of the Republic
| should be excepted from the decent hberali'y
| which provides for the retirement upon halipay
| OF the many officers serving under him. The lac'
| that he performs civil functions need not confuse
the matter for must Of them, as our history
| witnesses.
In several marked instances the people have fell
! the sting Of an evident dishonesty and dishonor
sufficiently TO make liberal provision b- subscn9 uoh.
In the case Of President Grant. however, oiiHu
step was made right direction by appointing him
2 general Of the Army the retired list He should
have been al the time a President on the retired
| list.
We have now only one President, and Rutherford
p. HAYES. man Of moderate fortune, has added
nobly TO his official record by The admirable Industry
| ability and usefulness which have distinguished Ills
wears Of retirement from the public service II Is
not pleasant. however. 70 consider the very dHere
reward rendered him, tacy, as 70 his predecessors
by the National neglect 70 provide for It's expresdonts
Entering the Army in 1861, finishing his Presidential
work in ISL he could not well have returned to the
practice Of the law after twenty years Of absence
from IT, He was accorded his subsequent usefulness
and the National neglect yelled by the testament
Of sariis Birchard.
President Cleveland is not poor but he returns to
his profession after only years Of absence al
ITccess some fiturs Chief Magistrate may not
take into private life so great degree OF poui!y
The lew da. remaining to this Congress contain
remarkable opportunity. The incoming President !
! Republican: tie incoming Congress is Republican J
| is 4 Democratic President who Is going out. and 4'
! could without hesitation approve and sign Oil II
the PREMISE gracefully rendered MN ~ ne Opposluoh
unless indeed a joint resolution could De devised Z
| cover thu ground without hs signature. An nfica
| ton Of the manner in which the propose
provision would be regarded by other nations
| may perhaps be obtained from the fact ina
| ex President Grant was received II spain WIN
ceremonial honors due " a captain General. on tn
ground that a. President, he had been Commanderln
| Chief
! Earnestly desiring TO see the removal Of wha
| seems 10 bot upon the good name OF the kepuD
| lie. / am, yours re- Qccuuly. W. y. sIODDARD.
| Hampstead, l. l.. Feb II, l-c9.
SPLIT on THE LOCAL OPTION ROCK