The advocate., 1890-04-02


DO showed forward into public places, I
recognize that ms ono OF the growing evils In
this Republic, that thors is a tondoncy 10 an
places with men Of wealth 10 the exclusion
of a class OF men In many instancoa much
botter qualified than they.
Thoro IL not man, as was saying, who IL
a member Of tho Cabinet Ia any Depart
mentof this Government but who could earn
more money outside OF II than hs can In Il,
30 say nothing about the great expense which
attaches 10 holding such position.
I do not know whether the present Com
missioner of the General Land Office sought
the position which no holds or not and do
not mean 30 intimate that hs is not entirely
competent TO an 10. do know, however, In
my own experience under this administfa-
tion, that applied 10 gentleman who /
thought was eminently fitted, lust before
this appointment was made a man OF posi-
ton and character as alswyer,an asked him
10 allow me 10 present his name 10 tho
President for tho place, telling him tho
thO SALARY was 5000 year, which thought
u was at the time and no stated 10 me
frankly and freely that he could not afford
10 leave his practice TO take such an Office.
Why, Mr.. President, the man who is Com
missioner of the General Land Office ought
no be an eminent lawyer. He ought not
only 10 DO a good lawyer but he ought 10 b0
"A good executive officer and 30 ID would DO
with our officers In that Department.
To the men who are now getting 9l,9O0 a
year II is proposed TO give $1,000 40 chiefs Of
divisions. Some are now getting $1,000 and
someSi ,8OO and II 10 proposed TO put thom
all on the same plane These men pass up
on questions OF the utmost Importance 10
the people OF tho United States they ad-
iudicato and determine the rights between
the Government and tho people who are
making applications 10 secure homes ON tho
public lands thOy settle controversies bo-
tween contestants FOR public lands they do
what the courts do. The Senator from Ar
kansas talks about the judges In his State.
Why, there are 81 800 clerks In the Interior
Department, nay, $1,000 clerks, who pass
upon more values every year than the entire
supreme court OF the State Of Arkansas. /
am not mistaken when l say that, and thorc
ia one man In the Interior Department, tho
the Secretary of it,who passes either actually
or nominally upon moro values, from which
there In no appeal, than the Supreme Court
Of the United States adiudicates In twelve
months. A Senator near me says ten times
in value. speak advisedly when say that
the interests intrusted 10 the Secretary OF
the Interior, upon which no passes iudiCially,
and from which there is no appeal and no
revision, are greater than all tho interests
passed ON by the Supreme Court, with its
nine judges, and yet he gets a less salary than
any member Of the court,
Mr.. President, tho United States ought 10
pay salaries commemorate with che talent
that they employ. What do the great rail-
road companies pay They pay three times
as much. Twenty-Five thousand dollars q
year is not an unusual salary for the prcsi-
dent Of great railroad corporation. /
know chat men who have occupied import
ant Cabinet positions under the Government
ut $4,000 year, have had offers Of more than
twice that amount made TO them Il thoy
would decline those positions and act as
private attorneys TO some Of these great
corporations
We ought 30 be able 70 call 10 our assist
ancs the best talent in the country and We
ought 10 pay for IL, so that we can get IL
irrespective Of a mans bank account The
people of the United States are not OOm-
planning Of salaries, provided the men who
an the offices are earning the money we pay