The sun., 1894-09-02

TO the eleemosynnry point in his personal
transactions with the railroad companies.
derives somc color OF probability from his
known practices with regarl TO the use OF
Government property. No President ever
in office has shown less hesitation in
availlng himself privately Of the Ves-
sells, officers, and men maintained at the
public expense for public purposes. II he
wants TO leave Washington to fish, or to
shoot. OF to shake of malaria, or to mediate
he selves upon Government vessel II he
travels AZ far as Jersey City by land at the
expense OF the Pennsylvania Railroad, he
completes his journey by water NJ the
expense Of the United States Treasury.
Vessels belonging to the Government
are ordered hither and thither sole
ly for his personal convenience. Of
ficers OF high rank in the navy are
summoned TO accompany and attend him.
The full ordinary travelling equipment
OF the President Of the United States now
consists Of Government lighthouse tender,
a Government derrick. Government stores
in we know not what variety OF TO what ex-
tent. and a Captain OF the United States
navy as body guard. These facts are
known to everybody; they are not denied
by anybody; and they constitute an un-
blushing and outrageous departure from
the accepted principles OF official prOpriety.
Whether railroad corporations as well as
the Government itself arc the paymasters
of Mr.. CLEvELAND's deadheadism we have
no means Of knowing Certain it IL that
his example in the matter OF appropriating
for selfish and improper purposes the prop
- q ..J C. Il. Ia, xriHa
spread and most tleplorabc influence. Pub
lie servants in less exalted offices are asking
themselves why they, too, should not bene-
fit by their opportunities. 1t was only two
or threc weeks ago that the cutter Fes
senden, whose legitimate function is to
aid in protecting the Government revenues
on the lakes, was ordered to Middle Bass to
take the Solicitor General of the Depart
ment Of Justice and his wife and children
upon q summer pleasure cruise. Cases of
the kind are continually occurring On Fri
day IL was announced from Newport that
the United States naval vessel Dolphin, the
pioneer OF the new American navy, with
Secretary HERBERT and party of friends
on loard had sailed for West Island,
where the Secretary will meet Judge GRAY
and other gentlemen and enjoy little bass
fishing before proceeding further East"
Has the scandal of all this dcadhead bust
ness become SO familiar = fact to the pub
lie mind that people are losing the old
fashioned indignation that such perform
ances used to excite The corrupting ex-
ample from the White House goes far and
fast The Presidents salary is fifty thou.
sand dollars year, with perquisites and
liberal allowances for household expenses.
It would be far better in the future to pay
him even one hundred thousand dollars a
year. with rigid stpulations against dead
headism in any form, il the present rate of
compensation does not allow him to pay his
own way, like other citizens of the republic.
Wcdo not suggest this for Mr.. CLEvELAND's
benefit; there is a constitutional provision
which forbids the increase of Presidents
salary during his term Of Office. But the
precedent which Mr.. CLEVELAND is afford
ing to his successor Is 30 pernicious, that it
may he advisable now to guard against the
possible deadheadism Of the next term.