The Houma courier. (Houma, La.) 1878-1939, 1896-11-14
CANNOT SAVE A FORTUNE
Presidents of This Republic Are
Net Wen Remunerated
They Have Expenses Which HOWIers for
Economy DO Not Take Into Com
sideration-How Our Affairs
Are Administered.
[special waehinnton Letterl

L0E1SAaA W 1AAAA AOAA AChACA
The plain people of this republic are
about to confer upon William Mckinley,
of Ohio, or upon William Jennings Bry-
an, OF Nebraska, the highest Office with
in their gift-that of president of the
United States. 1t will be pertinent for
a moment to glance at this office, its
duties and emoluments. There are up
wards of 100000 citizens of the re-
public, and only one of them can at any
enc time hold the chief executive Office.
There r three great branches of u
government, the legislative, the exec
utive and the judicial. The legislative
branch consists of 356 representatives,
who are elected every two years, and 90
senator's, who are elected for terms of
six years each. There are As states,
and each state is entitled to two sena-
tors, making a total of so senator's.
The congress constitutes the legislative
branch of the government, and consists
of the house of representatives and the
senate. In the south wing of the cap
itol the house of representatives assem-
bles, and In the north wing of the cap
itol the senate assemblies. These two
gatherings of statesmen originate all
of our laws; but they must have the APP
proval of the president before they be-
come of force. 1t is the duty of the
president to execute the laws, and he
is the chief executive. 1t is the duty of
the supreme court, consisting of nine
Judges who serve for life, to interpret
the laws. Any law which passes both
houses of congress and is approved by
the president, takes effect at once. But,
if the law shall be taken before the
supreme court for its opinion, and the
court decides that the law is not in ac-
cordance with the constitution, they
call it unconstitutional, and thereafter
that law ceases to be a law, and cannot
be enforced.
Thus the three branches of our gov
eminent consist of the congress of 446
senators and representatives as the
legislative branch; the president, who
is only one man, constitutes the exec
utive; and the supreme court, ccmpris-
ing nine men, constitutes the judicial
branch; and all three of these branches
of the government must work in har-
mony or there would be anarchy.
On next election day the people will
elect a president and vice president; and
also $50 representatives, commonly
called members of congress. They will
also elect state legislatures, and those
legislatures will elect senators to go
to congress to fill vacancies. Accord
ing to the constitution one-third of all
the senators must be elected every two
years, although each senator is elected
for a term of six years. Consequently,
the coming elections are of vast inn
portance.
The supreme court is made up of nine
judges who are not elected by the peo-
pie. The president appoints the judges
for the supreme court, with the consent
Of the. senate; and no judge can serve
who. is not confirmed in his position by
the senate. Each of these nine judges,
including the chief justice, is appoint
ed for life. Consequently they are far
removed from the plain people. The
founders of this government deemed it
wise to SO constitute the supreme court,
in order that those learned lawyers may
be entirely free from the passions of
passing events; so that they might be
apiS " ASAuSH r4SuCeouSJ Judgment IN all
cases. AS a general thing, the iudg-
ments of the supreme court have justi-
fed the wisdom of the trainers of the
constitution.
The senators and representatives each
receive a salary of $4,000 per annum.
They are also paid ten cents per mile
in going to Washington and returning
to their homes. This is intended to
cover all of their travelling expenses.