Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1898-09-16
OFFICIAL DIGNITY,
If $1,000 Will Not Maintain IT..
Neither Will $25,OOO.

The retirement of Mr.. Day from
the office of Secretary oi State on the
express ground that he is not rich
enough to maintain the social pres
tige OF the position, affords Il striking
illustration of the extent to which
aShlngton society has driitcd away
from the Jacksonian simplicity OF its
early days. 1t is likely it will also tend
toward movement increasing the
salaries of members of the cabinet
says the San Francisco Call.
1t was clearly the intention of the
founders OF our government that the
highest offices should be not only
within the reach OF the poorest citizen,
but that they should carry with them
salaries large enough to admit of their
acceptance by men who had no priv
ate fortunes. The fathers of the re-
republic, however, expected Washing
ton society to continue on a plane Of
Republican simplicity of manners and
living. 1t was not forcseen by them
that social leaders at the capital
would ape the customs of London and
Paris and that State officials would be
required TO live like princes.
A member of the cabinet receives
SIS, 600 year. The law does not re-
quirc him to maintain anything in
the way of social state. He may live
at 4 hotel or in a modest flat if he
chooses. Neither does the sentiment
of the country at large require him to
keep q mansion, carriage and q
retinue of servants. 1t asks of him no
elaborate dinners and no grand re-
ceptions. In fact, it does not require
OF cabinet minister as much in the
way of hospitality as it does OF the
Governor of n State. Clearly, there
fore, there is nothing in the condi-
tions of the office that necessarily en-
tail u lavish way of living, and if there
is Il demand for that sort of thing the
demand is fictitious one, created
solely by Washington society itself.
1t is to be regretted that any Ameri-
can should feel himself debarred from
the service of the nation by the lack
OF private fortune. It will be bad
day for this country when, by reason
of our social customs, none but the
rich can afford to hold high offices at
Washington. That fact is recognized
at the capital itself, and it is for this
reason some papers there are now
busily engaged in creating a senti.
ment favorable to an increase OF salar.
les. Their idea is that since our So
ciety has advanced to the style of liv-
ing at imperial capitals the salaries
paid by the government should also
be imperial.
The members of the British cabinet
receive $4,000 year. They main
tain stately homes in London and
entertain on grand scale. Washing
ton people would like that style adopt.
ed by us. 1t would enliven Wash
fngton winters and help Washington
trade. Incidentally it would boom
Washington real estate by making the
city desirable place OF residence foi
the rich as the social center of the
nation.
There are, however, serious objec
tions to the plan proposed. A raise
in salaries under prevailing conditions
would simply mean raise in the gen.
eral style of living, and ere long there
would be demand for another raise
Even with salary of $25 600 a year
no man without private fortune can
maintain the position Of cabinet
minister in London. Social prestige
is like an open poker game-there is
no limit to the amount of the raise.
Any man who has the moral cour-
age to defy the demands of luxur-
ious society dominated 10y idlers can
live in Washington, perform all the
duties of q cabinet officer and save
money on $4,000 year and a man
who lacks that quality ought not to
be Secretary of State. This is rich
country, but it would be better to vote
more money for river Improvements
than for dinner-giving and grand re-
ceptions ut Washington.