The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-05-06
DOES IT PAY TO
BE president
The. United States, all Reports to the
Contrary, Pays Her Executive
Remarkably Well.

Presidents salary brings TO light the
fact that. though he undoubtedly needs
more money, he is one of the best-paid
of all the executives in the world, senst-
tional rumors to the contrary not"ttih-
standing. The salary was purposeiy
made small in George Washington 'line'
at the suggestion of the revered Father
Of His Country, for Washington 1ele 'iiae
the money ought not to be su1ncieiie %
make the Office a desirable one from
moneyed standpoint; so he took parucu-
lar care to see that the sum was placed
so low that no desirable man "oulo
forsake a position of high standing iot
that of the Executive ofhce- NOW II
years sounds very fine. And hne II Wou.o
be If the President could spend IL In
his own way, or save it at will Could
President Mckinley live in his little house
in Canton. and receive his pay as Presf-
dent, of nearly s1,o00 per week. ne would
find himself able to amass a fortune IN
a short time If he We're frugally
inclined he could live on $1,000 a year
and save $4,000 the remainder.
Unfortunately, however, from the stand
noint of his pocket, the President can
do nothing of the sort. He must live
in Washirgton: and he must reside in the
mansion which the Government provides
for him. Some money is given to him
for such necessary servants as are daily.
used in the interests of the Government,
but this is little. It must be remembered
that the White House is also the Presi-
dents official place of business, and here
the offices must be maintained. and
tickers, telephones and messengers may
be used at all hours OF the day aht
night.
TAKES EVERY CENT.
It is asserted by those VINO have been
in the Presidents boots THAT it takes
every cent paid by the Government to
1naintain the style necessary 10 the
White House. The calls and dinners OF
.,ate and courtesy, outside Of the 6tplo-
matte dinners, are SO numerous and Oh
sucl importance that the Presidents
income merits away like wine before the
crrkscrew The mere matter OF pre-
v.dlne tne diplomats with drink wcrthy
their taste is a serious one; not 10 more
than hint at the great number Of foreign
visitors who must be entertained. hallcy
the calls upon the Presidents Purse IN
social and other ways. and tner you can
get some faint idea Of the expenditure
to which he is compelled to CO.
Besides this point, there is another,
that is even more worthy of considera-
ton It is seldom that q retiring PTesl-
dent has money enough 10 live upon:
and the nation is treated TO the spectacle
of an ex-President hard at work in an
Office when honor should seem TO demand
that he be kept in comfort the rest OF
mis- life.
Yet the executives of other countries
are not so very well paid. an exhaust
i've examination has been made of the
political pay-rolls Of the civilized globe,
with the following interesting results:
SO far as payments In hard cash go,
the brawny burghers of the TranSvaal
are decidedly the best off. Quite
recently the Boer Parliament increased
the salaries of its members to 5000
year for each Individual. as they can
very easily afford to do, when one
remembers the big tay-toi!s which the
unfranchised Uitlanders are compelled to
pay. But in actual emoluments the
United States senator probably receives
better reward. He is allowed mileage
and numerous minor fees and privileges,
which swell his annual Income materially
over its nominal $1,000.
Great Britain. as every student Knows,
gives her members of Parliament TO
salaries, although Government officials
for the first time are royalty paid. The
First Lord of the Treasury receives
SOS, 900, as also do the Foreign. Home,
Colonial, Indian and War secretaries.
The Lord Chancellor receives $4,000 per,
annu1n. But for the NJ. 2. who does
not hold office thefe is naus,ht save honor.
Even the old privilege of not being
liable to arrest for debt while an NJ. P.
has been abolished
BRITISH COLONIES.
The British colonies however, do not
follow the example of the mother coun-
try New South Wales and Victoria.
allow their NJ. P.'s sl.509 Per annum;
Canada and South Australia 81 900, with
an additional mileage rate for the for
mer and Queensland $3.50, with mileage.
New Zealand representatives get Sl."0o
France gives its Senators and Deputies
1S00, but there is a string to this
salary, which might be tried elsewsc."-
in Vienna, for instance-with good effects.
ANY member wno is twice called to order
during a sitting forfeits half his salary
for two weeks. Cases exist where GER
tain fiery French Deputies have lost their
entire years allowance in this manner.
Belgium, while it grants members of
the Representatives. chamber $500 4 year
and passes on the railroads, c..-io;is'y
enough. makes its senators work for
nothing and pay their own travelling
expenses.
In the realms of the little Queen Of
Holland members of the Uppec- HoIse
are paid sum equal to about 81 per
diem for each session, but. since t!Iey
SGly meet OIL Thirty or luiEiy-IWO udSS
OF the year, they can scarcely De said to
clear much. In the Second Chamber
$3.50 per annum, with a travelling grant
of Just over shilling for every hour
spent on the railroad. are the allowances.
Absentee Dutch law-gfyers forfeit their
salaries whether their absence be caused
by illness or not.
The new japanese Parliamentary Con-
stftution compels each and every member
of the national Parliament to draw
annually from the Treasury about 1913.
ANY member of the aristocratic classes
refusing to accept this salary, through
pride or other reasons. is subject to fine
and. dismissal. by the Parliamentary rules
of 1890
Portugal is niggardly with Its represen-
tatives, giving them only $3.50. and
Norway pays members from $3.50 to s4Go,
according to the length OF the session.
In Sweden members of the Upper
House serve absolutely for patriotism.
while the Lower Chamber members are
only given $3.50. Moreover. $3.50 IS
deducted for non-attendance. Even the
unpaid Upper House is fined for absen-
teeism, although its members get
nothing-not even train fares.