The Savannah morning news., 1900-07-25
OFFICERS ARE WE'LL PAID.
Uncle sa ma Is One of the Most Liberal
of Paymnsters.
From the Pittsburg Post.

From the Pittsburg Post.
The movement on foot to increase the
Presidents salary brings to light the fact
that though he undoubtedly needs more
money, he is one of the best paid of an
the executives in the world, sensational
rumors to the contrary Notwithstanding.
The salary was purposely made small In
George Washington's time at the sugses-
ton of the revered father of his country.
for Washington felt that the money ought
not to be sufficient to make the office
desirable one from a moneyed standpoint;
so he took particular care TO see that the
sum was placed so low that no desirable
man would forsake position of high
standing for that of tho executive office.
Now 1t is $4,000 a year and that sum for
four years sounds very fine. And fine IL
would be if the President could spend 1t
in his own way or save it at will. Could
President Mckinley live in his little house
in Canton and receive his pay as President
of nearly 81 900 a week he would soon find
himself able to smass fortune in a short
time. If ne were frugally inclined he
could live on 81 COO a year and save $490
the remainder.
Presidents Expenses Heavy.
Unfortunately. however from the stand
nothing of the sort. He must live in
Washing ton; 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
tie White House is also the Presidents
Official place Of business. and here the
offices must be maintained and the tick
telHnhONeG ma
used at all hours of the day and night.
1t is asserted by these who have been
in the Pre- s'dent's boots that 1t takes every
cent raid by the government to meintain
the style necessary for The White House.
The calls and dinners of state and court
esy, outside of the diplomatic dinners are
so numerous and of such impor lance that
the Pre- si5ent's income melts away Ike
wine before the corkscrew The mere mat
ter of providing the diplomats with drink,
worthy of their taste, Is a serious one;
not to more than hint at a great number
Of foreign visitors who must be entertain
ed. Fancy the calls upon the Presidents
purse in social ard other ways and then
YOU can get some faint idea of the ex-
penditure to which he is compelled to go.
Besides this point there is another that
Is even more worthy of consid Grafton. II
Is seldom that a retiring President has
money enough 10 live upon; and the ma
ton 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 tie rest of his life.
other Nations Pay BETTER.
Yet the executives OF other countries are
not so very well paid. An exhaustive tx
animation has been made of the political
ray rolls of the civilized world, with the
following interesting results:
So far as payment in hard cash CO. the
brawny burghers of the Transvaal are
decidedly the best off. Quite recently the
Boer Parliament increased the salaries
of its members to 5000 a year for each
individual. as they can very ea silly afford
10 do, when one remembers the big tax
rolls which the unfranchlsed uitlanders
are compelled to pay. But In actual emol-
uments the United States Senator proba-
bly, receives a better reward. He Is allow
ei mileage and nums rous minor fees and
privileges which swell his annaul income
materially over its nominal 500
Great Britain, as every student knows,
gives her members of Parliament no sal
airy, although the government officials for
the time being are royalty paid. The first
lord of the treasury receives $25, 600, as
also do the foreign. home. colonial, Indian
and war secretaries. The lord chancellor
receives $4,000 per annum.- But for the
NJ. p. who does not hold office there IS
naught save honor. Even the old privi-
leges of not being liable to arrest for debt
while an N. P. has been abolished.
The British colonies however, do not
follow the example of the mother coun-
try. New South Wales and Victoria allow
their NJ. P.s $500 per annum Canada
and South Australia 81 600 with an addi-
tional mileage rate for the former, and
Queensland $3.50, with mileage. New Yea
land representatives get 81 900
France gives its senators and deputies
$500, but there is string to this sal
airy. which might be tied elsewhere-in Vi
emma. for instance, with good effects Any
member who is twice called to order dur
ing a sitting forfeits half his salary for
two weeks. Cases exist where certain
fiery French deputies have lost their en-
tire years allowance in this manner.
Some NiggnrdIy Allowances.
Belgium, while 1t grants members Of
the representatives chamber $500 a year
and passes on the railroads, curiousy
enough makes its senate work for moth
ing and pay their own travelling expenses.
In the realms OF the little Queen of Hol-
land members of the upper house are paid
a sum equal to about 81 per diem for eacn
session, but since they only meet on thir-
ty or thirty-two days Of the year they
can scarcely be said to clear much. In
ln6 5 ECOIu SooV PEI dtfiluH WIN
a travelling grant of just over shilling
for every hour spent on the railroad, are
the allowance. Absentee Dutch law-giv-
ers forfeit their salary whether their alb
sence was caused by Illness or not
The new Japanese parliamentary consti-
tuition compels each and every member of
the national parliament o draw annually
from the treasury about $S75. All members
OF the aristocratic classes refusing TO ac-
cept 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 $500, and Norway
paws members from $3.50 TO $500. according
to the length Of the session.
In Sweden me mbers of the upper house
serve absolutely for patriotism, while the
lower chamber members are given only
1886 Moreover, 81 .s5 is deducted for non
attendance. Even the unpaid upper house
is fined for absenteeism, although its
members get nothing-not even train
fares.
The Greek law giver il $3.50 rer annum
u,ttl additions for oVarffpna x.crLr