The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1902-01-09

cabinet minister IL such that no poor
man can afford to take the place, then
unquestionably the compensation should
be increased. The possession of wealth
should never be permitted to become q
prerequisite to attaining the higher of
! fetal stations in democratic govern
ment AT the outset of the republic the
members of the cabinet were paid $500
and $4,000. Later there was increase &c
$1,000 with the exception of the attor.
ney-general, who was paid about halt
that sum Then, some time before the
war, the cabinet salary went up to $4,000
In 1873, under the salary grab bill, it
was raised to $40 900, and in 1874 put
back to $1,000, where il has since remain
ed A salary of $500 unquestionably
went much further, was practically
much larger in the first quarter-century
of the government, than $4,000 is now.
a salary Of $4,000 In the second quarter
century Mt Washington was unquestion-
ably muniticent as compared with $4,000
to-day During the debate on the salary
grab bin in 1S13it was stated that cab
met minister had TO devote ut least one
half OF his salary 10 bare rent if he would
have a house in which he could enter
tain decentIv any considerable number
of people
THAT was time, 70 be sure. of in
hated currency, high prices and a Wash
ington atmosphere Of speculative boom,
corruption and general extravaganza,
and outside Of Washington, AZ any rate,
5000 will now go much further than it
wOuld then in commanding the necessar-
les and Injuries Of living. This must al
so be true Of Washington, except posi-
bly, in the matter Of rents. However, it
may safely concluded that 5000 is quite
as good a salary in general purchasing
power at Washington us it WAS il 1873.
The chief trouble lies in the growth at
the capital Of social standards rising OUT
OF all proportion To any increase in the
purchasing power Of dollar OF official
salary since 1873 The city is becoming
the winter residence of many families OF
great wealth and these set social pace
which the richer members Of congress
aud the executive departments naturally
take up, setting in their turn standard
Of entertainment and style of living
which the poorer ranks Of high official
dom would Of course very much like to
attain; and their inability to do so is
quite likely to be regarded by them as
rejecting upon the dignity Of the gov
eminent itself Such situation tends
to make rich men more and more avail !
able for appointment to high official
stations, and the social lot Of the poor
cabinet minister or senator or justice Of
the Supreme court, whose family is to Il
degree socially ambitious, becomes more
and more unhappy
1T is u serious question whether the
nation should undertake to make this lot
OF the poor official more tolerable
through considerable increase of sal
aries one thing is certain, that the eff
fort TO maintain democratic govern
ment of high thinking and plain living
ut the national capital, in the midst Of a
surrounding and pervading society Of
wealth and fashion, is breaking down
and it may be doubted whether an in
rush of Jelfersonian Democrats from
some ground-swell in national politics
would under the circumstances per
mancntly effect change. The matter
Of lifting official salaries is likely TO be
come more and more pressing in con
gress and when it can be shown that
higher salaries will resultin II more gen
eral appearance OF poor men in the gov
eminent ut Washington there will not
be much popular opposition manifested.
But the people will never approve of an
Increase which is called for merely to
enable public officials TO offer garish en-.
tcrtainment in imitation Of IL millionaire
society ut the capital