The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-02-13
EDITORIAL COMMENT.
The PresidsntiaI salary.

Omaha Rec.
gasrty years ago the salary OF the
president Of the United states was m
creased from 81. 600 which had been the
compensation since the organization OF
the government, to $4,000. When the
question of raising the presidential
salary and also the pay of mem
bers Of congress was before the
Forty-second congress there was
strong popular opposition, but the
law was passed. Subsequently the por7
ton of the act providing an increase IN
the pay of congressman was repealed
1t was then thought by very many that
the compensation Of the president, which
had been satisfa Glory to the lncumben1s
of that great Office for more than elgh-
ty years was ample for the chief eX
ecutive OF this republic. The govern
ment provides him with q residence
furnished at the public expense ana
pays at least in part for the service
necessary in the White House. The OPP
position to increasing the salary urged
that it was not required and was not
desirable that the president of the Unit
ed states should initiate foreign rulers
in making lavish expenditures for enter
iainments and other public display
Some outlay in this direction is essential
but 1t should be on a scale consistent
with republican ideas and not fashioned
after that Of European royalty
A bill has Just been introduced IN
congress proposing to again increase
the presidential salary, making It $780,
600. That public sentiment will be yery
strongly against this it is entirely safe
to assume There is no good reason for
increasing the compensation Of the pre-
sident. Fifty thousand dollars q year is
a very liberal income. No president who
has received it has found it inadequate.
On the contrary all of them have been
able to meet every social requirement OF
the position and have something left OF
the salary at the end of their terms.
There was. no more generous entertainer
than President Arthur. yet he did not
ind it necessary to spend all his salary.
Mr.. Cleveland saved a portion of his
and so did Mr.. Mckinley, neither Of
whom neglected any social duty or lived
otherwise than as bedtted the dignity
and the proper demands of the position
The office of president of the United
states is not only of highest honor II
this republic, but in the world. Emolu
ments can add nothing to its distinction.
IheSe should be sufficient to meet the
legitimate requirements Of the position
and that is now the case. The fact
that enormous salaries are being paid
to men who administer the affairs of
corporations ana trusts is no argument
in favor of increasing the presidential
salary. What the head of a steel com
bination IS paid, for instance. has 40
proper bearing upon the question OF
the compensation of the chief executive
Of the nation
There is a tendency to increase the
salaries Of public officials which should
not pc encouraged bill has passed
congress to increase the salaries Of the
federal Judges. Perhaps this is justifi-
able. although we shall get no better
judges by reason Of it. A few days ago
a prominent member of the house Of
representatives said that the pay Of
congressman is too small and ought to
be increased This shows the trend
and if there IS public Indifference re
garding it there is likely to be within a
few years a general advance in the
| compensation of public officials that
viii add millions to the annual ex-
penses of the government. without Sc
curing any greater faithfulness or eff
J cheney in the public service