Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1903-04-02
PRESIDENTS SALARY
Question of Increase Attracts Con-
siderable Attention.

siderable Attention.
FEDERAL REMUNERATION Is SMALL
Some of the United States consuls Get
Small Pay-Mahy Declare Chief Ex-
ecutive's Salary Inadequate Because
of Increased Demand.
Many have been interested in the re-
cent revival Of the discussion that has
been going on as to whether the salary
of $4,000 a year that is paid to the
President of the United States is ade-
quate to meet the demands that are
made upon the chief executive. In this
connection a Washington correspond
ent says concerning the question of
the salaries paid to the national Off
GERS and government representatives.
1t is generally admitted that this
government is the most penurious gov
eminent in the world, touching thel
salary and compensation paid its
officials, and it is notorious that the
money allowed by congress to men,
bers of the cabinet and to ambassa-
doris and ministers at foreign courts
is not in some instances, sufficient to
pay Of the rent of the houses they ten
ant.
Some U. S. consuls in foreign coun-
tries get $1,000 a year, more or less,
and when an American goes abroad
and has business with one of these
gentry he is very often compelled to
risk his life and his purse in seeking
for the American consul in some back
alley in a dilapidated building, up
three or four flights of crazy rickety
stairs and in rear-end hall room,
where the American representative Is
living on crullers and cheese, content
to hide in hopeless obscurity and in
constant fear of being tracked to his
lair by some fellow countryman, who
may report him as derelict to the
state department, and hold him up to
| official scorn as an unworthy uphold
er of our national greatness.
| These being notorious facts, it fol-
| lows that every now and then strong
sentiment bursts forth for the Presi-
| dents condition, especially when the
annual estimates are sent to congress
for the repair and maintenance of the
White House. Recently this has been
the case. Much fuss was made over
the question of salary, and while no di-
rect attempt was made to add to the
| $4,000, the Presidents friends, never
| theless appeared DESTROYS of showing
that the pay was inadequate because
of the increased social duties devolv-
ing upon President who more than
| any President since Arthur, was given
to that sort of thing. 1t was intimated
that the President was obliged tc
draw upon his private income to exc
out his living, and that the practice
was making material inroads upon his
fortune.
If the expenses of President Roose
welt have materially increased to en-
able him to maintain with honor and
decency the standing of the executives
social plane. it is also true that tn,
expense list of the government ha:
greatly increased, and in full proper
ton to the share of the former II
other words it costs the government
So per cent more to maintain the eX
ecutive mansion than it did few year.
: ago. The difference is that between
$4,000 year and 100000.
The amount allowed for the Whit
House,of course.is considered by som
as much of the President
income, as if he receives
!; it in cash. 1t goes to keep II
the mansion, which is given him t
live in, the heating, lighting, flowers
repairs, everything in fact
1 except the actual expense of the table
Even the cooks, the walters, the bu
Ter, the hostlers, are furnished by tn
governmental of the items that Ell
ter largely into the living expense
of private gentlemen who maintai
their household out of their salarie
r as officials of business Institutions TIL
item Of lighting the White House an
g grounds alone is $4,000 per annum.
e When Colonel Bingham, chief of Ell
It gineers, sent his recommendation t
t, congress in January, it contained a
e item of $ll0,264 for the White Hous
II for the coming year, against S35 900 fc
It the current year. In his report
C said:
r THE recent changes in the Whit
= House have resulted in a building fs
n more expensive to maintain than fo
D. merly. The character of the new Il
L. tings and furnishings is such that +
e. pairs and replacing will be more e
r pensive than before. and it will |
p more expensive to replace special
e. designed silver doorknobs and escutc
d. cons, silver and gilt hinges, ct
g Hardwood floors and thing will reuuil
III extra labor to keep in order. Mo-
" help will be needed in the laundry, O.
or ing to the large family which occupi
Is the White House,a and the large amou,
IS of entertaining done"
1t will be sseen from this that I'll
~ government very carefully looks aft
IS the comfort of its chief executive. al
III adequately too. 1t is customary
~ say that the President receives a S,
VS. airy Of only $4,000 year, which is lie
le than half which many private compa
n les pay to their leading officers. Th
az is true as to the bare question of S
en- airy. But salary is not all. The pre-
ne dent of an insurance company who