Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-13
OFFICIALS POOR PAY
Uncle Sans Salary Lists
Need Revision.
IGNORED BY CONGRESS
REPORTED RECOMMENDATION
MADE FOR INCREASE.
Poor Men Cannot Afford to Accept Dip
lomatic Posts Abroad-Homes for
Ambassadors and Ministers.
IGNORED BY CONGRESS
BY WILLIAM Z. CURTIS.

BY WILLIAM e. CURTIS.
Written for The Star and the Chicago Record
Herald.
You can scarcely blame Congress for
getting on a rampage about the big sal
aries paid to the secretary of the Panama
commission and other officials of that or
ganization because they make the compen-
sation of the senators and representatives
look very small There should be re-
vision of Uncle Sans payrolls. The Presi-
dent OF the United States should receive at
least 800 600 year, the Vice President and
the members of the cabinet should get at
least S15,O00-S25 coo would be better. the
Supreme Court justices should have the
game amount, and $4,000 year is not
cent too much for a congressman. Since
the present salary list was arranged there
has been a decided increase in the cost OF
living in this country, and 1t has come 10
the point where 1t is easier for poor man
to pass through the eye Of a needle than
to hold an Office in Washington or In the
diplomatic corps OF the United States
Secretary Root has made an earnest ap-
peal to Congress for revision OF the dip
lomatic and consular salaries, and IL Is 10
be hoped that Mr.. Hale and Mr.. Hit. VINO
have charge Of the diplomatic and consular
bill will accept his suggestions. AS rule
the committees of Congress do not pay
much attention to the recommendations OF
the members or the CaDlnel IN SuCH iliit-
ters. They do not even read the book or
estimates l doubt If the subcommittee In
charge of the diplomatic and consular ap-
preparation bill have read the estimates
for years. and they pay no attention TO
letters. They pass the same bill over and
over every year. without any changes
except possibly when somebody OF influence
has a in the service, and Is compelled
to send him money because his salary 1s
not sufficient for his support In such
cases the father goes to the committee and
begs for Increase Sometimes he gets
It and sometimes he doesn't. Usually the
latter is the case
Ignored by Congress.
The late Secretary Hay often urged Con-
gress to revise the list; but he always
wrote letters to the committees, who paid
no attention to them. He would never go
20 the Capitol personally. He thought 1t
undignified for the Secretary of State to
go down there and 'lobby"-as he used to
say-for legislation that had been recon-
mended in his official capacity. II Score
tary Root expects to accomplish anything,
however. If he really wants the diplomatic
and consular salaries revised. he Will have
to go down and sit up with the appro-
priations committee until 1t is done. He
will also be compelled to start propa-
ganda for the purpose of converting the
members of the Senate and House OF Rep
resentatives to the application of the golden
rule. He must teach them the doctrine that
other OFFICIALS the government are en-
titled to liberal salaries which they have
not the moral courage to vote for them
selves. Every other congressman he meets
will tell him that the President has never
found any difficulty in filling the missions
and the consulates at the compensation
paid at present, and that there Is no dan
ger that he will be compelled to order
draft 10 fill the offices
That Is the usual argument. But at the
same time they know that poor men can
not accept certain offices under this gov
eminent because the salaries attached to
them not sufficient to support them in
the manner in which they must live If
Whitelaw Reid, Robert s. Mccormick, Bel
lamy Storer, Charlemagne Tower and
George B. L. Meyer We're not rich men
they would not be ambassadors. Not one
Of them would be eligible. The first ques-
ton asked by President or a Secretary
OF State, when a candidate Is named for
an embassy, concerns not his character.
but his income Can he afford to accept
the place? To a certain measure the same
is true of the secretaries of embassies and
legations. Not one of them can live upon
MS salary and keep up the appearances
that are required of men In his position. 1
once found secretary OF legation living
in garnet and taking his meals on what
are faniliarly known as free lunch
routes. His salary was $500 a year. He
had a wife and five children at his former
home in this country. and sent them one
half OF his pay. as a good husband and
father should do, and then tried to live
like a gentleman on the other half which
was impossible
Expenses More Than Pay.
There are certain obligations resting upon
the representatives of a nation at foreign
capital. They must appear in such a man
ner as to avoid criticism and unfavorable
comment; they must have a knowledge of
social life. and sufficient means to return
the hospitality that is offered them. They
must be able TO dress well and conform to
social usages, which 1t is impossible for
many OF our ministers to do on the sala-