The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-07-15
From the New York Sun.

9 taa. in letter which we print ', today. today, be called flor the express purpose of demanding a return to the simple life on the part of their representatives or public servants at the seat of the federal governments" exaggerates the condition of profuse expenditure which he would prevent
 Washington, as a whole, so far as con cerns the vast mass of the federal off cials, already exemplifies the simple life more than any other of the great towns of America. From highest to low est all except comparatively few live without ostentaton. They are compelled to economy of expenditure by official salaries small relatively to the incomes of the rich men. MT. Roosevelt said at Asbury Park that every member of his cabinet would make more than his offi- cial salary if he went in for money mak- ing in private life; and probably all of them have additional private fortunes which enables them to live handsomely. But that is a mere accident; and, gem erally, the state kept up by these cab inet officers is not great. They live mod estly enough. The number of men in Congress who can afford large expendi- lures is small. The vast majority of them live frugaully on their official salaries wholly During the sessions of Congress they are scattered in hotels and board ing houses at which they pay very moder- ate prices. In all the subordinate places in the departments, even those in which great abilities are required, the salaries are small. and all except very few of the officehoders are compelled to live with the economy such narrow incomes impose.
 Our friend instanaes the large ex- penditures of MT. Whitelaw Reid at Lon- don as an illustration of the profuse- ness he would prevent. He would have it possible for a man of moderate means to succeed MT. Reid as ambassa- dor; but actually, it is already possi- ble. Ambassador Choate got along fa- mously in London without attempting to keep up such a display. MT. John Hay, who preceded MT. Choate as ambassador, was rich man, but we heard little about
 
 Bayard was at London he made and was able to make no great social display. MT. Phelps was not rich enough to keep up a high state socially, nor was MT. Lowell; yet all of these lent distinction to the office and received the distinguish ed consideration of English society. How ever moderate the means of man, it is possible for him to sustain the dignity of the ambassadorship to the court of St. James; yet the American people for their own dignity ought to provide suit ministers at every European capital. and they ought to give these representatives of their power salaries which comport with the importance of the offices.
 The salaries of officials of the United States government have been increased several times since its foundation, and necessarily, for the relative value of money has declined. For instance, in 17S9 the salaries of senators and representa- tives were fixed at $6 a day and $6 for every twenty miles of travel In 1795 these sums were increased to g each. In 1916 the salary was made sl5o0 per annum. III lolb IL WdS IdlStu to % d udy anu 70 for every twenty miles of travel In 1856 the pay was put at s3000 and mileage as before, and in 1866 the salary was raised to $5OOO and of the speaker to $s0o0. as these are now. The salary grab act of 1873, which increased the pay to s750O for senators and representatives. aroused an indignant protest, not because of the in crease in itself. but because the raise was made retroactive only in the case of Con- gress, and that feature was concealed under a raise of the salary of the Presi- dent from s25, 900 to s50,000 a year. of the chief justice from ss5oo to s1o.5OO, and of the Vice President, cabinet officers and associate justices from ss0oo to $10.0O0, none of them retroactive. This salary grab act was repealed the next year. and all the salaries except those of the Pres ident and justices reverted to the old standard.
 These salaries should now be increased moderately. and the bill for that pur- pose introduced into the last Congress ought to be passed; but no increase which would justify extravagant expenditures commensurate with those of many very