The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-07-13
OFFICIAL SALARIES.
A Demand for Organized Popular Protest
Axai,,st PrOfuaeneSs.

To THE EpITon or THE SrS-Sir: Your
editorial to-day on The Vulgar Talk About
Money" is interesting. timely aud to the
point
You say toward the close: Undoubtedly
the bill increasing Official salaries within
moderation ought to be passed. but not 10
enable servants of the people in high places
to compete In luxury with the very rich men
OF this period. Nlodesty and simplicity OF
living comport with the theory Of this demo-
cratic Republic. As II is. there Is too much
proruseness in Washington. Private luxury
encourages public prodigalty. II there IS
any place where the simple life ought 70 De
illustrated practically. 1t Ia at the seat OF 'ne
Federal Government"
To meet a serious and latent difficulty or
danger the following suggestion occurs 70
my mind:
So long as there are hundreds Of rich men
In Washington" and the number OF such
among the Senators and Repr esentatives N
Congress Is also rapidly increasing. the Sena-
tor or Representative Of only ordinary imam
cial ability Is. on the one hand, exposed TO
temptation TO money getting or money
openness in order to meet an excess OF expen-
diture. or, on the other, subjected 10 the
painful and humiliating experience ana oon-
sciousness. we'll nigh ever present. OF inaoii-
ity 10 hold . comfortable place Gonsside OF
or In association with colleagues In uucn
better circumstances
Now, In view Of the whirlpool Of extrava-
gance created By men Of great wealth ana
into which men Of only moderate means ls
IDLY drawn. would not convention Of the
people Of the several States and irrespective
DEMANDING return 70 the simple iiis, on the
wants at tho seat Of the Federal Government,
with the understanding and recommsndSc az.
x H ss y e sSs one psop sn II E
reno mi mated FOR ONCE and that only those
pledged to these views shall receive ssi nomi-
na /. NH If nDRE Do To say shss !. wholly
matter vii which others have ~ business
Dd. yse Il Ssy ss. nos ss peep
II fact, they are not wholly themselves. but
s Athena fo % md ss
IS of' ladspsadsns citss%:!:ssss " Shsh To
late Itself. But is It do,aT, soi The very
the tendency TO extravasance y, RAPIDLY In;
but ssS Z aus e ss
ersl are 4 besns ana Ana Where VIII end IN
sii It e ss9e sd ao%n snd seaeey under
stood at hone and abroad that henceforth
there Ia TO be q return To the simple NE on
possible for a man Of moderate means, II
otherwise qualified. being successor to Mr..
sor to either OF tho two millionaire United
States Senators from New Jersey, or success
sor 20 Mr.. Root as Secretary Of State Other
wise these high posts can only be filed IN the
future BY men capable OF more than ordinary
pc ,uniary exploitation. Then, too, will no
longer be heard in connection with retire
ment from Office the familiar excuse, Cant
afford it,"
Among applicants for place. the merchant
accepts the person who In addition to cape
servants OF the people. high or low, rich or
poor. great or small, be allowed TO waste
tematic excuses In social rivalries, costly
entertainments, in prae.ises and indulsenoes
Is not the remedy to be found in making
at once the much needed reform rather than
in an increase OF salary2 Or. having made
the increase. should it not be followed up
with vigorous reformatory measure as herein
suggested? CORRESPONDENCE.
BRooKIYE. July II.