The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-02-20
DO Thl, while 1t Can he Donel

Tho power OF Congress 10 increase the
salary of the President Is thus limited
by the Constitution.
Tho Presiden, shall. at stated times, receive for
hls service, a compensation which shall neither be
Increased nor diminished during the period Tor
which he shall have been elected. and he shan not
recei,. within that period any other emolumen'
from tive United States, or any OF them
There remain, therefore, only twelve
days during which Congress can make
that increase in tho Presidents salary,
from $50 600 TO 500 900 per annum, which
is now demanded by an intelligent and
wcll-nigh universal public sentiment.
After Mr.. ROOSEVELT has taken the oath
of office on Saturday. March 4, it will
be impossible for Congress TO add dol
lar to his salary. The Presidents COM
pensaton will continue at the present
inadequate rate until Mr. ROOSEVELT re-
tires from Office on March 4, 1900.
The precedent for the increase OF the
Chief Magistrate salary on the eve OF
inauguration day was established in the
Ease OF Gen. GRANT. From the begin
ing OF WAsHINGToN's second term to
ne end of GRANTS first term the annual
salary was $4,000 President GRANT
was reelected in November, 1872; his
second election was declared in regular
course; and subsequently, by an amend
ment to the Legislative, Executive and
Judicial Appropriation bill, enacted on
March 8, 1873, the annual compensation
was doubled On the very next day
GRANT was inaugurated for the second
term and began 10 draw his salary at the
$4,000 rate.
Ii is true that some eIpounders OF the
Constitution have contended that Presi-
dent GRANTS compensation was, in fact,
increased during the period for which
he had been elected; inasmuch as he had
been elected for the first term, as well as
for the second. This objection is scarcely
more than bubble Moreover, il there
were any force in the attempted dis
tinction between peAod and term, the
same objection would not apply in the
case Of President ROOSEVELT, who GER
tainly was not elected four years ago as
President for the period during which
he is now serving.
Up TO March 4, a week from next Satur-
day, it will be within the power OF Con-
gress to provide for Mr.. RoosEvELTs
next four years of official service q
salary more nearly suited TO the import
ance of his high Office, the actual and
necessary demands upon his purse, and
the self-respect of one OF the greatest
nations on earth. Even when doubled
again, the compensation OF the President
of the United States will be $40 900 less
than that Of the President Of France,
who receives not only 100000 francs
annually as salary, but also direct
allowance Of 100000 moro for expenses,
making 100000 francs in all, or about
$4,000 yearly.
This is not a proposal Of generosity,
bus OF justice. The increase to 100000
is sure 10 be made within few years.
Unless it is made within the next twelve
DAYS Mr.. ROOSEVELT will be excluded
from participation in the benefits OF the
tardily enncted measure. Let the Sena-
tors and Representatives Of both parties
therefore unite in grasping the short
lived opportunity.
We believe that the present state OF
public opinion would also warrant the
passage Of a general act providing life
pension of $4,000 year for Presiden
Of the United States after their retire.
ment from office. Experience has shown
how few the recipients of such pension
areiikely TO be at any given time, 7 here
is now living in all the land but one citizen
who would be entitled to receive the
pension. if the law already existed. And
when we suggest that the Presidential
pension law, when drawn, be so drawn
as TO include ex-President CLEVELAND,
az well as President ROOSEVELT and his
SUCCESSORS in the future, we are prompted
by no idea that Mr.. CLEVELAND expects
or desires or dreams Of such legislation
personal to himself. Nor do we know
whether this proper recognition Of his
eminent services TO the country would
be regarded by him with unpleasant
emotions, or as an acceptable thing, or,
again, as compliment to be esteemed
and declined.