The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-02-21
Mr.. HooScvelt's salary.

The salary of the Chief Magistrate
ought TO be 100000 year. The Presl-
dent of the United States now receives
the same compensation as the Governor
General Of Canada.
Eighteen days ago Mr.. ROOSEVELT
signed the Legislative, Executive ana
Judicial bill for the fiscal year ending
June 80, 1906 This act approprates
$50 900 for the compensation of the Presi-
dent. under the law of March B. 1873
which was originally enacted as an
amendment TO the Legislative, EXecu-
tive and Judicial bill of that year
The increase in President RoosEvELT's
compensation, therefore cannot pc ac-
complished in the same manner as IN
the case of Gen. GRANT thirty-two years
ago. when the Presidential salary Tor
his second term was doubled by Con-
cress on the eve of his first terms e1pl-
ration
Nevertheless n re are other ways
in which the thing can be done before
March g. For example, there is now IN
the hands OF the Senate Committee on
Privileges and Elections a bill intro
dilced on December by Mr. STEWART
Of Nevada, fixing Presidential and Con
eressional salaries as follows:
That ,nc President OF tho United states shAl
receive IN fun for 6l his services the sum OF ''"oooo
p,r annum. 10 he paid monthly. and shall be en-
tlled to the use Of the furniture and other enec'S
h.lonxlng TO the United states kept in the R1eeu-
tive Mansion
SECTION :? That the Vice President shall r.
e.ye ia run for all bis services during the term Tor
which he snail have been elected the sum OF S2o'''
per snnum to he paid monthly.
SECTION That whenever there is no Wee
presldcnt the Preslden, OF the Senate shall be en-
,ued 10 the compensation provided b. Law for the
wee President
-SEcrtoS & That the Speaker or the House OF
Representatives shall receive IN fll for all his
services compensation at tae rate OF $4,000 per
annum.
SECTION s. That each Senator Representative
and Delegate shall receive salary, except as TO
the Speaker. Of $4,000 per annum.
SECTION D. That this act shall take effect on
the fourth day OF March. 1902
The Stewart bill could be reported
from The committee, with amendments
striking out all but the first and last sec
tons as printed above, and also chang
ing the date in the sixth section from
March 4, 1909, to March 4, 1905. Within
the next eleven days the Stewart bill
could be passed by both Senate and
House and made law.
There is also in the hands OF the House
Committee on Appropriations bill in
troduced on January by the Hon.
HARRY LEE MAYNARD of Virginia,
Democrat providing:
THAT on and after Match 4 1905. the salary OF
the President OF the tinted states Shall bc $4,000
per annum. and the salary OF the vice President
shall he slSooo per annum and that the President
Of the United states sha after his retirement from
once receive an annual salary Of $4,000 per snnum
for the remainder OF mis- NE and that any former
President Of the United States living at the time OF
the passage Of this act shall also receive salary
of,2SoOo per annum for The remainder Of his NE"
This bill could be reported at once by
Mr.. HEMENwAY' ) committee, so amended
as 10 omit the provision concerning the
Vice Presidents salary, and also to
change the Presidents SIS 900 TO 500
600 and the ex-Presidents $4,000 to
$50 900. Within the next eleven DAYS
the MAYNARD bill could be passed by the
House and the Senate and made law,
II NAV be asked why, in urging imme
date action in the matter of the Presi-
dents compensation, we advise that
it be disconnected wholly from legisla-
ton on such obviously related questions
as the increase Of salary for the Vice
President, the Speaker, the Senators and
the Members Of the House of Represent
atves.
For the simple reason that this measure
Of justice to the President and national
sef-respect must not be entangled with
any other questions involving discussion
and a nice weighing Of the equities. A
general adjustment of these other sala-
ries is bound to occur but the task
can be undertaken at any time when Con-
gress is in session. The case Of the Pres-
dents salary is exceptional because the
Constitution prohibits any increase dur
ing the period for which he shall have
been elected II the change is not ef-
fected before Saturday of next week it
cannot at any time be made for the
benefit Of the present incumbent of the
Presidential office.
That is why prompt action is impera-
lively required Win the Fifty-eighth Con-
gress permit the short lived opportunity
10 pass unimproved?
Ton Many Eoffon Reunrta