Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1905-01-18
For President vice-Presidsnt, Cabinet
and Congress.

revives interest in bill introduced al
: the last session by the Sentry provid
!, ing for increased salaries for the high
: CT officials Of the government That II
/ is possible, as in the case Of the late
, Post Master General, for a member of
, the Cabinet to be so weighed down and
harrassed by the manifold duties and
anxieties Of his position as TO suceumb
under his burdens forms a strong ar
gument for the proposition outlined
above.
Nor is Mr.. Payne the only example
of the conscientious, honest, sensitive,
but sadly over.worked and over
wrough official, who, in recent years
has practically laid down his life in
such service. Many other incumbents
Of the same office, as, for instance,
James A. Gary, who served but two
years under President Mckinley, after
short service have placed their resig
nations in tho hands OF the President
on the ground that their health would
not permit them 20 remain longer at
the head Of this great and rapidly
growing service; and in some eases, |
Ms that Of William l.. Wilson, (who |
served during the last two years Of |
President Cleveland Is second term) |
their health has been 80 shattered that
they have lived but few years after
retirement. Other departments Of the
government show similar retirements.
Tho amount Of work performed by
the President and his Cabinet has un-
doubtedly doubled during the last gen.
Grafton.
Such men who respond to the call
of public duty should receive at least
sufficient compensation TO enable
them TO live in comfort aud II
they are called upon to give up
their lives In the service, TO leave
enough for their dependents to insure
their freedom from want. This is not
now tho case. The Sentry is safe in
saying that IL is impossible for a mem
bcr of the Cabinet today to save a dol.
lar out Of the eight thousand he re.
reives as salary unless he is without
family and lives in bachelors quar-
.crs From whatever cause, and how
ever much IL may be dcplorcd, the fact
Is that tho cost Of living In Washing.
lon increases from year TO year, and
ho salaries which seemed almost
lriurely generation ago, do not now
milicc 90 cnuhlc President or his Of
irial family to maintain the digniGed "
social status necessary to the retention :,
Il the proper respect Of other aud
'ldcr nations.
Not ouly does Justice TO such officials
md their dependents argue Tor n d,
rcascd compensation 10 them, but the -,
.cople should also bear in mind the
ace that n tho salaries OF Cabinet po.
itions are made commensurate with -
hc responsibilities aud labor involved
ho embarrassment of President Ia
,akiug up hiss Cabinet viii be greatly -.
'ssrncd, Under present conditions IL
, often difficult for him Go persuade
be- man whom he rcally wants, and.
HON the people want, to advise him,
, give up an important business con
cctiou, OF large legal practice, (of -
'n bringing incomes maay times as
rye az che government o6crs.) even n
,r the honor OF scat at the highest "
,uuc,l table Ia the world. He Is some W
mes compelled therefore, 10 call upon
cu whose pocket books are tat but ,g
hose abilities are lcani who content am
With making morc or lcss an.
ilgsr d,spiny of their wealth and per ,,i
DC thc,f subordinatcs Ga run their de. "A,
.Ttmopts in che same old fut,. while
the council table they cau oder uo
.itrr advice, and not as much iutor. Al
atiou, as could mauy clerk under 40,
e,r ehsFgo Such man carc, little IA,
q the Interests of ,be peoplr aud ouly a.,
slrcs the place 81 that ia after year, IA,
may appear in che sasicty column ,..
'foTmer Secretary Rank U.
rhe Fgle applies cguall, to the mem
rs ot the National Legislature lu
sso days of hcrec competition iu A
siae0 and the professions. anJ iu. .,.
'ased eosi u living the salaries psid IA,
mbcn OF ouf lieuse and Ssaate q .n
aemtiea ssnoN aud whieh SIAN pgc 4.
~ are nov neithoF adequate uor ti,.
q, aad 40 net ofton tonp, the besl \,
ads Ia the eommuniiy % sesk sash r
,ers rhcFe are notAhle exceptions ,...
this Uale, ii is tras, has the faet re. 40.
las that thero Is room Tor improve -.
at la tAe standard ef ability nou -,
aiaipg Ia she AigAest legislative
b In oar laa1 whlsh snaeis laws =,
'Siiag an car people Aa1 velss all. ~,
} 81 tAeir ueasy each ysaF fss var, ea
} psFpeseA Tao people are easitlsl y,
b TspFesents1 there ~ tAslr bssi -