The National tribune., 1905-12-28

won't accept entertainment which they
believe to be beneath their dignity,
hence that dignity has to be supported
BY trains Of courtiers. servants. feeds
md frocks. The manner in which the
President of the United States lives is
always the cause of curious comment
by visitors from Old World Courts. and
the time has come in this country when
poor man cannot be elected Presi-
dent. because ne could not support the
Official cost Of the thing. The United
States is very niggardiy in Its salary TO
It's President. who spends every year rs
much again. probably, as he receives.
and spends 1t on the Public, not on
himself Representative Longworth's
bill ought to become law
Representative Clark. OF Florida. has
introduced bill in the House increas-
ing the compensation of members OF
the Presidents Cabinet to $4,000 a
year.
The AttorneyGereral has given his
opinion that the Secretary Of the Navy
has no power to summarily dismiss q
Naval cadet, and now there is the mis-
chief to pay. There are dozen or
more cadets who have been dismissed
ny the Secretaries of the Navy in the
past DOZEN years, on the recommends
ton OF the superintendent, and now it
seems that this action was illegal. and
all these young men, now of mature
years are getting together, ii Is said
and propose to make common cause
and demand reinstatement and restor-
alton to the service On the face OF it.
it looks as though they might win out
monument to the memory OF sail
ors who lost their lives by reason of
the explosion OF boilers on the United
states gunboat Bennington in San Di-
ego Bay, Cal, is proposed in bill in
troduced by Senator Flint. The bill
appropriates $1,000. to be used with
like amount to be raised by popular
subscription.
The Firth-Sterling Steel Company, OF
Pittsburg, has purchased 800 acres of
land on the Potomac River, in Wash
ington. The company proposes to erect
plant to manufacture projectiles on
the ground just purchased. 1t is es-
timated that the company will spend
at least $5.800,000 a year I'm Washing
ton. 1t will employ about 500 men.
John N. Erwin, former Minister to
Portugal, Ex-Governor of Arizona and
OF Idaho, Mayor Of Keokuk, Iowa, and
head OF a wholesale mercantile COM
pany, died in Hot Springs, Ark, last
week He was born in Ohio 81 years
ago. He was graduate of Dartmouth
College. At one time he was editor Of
the Fort Wayne (1nd.) Gazette.
There is some talk among members
Of Congress that a bill shall be intro
duced looking to the payment Of trav-
cling expenses for the President 1t
is generally believed that this should
be done. The people of the country
want to see the President, and for
about 100000 Of them the only
chance is for the President to make a
tour Of the country. This is tremend-
ever had could pay the expense, to tell
the truth, without bankrupting him
self. The President Of the United
States cannot travel in an ordinary
coach. or sleeping-car. There is al
ways danger of anarchists and ire
sponsible fanatics. and the travelling
public would torment the life out of
him with its curiosity, to say nothing
OF familiaritfes. Then, too, the Presi-
dent must always have his private Sec
retaries along, he must be guarded by
the Secret Service men, and 1t Is only
fair that his encourage should include
leading newspaper men. This makes a
goodlysized company, and it must eat,
sleep, and have the other comforts Of
life. The railroads have cheerfully
borne the expense Of these trips for the
advertising and patronage they get out
or 1t, but 1T is scarcely dignified thing
for the President to accept courtesies
for the purpose Of advertising any
thing. His grocer and butcher are
strictly enjoined never to let 1t be known
from where the White House kitchen
supplies come, withdrawal Of custom
being the penalty. So why should any
railroad be permitted to advertise the
President as an attraction, and the
President lend himself to the adver-
tisement by appearing in the cars OF
the railroad company free gratis for
nothing? Congress will be about an
excellent business when it makes such
q law.