Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1906-06-19

priatiOn came up under new legisla-
ton. Mr.. Williams, who raised the
objection, explained his position. He
said he believed the salaries of high
officials were generally too low. He
favOrs the raising of salaries of cab
| met officers, members of congress,
vice president and the speaker. Sui
ger of New York, with great magnan-
| unity, urged that the salary of the
president be increased to one hun
dred thousand dollars a year, the vice
president to twenty-five thousand. and
that every expresident be given
pension of twenty-five thousand dol
lars annually. sAs the Republicans are
generally accused of extravaganza and
of having no regard for "JeffersOnian
simplicity it should be noted that
both Williams and Sulzer are Demo
cratic members of the house.
1t might be well to raise the presi-
dents salary to $4,000 a year and
make a yearly appropriation to Gov
-->
does not receive any mileage and must
pay travelling expenses if the rate bill
| becomes law.
1t is doubtful if the proposition to
raise the salaries of 800 congressman,
90 senators, cabinet officers and other
high officials, would meet with popu-
lar favor. There are good many
members of the Tower house who are
getting more money from the govern
ment than they could earn at home.
1t might be urged that a larger salary
attached to the office would insure a
better and ADLER class of men, but
this is doubtful 1t is not the salary
alone that should be taken into con
sideration, but also the honor that
goes with the office. There is rarely
ever an instance where the office goes
begging for the lack of suitable can
dilate. If poor material is selected
it is generally the fault of the voters.
1t is true that there are many able
men in congress, those who could earn
much more than their salaries in the
practice of law and in other avoca
tions, but it is seldom that they give
up their positions to engage in private
pursuits. Some take advantage of
their positions to add to their incomes.
and do it honorably and legitimately.
! 1t is also true that the cost of living
I, 4 ~,
tain tenure of office prevents many
congressman from. acquiring homes
there.
Congressman Suffers idea of pen
: sioning eX presidents will hardly be
taken seriously. He probably wants
: to solve the problem as to what to do
' with them. Eight years is about the
= limit of mans service in that high
: office and he may retire before ad
/. vancing age ncapacitates him for life 5
activities. The case is different with
= court Judges Those who reach the
+ age limit on the bench have given
e their best years to the government
9 service and rightfully retire on sal
l. AIRY for the balance Of their lives
e when too old to enter upon the prac
j. tice of their profession. Further
+ more it serves as safeguard againS
: venality and corruption on the bench
: in providing for future maintenance
|, Whatever of merit there is in tn;
t claim that congressman and high Off
e paid for their services. the question
: is certainly a delicate one and one
S which will have to be calmly consid
$ cred before any attempt to grade the
t. salary list upward is made.
n The American people are not mig
: gardy and they want the best posi-
), Bile service, and nothing more unfor
: tunate could occur than the refusal OF
o honorable and able men to enter the
e public service because the compensa
l. ton is too small to offer any induce
), ment. 1t is not now apparent tha
), such is the case.
: The government can hardly AFFORD
/ to enter into competition with the bis
? trusts in securing legal talent Tho
= very fact that the combines can afforf
2 to pay man an enormous salary fol
| his name and his services is proc
t that they are operating unlawfully ant
= have a hard case to defend. If made
! to obey the laws of the country the.
: would have less profit to waste il
/ fabulous salaries.
THINKS GROWERS SHOULD ACT
d The Great Falls Tribune does no
II take kindly to the idea that the stocl
r men of Montana are at the mercy O
is the Chicago packers and that the
9 must sit supinely down and let tn
II combine make good the losses Su:
q tanned by the recent government il