The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-06-10

HO1 ~ TITs ar sgI,Nw FOR
FIIIVO GtPftsba


dHv Nlhofity tsHdrf williams vHa euah'eEi
Ia hpg.s att N tho a,,ndry Ctvii Appeuprlas
ilyn bAi fb~ Item N tgs eD whleh The Conn
mites on Appropriations recommended ~
pay iha travelling sstrnsr" ~ the Pfes''
drnt, n ga rev legislation and thefTs
fore contrary ~ the riIs regulating the
construction and consideration ~ aps
pVupratlon bills. NJ Williams Was MT
aupyorted Ivy any other brtnocfat In The
dlscvIaaiun ~ hls print ~ order. IN fact.
Mr. Hitsevrald ~ New Sorh and MI sulll-
van ~ Masaac lrse,ts, members n the
COMMITTEES on Appropriations and Mr.. sher.
Icy Of Kentucky. all Democrats. advocated
the appropriation. and Mr., sulzer ~ New
York, another member Of that party, wanted
TO accomplish tho object sought by lncreas-
Ing the Presidents salary to sioo,Ooo,
Mr.. Williams argued that the appropria-
tion was really an increase Of the Presidents
salary. which was not justified. Congress
was now making what he Hid he believed
70 be ample provision for the Presidents
compensation. He had 10000 q year
and wa provided with an establishment
which left him with practically no expense
except for marketing. The provision In the
bill included guests invited by the President
to accompany him, whose travelling ex-
penses were to be paid by the public. and TO
that Mr.. williams objected. Blu even II the
appropriation were confined to the Presi-
dent he would not vote for II. What was
needed. he said, was TO discourage executive,
judicial and legislative officials from travel
ling about and 10 them TO remain
at their places Of duty. There was, he said,
entirely too much ~junketing by public
officials Of all kinds for recreation, sport
or private business. They were the hired
hands Of the public and, like other people,
when they received pay ought to render
the expected or contracted service.
Mr.. Williams said he was embarrassed
in making his objection by the fact that the
present Chief Executive was q Republican.
Were he a Democrat he (Williams) would
make the objection much more freely.
because his action could not be subject to
suspicion. He declared himself to be OPP
posed to the Sulzer plan OF ~pensioning ex-
Presidents. Answering the question:
What shall we do with our ex-Presidents4'
Mr.. Williams said w should do what we
do with our blacksmiths. Congressman,
carpenters and Judges: give them equal
opportunities and equal burdens under q
free government-a sentiment which his
political associates ~applauded.
Mr.. Smith Of Iowa, a member uf" the Conn
mittee on Appropriations, defended the
item. So far from considering 1t an addi-
ton 10 the Presidents salary he said that
the committee inserted the appropriation
to prevent a reduction Of his salary. Con-
Rress had passed q bill which by it's terms
prohibited the President from accepting
free transportation from any railroad,
thereby greatly increasing his expenses.
For himself, Mr.. Smith said he saw no m
propriety in the President travelling on Q
free train, because the railroad company
furnishing 1t was more than reoompensed
for any expense 1t might incur thereby by
the increased business attending a trip by
the President.
Mr.. Sims Tenn)-I agree with you per-
fectly. While we are legislating upon the
railroad subject why not provide that the
Presidents train shall be hauled free by
railroads?
MT. SuluVHIl OF NldbedC Hu1oItb bAiu SOil-
gress should provide the money to pay
the Presidents travelling expenses. II the
whole appropriation was not expended
the residue would be covered into the
Treasury. Including the proposed item
for travelling expenses. Mr., Sullivan said
the total appropriation for the Presidents
salary and the maintenance Of the White
House carried in the bill was 42Ss ,si0-'not
an e~xtravagant sum, only about one-third
OF 1 cent a year for every inhabitant of the
country, and I gladly contribute my third
Of q cent
Mr.. Gardner Of Michigan agreed with Mr..
Sulzer, who had urged the passsg Of his bill
giving retired Presidents a salary OF $25 ,0On
for life. He said Congress should adequately
provide for men who had ono held the
proud position Of chiefest OF American
citizens and not permit them, as had been
the case in two or three instances. prao-
tically to be buried at public expense.
Mr.. Gardner said he was inclined to
find fault with the committee for includ-
in SO. 900 in he bill for repairs to and refur-
nishing the White House just after 500 900
had been expended in its improvement.
The President had not asked 1t: but an
attache, desiring to magnify his office
and to see the White House a gilded palace.
told the committee that he lion was re-
sponsible for the suggestion.
Mr.. Sherley Of Kentucky spoke In favor
Of an increase Of the salary Of Congressman.
declaring his readiness to vote to make it
81 800 and justify his vote to his constitu-
ents. He did not approve the travelling
expense item. Replying to some of the
arguments that had been made in favor
of he appropriation, he said 1t was a plain
violation of the constitutional prohibition
against the President receiving any other
emolument from the United States or from
any State than his salary. He said it would
be impossible for the President in his
speeches about the country to divorce
himself from politics; he must and would
discuss public questions, and he would
speak as a Republican, OF a Democrat, or
whatever he might be.
Upon the ground that the expenditure
was not authorized by law, Mr.. Watson
Of Indiana, who was In the chair, sustained
the point Of order made by MIR. Williams
and the item vent out.
Mr.. Sulzer offered his bill increasing
the salary OF the President to 500 900,