The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1907-11-03
CABINET OPENS DISCUSSION
FOR ANOTHER INCREASE.
Government A SpENDER
Seems to be "illions for Tribute
to Politicians, Not Cent
Fer the Taxpayers.
(3y Wells ]. Abbot.)
Ardmoreits Special.

Washington, Nov. This does
not seems a propltious moment for
the members OF the cabinet to open
the discussion OF another increase in
salaries. Last year the cabinet
salaries were increased TO twelve
thousand dollars per annum. The
pay OF senators and representatives
was increased TO seventy-five hun
dred dollars-which with various
allowances for secretaries, station.
cry. free offices and other o-ivil-
eges is eaasily equivalent tenl
thousand dollar salary for the av-
erage business man. But the pro
position is to be made early in this
coming congress that the salaries
OF assistant secretaries OF the vari.
Gus departments shall be raised
from the varying figures OF si.500l
to $4,000 year. to the general and
uniform figure OF $4,000. Possibly
the men holding these positions
are worth the six thousand. Open.
ing at random the congressional
directory ! find the assistant sec
retary OF the Navy, Mr.. Truman
II. Newberry OF Detroit. Mr.. New
berry is multi.millionaire. He
fitted himself for assistant secretary
Of the navy by owning his own
steam yacht and by learning to
navigate It so well that he was
within three or four days granted
n masters license for navigation
on the ocean, while he had for
some time possessed a like license
for lake navigation. 1t is worth
noting that one Of his predecessors
in the office he now holds was
Theodore Roosevelt. The assistant
secretary OF state is Mr.. Robert
Bacon, who was taken out of the
hrm OF J. Pierpont Morgan & Com
pany to fill this position. Mr..
Bacon has not ever been thought
In grave need of an increase of
wages.
The proposition would not have
any great Importance except for
the light that It throws upon the
policy OF the present administration
at Washington. Not one thing has
Deen done by that administration to
reduce the taxes which the peo-
pie must bear. AS a spender 1t
.4Gs been a. marvel. Everything
that costs money has appealed tol
It. Where It Lad ministers at
$4,000, II found need for ambas-
sadors at sl7,5O0. Where we have
senior rear-admiral we are going
to be urged that he be made a vice
admiral with an increase in salary
commensurate with the enhance
ment OF his dignity. Salaries all
along the line are to be raised,
but not one thing is to be done to-
lessen the burden upon the tax
payer. It Is something OF rever-
sal OF the revolutionary maxim OF
millions for defense, but not cent
for tribute. The policy of this ad-
ministration seems to be Millions
for tribute to politicians, but not al
cent for the defense of the tax
payer"
II these suggestions for increased
pay for everybody in public SER
vice had come al time when the
plain people OF the country were
not beginning to feel the pinch OF
increasing prices for all that they
have TO buy without any compen-
sating rise in wages. they might be
passed over without criticism. But
II everybody who holds federal
Job from the senior member of the
cabinet down to the last enlisted
man in the army Is to have his pay
increased at the general expense,
when the mass OF the people are
suffering from an increasing diff !
Guilty to make both ends meet. there
will be criticism, and that OF no