The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1907-01-20

men. We should not ask them to sew
er home ties while toing work for us
at the National Capital
Now the writer is a Hoosier OF the
Hoosiers. Both parents were born in
Indiana before 1880. he four grand
parents were in Indiana before 1925.
All his grandparents and some of the
great are among the 81
lent dead in the good old County Of
Wayne. He knows just how large the
sum of five thousand dollars appears
! to denizen of the rural districts. He
was brought up Oh farm, one of a
family of six children and the entire
annual income On that farm was Of
ten less than S5e0. 90 year. The large
amount of five thousand dollars will
buy a good farm, and t. us a salary
of that amount would have seemed
fabulous wealth. But We had no rea-
lization of the expense to which the
Washingtonian of today is liable. Tie
author now lives simply and comfor-
tably in Washington with much less
income than congressman receives,
but he is very confident that if by
some extraordinary cataclysm he
should become member of the Ma
tional legislature, his expenses would
be enormously increased. He will
want ten thousand year, and with
much economy he will save but little
if he lives at all compatible with the
dignity of the position. The author
does not enjoy government posi- on
and has scarcely an acquaint ince
among the lawmakers. For many of
them he finds it difficult to entertain
a decent respect. In making this Plea
for a larger salary, he is actuated by
motives of simple justice.
There is a large number of men
neither rich nor in poverty, from
whose ranks we should look for the
largest and surely the best represen-
should not be barred for their SER
vices on account of the lack Of de-
cent remuneration.
| will most heartily agree with the
proposition that the extravagant fol-
lies of this age need to be checked
not encouraged. What | am pleading
for is a comfortable provision for
man of moderate means. Recollect the
public man no longer enjoys the priv
ilege of passes on the railroads. You
require him to go higher and thither
and TO deliver addresses on all occa-
sions. You expect him to be ge..er-
Gus and hospitable.
But we are told that we should en-
courage our public men to practise
Jeffersonian simplicity. Jefferson
ian Simplicity indeed, no phrase is
SO misused. Why, the wine bill of
Thomas Jefferson in four years at the |
white house was s10,S55.00 Other ex- |
penses were in proportion. He saved /
no money from his salary of So, 900 |
per annum. At Monticeno with So I
slaves to do his bidding. he entertain |
ed with such lavish hospitality that |
when he died his debts amounted to /
more than s20,90o- In many ways we /
may admire the character Of Thomas /
Jefferson, but surely his establish +
ment can not be regarded as a model /
for those who are preaching the Sim /
pie Life.
The bill which failed few days |
ago provided for an increase of sal /
airy from 100000 TO s7500.o0 1t fail /
I'd largely from the fact that the con-
stituents were supposed not to favor
he bill. A congressman Is presumed
70 represent the wishes of fis con-
stituents. The vote was taken on a
to make this increase ap-
Dlicable in 1909. Many of the repre-
are elected for TIE next
congress, the Goth, and a majority Of
hem did not care TO vote an increase
II their salary for the term for which /
hey had been elected. Their scsunIes
should be respected. for there is a
sort of implied contract that they
a job at a stipulated sum.
BUT there should be no objection to
making the increase applicable for
he 61st congress Before any of them
AN be elected for the 61st congress.
heir constituents will have chance
o challenge their position On the
question of salary. Evidently MAN.