The Washington herald., 1907-02-15
PINCHOT'S SALARY DISCUSSED
Proposed Increase Meets with Much
Opposition.
Senator Hale and Others Inclined to
Be FacetiOus at Expense of
Presidents Friend

/ Senator Hale started an entertaining de-
bate in the Senate late yesterday after
noon on an item in the agricultural ap-
/ preparation bill. increasing the salary Of
the chief forester from $500 to $500 a
year While the debate turned on the
( proposed increase to this one official, Gift
ford PinChOt. one Of President Roosevelt S
closest friends and companions. il really
involved the salaries Of four chiefs of
divisions. among them Dr. II. W. Wiley,
chief chemist.
/ Mr. Hale inquired OF Senator Proctor
F II IL was not true that the proposed
( salary was in excess Of that Of the as
sIstant secretaries Of some Of the govern
ment departments.
4 do not refer TO the Agricultural De-
partment." said the Senator from Maine,
with fine irony; that great department
is vastly important and continually ex-
pandlng but I mean some Of the old
fogy departments, like the State or Treas
ury."
Senator Nelson said the assistant secre-
tary OF agriculture received a smaller
salary than It was proposed TO confer on
/ four Of the chiefs.
Mr.. Hale started a litter by affecting
great surprise at this statement Surely
/ the Senator from Minnesota Is mistaken. 80
( he said. 7 feel certain that IL is not
/ seriously proposed TO pay these chiefs of
I divisions more than the assistant secre-
I tary."
/ Mr. Hale suggested with much solem-
/ nifty. that scientists like the chief for
I 81.
nent fixtures. while the assistant secre-
+ tary was THE creature Of a day He
disavoWed any personal feeling in the
matter.
Il don't even recall the name Of this
chief forester" said he. and the Senators
[ laughed at this rap at the President S
I friend
Nj Nelson explained that the assistant
/ secretary Of agriculture was not "a poll
/ tiCian. but a scientist" and II the chiefs
1 Of the divisions were 10 have an increase
/ to $500. he would insist that Assistant
T Secretary Hays salary be raised to
/ $500.
/ oh that's too small" interrupted Mr..
I Hale. Make ii at least $500 or $1,000. -
/ Senator Patterson objected 10 the raise.
/ He created much merriment by saying
I that he had recently read a newspaper
article, evidently written after a confer
/ ence with the chief forester. in which
/ Mr. Pinehot was pictured as serving the
/ government from a high sense Of duty
/ being rich man.
| Il am of the opinion that the chief
| forester would object to this proposed
/ increase If he knew OF ii. If the article
/ / read was truthful representation of
/ him.. said Senator Patterson, and !
/ have every reason to believe 1t was, for
/ the newspaper printing 1t was a very
reliable one"
What newspaper was it," inquired
! Senator Kean.
1T was my own" replied the Colo
RADIO Senator
Senator Beverage defended the increase.
/ This moved Mr.. Hale to remark that it
was quite natural for the Senator from
Indiana 10 make an impassiOned defense
OF his friend"
Mr. Beveridge promptly resented the i'm
putation that his speech was ''impas-
stoned, or that he advocated the increase
! because Of personal friendship for Clifford
1 Pinchot.
Then I will amend by substituting ear
nest for 'impassioned,' suggested Mr..
/ Hale
''The Senator from Indiana is always in
earnest. retorted Mr Beverage.
Mr. Hale demanded a vote on striking
out the proposed increase Of salary, but
/ several Senators apparently desired 20 dis
Cuss it. Senator McCumber appeared es-
| pecially interested. which caused Senator
/ Proctor to remark;
Il assume the Senator from North Da-
/ kota desires to discuss this amendment
You are correct in so assuming, said
/ Mr.. McCumbeT.
Then I am in favor of an immediate
adjournment, drawled Mr.. Proctor. and
the Senators laughed at Mr.. McCumber.
| The Senate adjourned with the proposed
increase IN Mr.. Pinchot's salary still pend
/ ing.