The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1908-01-12

terry exchange having q present equip.
meut OF GAG lines, The eut-oyer from
the magnetic system was made the oc-
casion for complete revision of the
system of rates, so that henceforth these
will correspond to the methods of the
message rate system as practiced in
most of the larger American cities, In.
stead OF fiat rate charge of approx.
mately 500 year, which has hereto.
fore prevailed in Johannesburg, sub.
scribers to residence service now pay
about $50 q year for minimum OF 600
calls; over that charge of four cents
for each call up to 500; two cents up
to 24O0, and one cent beyond. These
prices for limited service are easily seen
to be rather high, considering the size
of the South African capital. The mes
sage rate plan which has been adopted
in Johannesburg is said to be gaining
in favor all over the world.
The suggestion made by ex-President
Grover Cleveland that the United States
find some method OF taking care of its
Presidents after they leave the execu-
tive office which will enable them to
maintain the standard OF living expected
OF them, has met with more or less gen.
eral approval. Mr.. Cleveland the other
day called attention to the fact that
few of the "a men who have been hon
ored by their countrymen with the office
of President have enjoyed sufficient in.
comes during the remainder of their
lives to enable them to maintain the
social standing expected OF them. He
pointed out that very few fields OF in
dustry are open to the man who has
once served the nation as its chief exc
cutive. and that still fewer will insure
an income sufficient for him to continue
to live on the same social scale as when
he presided at the White House. The
American people, he declared. thought
lessly have demanded that their former
Presidents shall seek and follow high
calling upon retiring. whether or not
they possess the means to do so.
Awakened to the truth of this, it is
extremely probable that Congress will
vote substantial pension to the men
who for four years or more shall have
steered the good ship of state. Several
Senators and Congressman already have
expressed themselves as being in sym
pathy with such course. Incidentally.
some local statistician has dug up figures
which show that the average life of ex-
Presidents, after retirement, has been IL
years and 10 months.
To be removed from the uncertainty
of Senatorial patronage and placed upon
the ''Senate rol' which practically
means a life job, is the good fortune Of
William B. Turner, for 10 years print
ing clerk ofthe upper house Of Congress.
Mr.. Turner, who halls from Oregon,
was appointed to the place by Senator
Mcbride, and because of. his efficient
work and his genial personality Sena-
tor Mitchell and Senator Gearin, who
served successive terms, easily were in
duced to relinquish their claims on Mr..
Turner's official scalp. With the coming
of Senator Bourne, however, Mr.. Turner
began to feel bit shaky, for the man
who coddled and nuTsed the Roosevelt
third term movement wanted the print
ing clerks job, and said So Through
the Secretary of the Senate, Mr.. Turner
was requested to resign some six weeks
before the Goth Congress convened, but
the Oregon man unwilling to part with his
official life without struggle, hied him
self to one or two friendly Senators,
and so popular had he become with the
majority Of the dignifed solons Of the
Senate, that the matter was taken up
on the floor and majority vote placed
him on the Senate roll, which precludes
discharge, except by vote Of the caucus.
PRETTY COMPLIMENT.