The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1909-01-01
Senators Discuss a Boost of the
Chief Magistrates Pay.
BOURNE is BEHIND THE PLAN
Mr.. Roosevelt Thinks That Stipend
Ought to Be Increased, Taft is
Not q Rich Man.

Washington. Dec. 80. - Jonathan
Bourne, the senator who refused in the
face of the Roosevelt anger to stop
preaching his gospel of a second cleo
tive term is showing his characters
tie, persistent nature in his effort to
obtain Il law to pay the next presi-
dent 100000 a year Senators and re-
presentatives in the main are said to
feel kindly toward the proposition TO
pay Mr.. Taft twice as much as the
present incumbent of the presidential
office is getting, and four times az
much as most of the incunbcnts of
the past received,
Congress increased the salaries of its
members, of the cabinet officers and of
one or two other officials recently. For
years the members wished to add 50.
500 year to their pay, but they did
not dare because they feared that peo-
pie would object They made pc
cular error in their calculations, for
there was hardly word of reproacht for
comment when the increased pay bill
went through house and senate.
Roosevelt Favors Increase.
1t is true, as stated in recent dis
patches that Mr. Roosevelt is in favor
of legislation that will give future
presidents salary represented by six
figures. His estimation of Mr.. Tafts
worth to the country is not represented
by the sum set, for the president is
so enthusiastic IL believer i'll the sur
passing abilities of his successor in
office that if he were to name the
sum he thought Mr.. Taft would earn
the couniry's paymastcr might be
shocked
1t may be accepted as one of the
eertainties that the pay of the pres
dent will be raised within the next
few years. and it is not improbable
that the increase will be authorized
this winter No president wishes TO
be in the position OF signing a bill
which would add to his yearly income
at the expense of the treasury, and so
it is that if Mr.. Taft is to get $780,
900 for each year of service il probably
vii be voted to him within the next
two months.
Travelling Expenses Are Paid.
II is hardly TO be supposed that Mr..
Taft can avoid the expenditures which
Mr.. Roosevelt found necessary OF course
it must be remembered that the next
president will have his travelling ex-
penses paid when he goes about the
on semi official and official
business. For the last year Mr.. Roose-
welt has had his expenses met by the
government. but prior to the granting
of the appropriation by congress he
was compelled to pay for journeys for
which the country should have paid
Mr.. Taft is not a wealthy man. by
any means. and as he is no whit more
human he probably hopes congress will
be generous and will sanction Senator
Bourne's suggestion that 100000 is
not too much TO pay the country's
chief laborer. If the matter is let
slip this winter it can be taken for
granted that Mr.. Taft will not men
ton the subject while he is in the
White House.
When President Roosevelt said lately
that it would not be necessary for the
people to "do anything for this ex
PRESIDENT and that he was going out
spoke with the assurance of "A man
IN the prime OF lie ana with the lust
for work still strong within him. The
executive is not rich man.
His income from his private property
is small and he has saved nothing of
his salary. The royalties from his
books bring him something every year,
but in order that he may live and
even the simple dignity
which the people of the country ex
pect an ex-president to maintain, he
will be forced to work, though in this
"a so M forcinu IS necessary