New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-07-08
Not ILLUSTRATIVE

Alton b. Parker'S eulogy on David Il.
Hill was earnest. dignifed and ON the
whole fitting But it struck one de-
cfdelly fllse note IN the paragraphs
devoted to Mr.. HIS lack Of cupidity
and Of the predatory instinct in politics
cX-Judge Parker said:
He was honest TO the extreme. He
did as a lnatter of course many things
which would have seemed far from nee
essary 90 many men. and to most others
would have seemed Of Such rare excel
lence as 10 deserve announcement to ana
appreciation by the public. An example
Of such exact probity is found in his re-
fusal To accept the 81 Zoo and over which
represented the salary of United States
/ Senator from the time Of his election 10
the day he qualified. He threatened 10
msndamus the clerk unless the money
was returned 20 the Treasury.
| It seems almost like irony 10 praise
Senator of the United States for rot
/ drawing salary for part of his term
I which he did not serve, it being his pref
T Qeuce to draw a larger salary and 20
/ exercise what he considered more po-
ten. influence as the Chief Executive
Of Il state. The circumstances were such
I that. following the course which he had
chosen for himself, he could not have
accepted salary rs q Senator Withou;
creating ruinOus scandal Mr.. Hill
/ was Governor Of New York when lie was
I elected To- the Senate. The siX-year
term for which nv was chosen by tie
/ LEGISLATURE began on March t, 1891, but
his term rs Governor was moi 10 end
until December 81 of the same year. E2
was al active candidate for the Demo
cratic Presidential nomination and did
Rot wish to fOreg0 the advantage of re-
tanning control of legislation and adj
ministration in this state. 81 he decided
10 remain in Office - Governor and not
to let the Lieutenant Governor. General
Edward +. Jones. take over the rcins of
power. He did not permit his credentials
q, Senator 10 be presented until Deem
Ter Il, 1891, and did not qualify as
senator until January L. 1882.
II is obvious that Mr.. Hill could NOT
Lave claimed his salary as Il Senator
from March ! TO December 81, 1891.
without Subjecting himself to destructive
criticism. Some state constitutions eX-
lIessly forbid the holding of state and
federal Offices simultaneously. There
was 10 such prohibition i'll he constitu
zion of this state yet probably no public
man in Mr.. Hills place would ever think
OF trying to Justify himself for drawing
salary both as Governor Of New YOr'S
and as Senator from New York. There
is Il rooted hostility in this country 10
plural Office holding. even under one and
the same jurisdiction. 10 pretend 10
serve the state and the nation at one
and the same time on "a double salary
basis is repugnant TO all American no
tions of political proprety. Whatever
the technicalities of the case, they are
universally waived, and when state
officer is sent TO Congress or member
of the House or the Senate is elected Il
state officer he lets the compensation for
one post lapse when the compensation
for the other beings.
Mr.. Hill would have been laughed out
of politics If he had tried TO keep him
payroll from March 1 10 December 81,
1891. His refusal to accept salary which
he had not earned and which he could
not claim with self-respect was not n
striking evidence Of his exact probity.'
II was only an evidence Of his apprecia-
tiou Of the fitness Of Il rule which could
Lot be departed from without peril and
Cdlum. A better Illustration should