The Washington herald., 1911-01-25
TAFTS SECRETARY
TO GET HIS $4,000
Assistant to the President"
Fails to Go Through.
WILL SEEK THE BEST MAN
Retirement of Norton Creates Va
cancy and Effort VIII BE Made to
the POxitiOn-Appropria Bill
Reported to the Senate.

President Tafts desire for a well paid.
individual at his elbow is to be gratified
by Congress The legislative appropria-
ton bill reported to the Senate yester-
day, carried an increase of salary of the
Secretary to the President from 5000 to
$4,000
Although the term Assistant to the
President is tabooed. it is recognized In
Congress that there is a yearninG for
sonIeIhcc of that nature at the White
cuse Cabinet officials have their As
sistant Secretaries and bureau chiefs
have their assistant chiefs to relieve
them of the small routine of their Of
fees.
Although it is recognized that an as
siStant to the President, in the full mean
ing of that word. is an impoSSibility. ow-
ing to the fact that the President must
give his personal attention to far more
details of work than a Cabinet officer. it
is believed that the office Of secretary
may be expanded in scope and dignity if
not in name.
Would shift Routine.
Upon the retirement of Secretary Nor
ton shortly, President Taft will make an
other serious effort TO relieve himself of
him despite the effort continually made
to place it upon the shoulders of his sec
rotary. 1t has been found that the per-
sons who have been considered as Mr..
Norton,S successor have been worthy
of and even have demanded a higher sal
airy than Sc coo a yer to serv" as Secre-
tary TO a President Mr. Norton himself
considers the pay very low for such inn
portant work.
The move on Congress accordingly has
been made. The Senate Appropriations
Committee has swung into line, and IL
is believed that the rest of Congress, or
at least a majority. will follow. for the
average Congressman likes prompt and
intelligent treatment when he applies for
admittance 10 the President Mr.. Nor
ton has been all that could be desired
along that line. but he has not always
been able to work miracles in Instantly
presenting a calling member of Con-
gresS to the President
Best Talent Available.
The increase of salary for the secre-
tariaI position, it is suggested, will OBJ
tain for President Taft the very best
available talent in that direction. AL
ready the salons are looking forward 10
a man of extensive acquaintance TO APP
pear in command in the Presidents outer
office. Naturally they are hoping he will
be an individual of infinite sagacity, po-
litical and otherwise. The $4,000 per
year, they say. ought to produce him.
The Increase in salary proposed will
effectUally bar the ambition of any one
of the lame duck Congressman TO be-
come the Presidents right-hand man, for
the reason that they are prohibited by
conStii utional decree from taking an Of
fic" whose pay or emoluments they them
selves have helped to raise.
The legislative bill will provide for the
extensive Encouragement of the White
House c lerical force, which has been
by Secretary Norton and al
r~aly announced.
The Legislative. executive, and judicial
bill, carrying authorization
for appropriations -agCrega ting $3.50. $50, !
was reported to the Senate. The Senate !
increased the amount If the apprOpria |
tons over the total in the bill as it came
from the House 1920.
The pprincipal items Of increase Were |
as follows: Treasury, increased clerical |
force, $3.50; Secretary of State. increase !
of salary to $1,000; secretary To the Pres |
idcnt, increase OF salary to $4,000.