The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1912-12-05
CLEVELAND URGED
THE PENS|0NRLAM
Favored Federal Support of
the Ex-Presidents-Live
But Twelve Years.

Washington, Dec. 5.-No less II per-
son than Grover Cleveland. after his
retirement from public hfe and two
terms III the white house, made the
public suggestion that, the government
Of the United States ought to provide
for former presidents III Il substantial
manner In order that they might live
in II fashion betittins tho dignity OF
II who has held The highest office
within the gift OF the American pco-
pie and devote their remaining days to
tho study OF public questions n the
general public good. II was in the
latter part Of 1907. less than Il ycar
before his death, that Mr.. Cleveland
advanced this suggestion. which ut the
moment received the cordial support
OF n humble of public mon. but un-
fortunately resulted in no definite ley
islation.
Among the mcn o: that day who
supported the views of the then for
mel president was Senator NeWlands,
still Il member OF the senate. So I'M
pressed was the Nevada senator with
the soundness of the views Of Mr..
Cleveland that MIR. Ncwlands intro
duced a bill to grant Il pension to all
. "a VolNClllS. II never AOI uo.
Nond the committee ROOM. however.
Had some provision of hi character
been made by congress Years ago, the
names OF some OF the presidents of
the country would not now be ASSOC
clated with certain business enterprise
es or professions that do not seem to
romport with their standing AS citi-
zens h have held the high office of
chief executive and which no doubt
were forced upon them in the struggle
of later cal to maintain themselves
II their families.
Has Aroused Congress.
me proposition Of Andrew Carnegie
TO pension the retiring presidents Of
he United States will not be Il nine
days topic of conversation. and then
forgotten. The activities OF the IRON
master in this respect have aroused
members of congress to a recognition
OF the fact that the time has come
when congress ought to do it's duty in
this respect, and one of the first meas
ures to be introduced will be one
granting a pension to retiring execu-
tives. Objection has been raised to
the proposition to give former presi-
dents seats in the house of representa-
tives, without d vote and without
committee duty, on the ground that
it not only would be an empty honor,
out under such conditions these ofi-
Gals would be denied the authority to
use their ability and experience in be-
a OF the people in the actual con-
struction of legislation. The problem
probably will be solved by providing
a s~traight-out pension which, being
granted by the, government itself, any
retiring president could accept with
~ embarrassment to himself or his
friends. Statistics show that a pension
even at the rate of $4,000 a year
tosthe people of this country; 80.
Pensions Would Cost Little.
Prior to the. administration Of, Mr..
Tart. twenty-five psrsons have: held
States. Of these William Henry Har-
rison and Zachary Taylor died in Of
nee. s.IAncoln. Garfield and Mckinley
We're assassinated. OF the remaining
twenty men who held the office. not
counting Mr.. Roosevelt. Of course,
nine lived less than ten years after
!ne'r retirement. seven lived between
ten n twenty years and only three
survived longer than twenty. In 1926
there We're -four former presidents
alive. Only two men who had served
IN the office of chief executive return
ed TO public life in some other capac.
ity. John Quincy Adams was of
the presidents chosen by the house Of
representatives when no candidate re-
celved a majority of the electoral col
,ese. lie retired from the white house
March =. 1929. and was elected to
from Massachusetts. taking
his seat when the Twenty.second con.
gress convened. in December. 1891. he.
ing successfully reelected, and was
serving when. in the Thirtieth con.
gress, February 23, 1s4S, he fell on the
moor OF II house stricken with apo
pleNS, n was carried to the speak,
ers room where he died.
johnson Was Active.
andrew johnson. after serving "a
president following the assassination
OF Lincoln, returned to Tennessee and
engaged actively in politics. He was
aeleated Tor the senate before the
iesislature IN 1870: again he was de-
ieated as an Independent candidate at
large for II E'orty-third congress In
1919 he was elected a United States
senator, bu: died July 81 that SANE
Year. ~"
VI all these men. honored by their
couhtrymen With tho presidency. the
only one Tor whom the government did
ahHtning in a pecuniary was way
Grant. That. however. came to him
because OF his military career. lie
VAS placed on the retired list of army
o11cers as a general. and received nav
as such to the day Of his death.
Inc average length of life Of nine.
tech former Presidents mot including
90. roosevelt. utter they retired from
once was twelve years. The list of
presidents and the length of time they
IlEed after retiring from office follows.
r Washington served two
terms; retired from office March =
l's': died December II. l7s9-two
years and three WV