El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-05-18

a poorer man than when he entered
II. The scale OF expenditure in the
presidents palace, as IL was called IN
the early days Of the republic, has rts-
en- greatly within recent years. When
Grant was elected for his first term
the salary attached TO the great Office
was only $4,000, and he managed to
get along on it, though it must have
been utterly Inadequate.
The Matter of Salary.
1t will be remembered that in 1873 a
bin was introduced in congress raising
the salary Of the president from $4,000
10 $4,000 and the pay of members OF
congress to $4,000. There was fierce
struggle over IT, with many tumultu-
Gus scenes, but finally 1t passed both
house ard senate. When Grant refused
TO sign it. il was again passed over his
veto. Then a storm Of popular mag
nation arose. and so much russ was
made in the newspapers about the sal
airy grab that when congress met
gain the first thing IT did was TO re-
peal the part Of the law which related
to the wages OF senators and represen-
tatives. 1t would also have restored
the salary Of the president to It's former
figure, but Grant protested against II
in such terms. declaring IL unjust, as 70
prevent such a step.
1t is a curious fact that George
Washington actually received two cleo
tOral votes for a third term, though he
from North Carolina and the other from
Virginia. This was in the election OF
1895. when John Adams led Jefferson
by only three electoral votes At the
fourth election Jefferson and Burr re-
Ceived an equal number OF electoral
vOtes-the result being that the house
OF representa- ives proceeded to choose
the president, each state casting one
vote. and jefferson was selected for
the office
This tie made the 18th amendment
necessary Before that the constitution
provided that the electors should vote
by ballot for two persons. without spe-
cifying which was to be president and
which vice president The arrangement
was that the person having The greatest
number OF votes Of a majority should
be president, and that the one coming
next should be vice president, whether
he obtained a majority or not
Curious Election Incident.
At Monroe's second election a very
curious incident occurred It was sup
posed that all the electors votes were
Tor him. but on opening the New Hamp-
shire package IT was found that one
electOr from that state had "bolted,
explaining the matter by saying that ne
wanted George Washington to be the
only man handed down TO history as
unanimously elected.
In 1884, 1t is related, James G. Blaine
did not want the nomination for presl-
carry New York the pivotal state. He
suggested for the ticket William I.
Sherman and Robert T. Lincoln, saying
Those names put together would De
irresistible. We should have cam
paign OF marching and song, and the
ticket would elect itself" But Sher-
man refused, saying that he did not
think that military men were suited TO
the white house job.
1t is also related that Abraham Lin
coin, when q candidate for a second
term. offered the second place on the
ticket with him to Benjamin Butler.
But Butler declined on the ground that
he ought not to leave the army at a
period Of crisis to take g civil position.
Had he decided otherwise he would
have become president instead Of An
drew Johnson.
Threw Away Presidency Twice.
Daniel Webster, however, was the
only man who ever threw away the
presidency twice, and nobody ever de-
sired the office more eagerly. He re- I
used to accept the second place on the ]
icket with Harrison in 1870. and thus I
lid not succeed the latter when he died 4
gain, in 1913. he might have been vice /
president with Taylor II he had so 1
Wished. He refused and Fillmore was 4
)ut In succeeding Taylor on his de- I
Mise &c months later
When the first successful candidate
or the presidency entered into office,
lie was inaUguraIed, as everybody [
-nows. in New York City. which was