The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-03-03

7 TPWARD Of a dozen men have en-
10 tered the quadrcnnial race for

Z PWARD Of dozen men have en-
10 tered the quadrcnnial race for
s. the presidency The course over
which they will run 10 strewn With
broken hearts and wasted gold. How
: much will tho victor profit by. his
laurcls. and what will they cost hilu?
The purse offered is 100000 for tn.
term. This means $4,000 year. s205.f8
day. 1855 per waking or sleeping
hour.
Such is the wage for the Office which
George Washington offered to Ill with
out pay. When h.. the country's ia
Their and his successors. for half
century and moro. travelled about
on public business they paid the toll
keener. the innlseeper and the coach
driver out of tlr.ir Official snlary of
$4,000 r year. Now the government
allows President for yearly travel
money sum equal to that full salary
OF all our carly Presidents from Wash
lnaton 10 Grant In other words, the
President elected this year nyiii be a bio
10 draw from the Trea sury four times
us much In salary and allowances as
was given to Washington, Jefferson.
Jackson. Lincoln and Chief Magistrates
OF their time: twice Us much as was
given our Presidents from Hayes tu
Mckinley.
But even at this rate the increase
In the presidential salary has not KEEP.
pace with the growth OF the rcsponGi-
Utilities attached to the Office.
Servant OF Many More Masters.
President Taft is the servant OF
twenty four times as many eXacting
masters MS bosKcd ana criticized George
Washington. To put 1t In another way,
there are Ss,00o000 more citizens super
visinS Mr.. Tafts Job than directed that
os the country's father. Then too, the
lattei'g GfnulDvprE had n
news OF what ho was doing, nor could
they get at him vary casily, this being
on account of Inconvenience OF travel.
Tor one thing. and his eaclusivrness,
Tor another. for 1t was aga inst his ruls
to receive q citizen unless he came In
iroduc:d by a Congressman or some
other high official OF State.
iicsiaes the purse OF $4,000 and the
FIsht TO spend, during his term. $780,
opc more in travel money (without CIV
ms any account OF It's usc) the winner
OF tho presidential race will 10 present.
ed With a four-year lease upon the
most stately and most famous old CO.
ionial mansion upon our hemisphere.
upon whose enlargement the govern
MINT spent !5i6,aDv ten years ago. The
next tenant Of the White Houes will
cnjoy the convenicaces OF an Office
building twice the size of that which
ar. Taft found when he took possos-
sion three years ago. for the c2ecu-
,lvc offices have been enlarged under
his direction.
Another expansion made upor cir.
Tafts recommendation has been In the
salary or The private secretary TO the
PRESIDENT, now the most tried official
upon the governments pay roll. He
draws tic fun pay of United States
senator or $500 per year, whereas ell
PRESIDENTS until Buchanan had TO gay
iHclr secretaries out OF thcir own
,Sasc OF $4,000. The nrst salary al
lowed private secretary was s2,5oe, or
% per cont. of the Presidents pay
:hc same percentage now allowed Mr..
liIilcs. tn. TAFT secretary.
Trcblcd Sincc LincoIn's Time.
Thus the remuneration OF both the
c'hief Executive and the head of hts
ONCE force have bean tIebled since
lincoln and his faithful Nicolay &C.
Sup!ed the White Houae Offices. Indeed,
iau7 OF the clerks and stenogra pliers in
Mr.. Tafts office receive as much salary
as was allowed john Nicolay. while
above them is an executive clerk re.
sewing $4,000, and a chief clerk draw
.ng $4,000 year. AT lower pay ell
Client men could not be Kept at their
desks In these deys. They would soon
ne tempted away by outside business
and financial concerns recognizing that
men picked for the Presidents own Of
nee are the cream OF the civil eervics
clerical force.
Tho pay roll OF this force now
amounts 10 $7I,62o year. and this
does not include contingent fund OF
$4,000 annually appropriated for the
stationery, record books. telegraph and
telephone service. furnishings and con-
Seyances used by the executive Office,
neEidea such new books as arc nesded
Tor the White House library and Nils.
cellaneous items at the discretion of
the President" In other words, sum
iotal OF $4,000 is annually expends sd at
tho Chief Magistrates discretion for
travelling expenses and office mainten-
ance.
BY JOHN ELFRETH WATKINS.
fiis business correspondence goas
through tho mails fr.e. Hs has to
buy stamps only for private corre-
epondence with his sisters, his cousins
and his aunts. or near friends. When
no gives n state function there is a
messenger at hand TO go about town,
leaving invitations ct the doors of this
invited guests.
Keep Worries From Him.
H. l., ~ a -