Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1912-11-28
TO PUT Them
IN congress
FOR Lifetime
IS What BILL PROPOSES
RurlGSOn'S Scheme For Dis
pOsingOf Ex.PrGSideRtS

Washington, D. c., Nov. 27.-Presi-
dents of the United States, upon the
expiration of their terms of office, will
become representatives at large of the
people to Congress, with seat in the
House and an annual salary of $17,500
as long as they live, II provision pre-
pared for the legislative, executive,
and judicial appropriation bill by
Representative Albert j. Burleson, of
Texas, receives the approval Of the
House and Senate.
Mr. Burleson is second man on the
appropriations committee of the House
and has considerable influence with
the other House leaders. The fact
that he intends to insert the presiden-
| tial provision in one of the regular ap-
preparation bills as rider" indicates
that there is a chance of its approval.
Incidentally, the fact that Democrat
of Mr. Burleson's standing has taken
up the gauge thrown down by Andrew
Carnegie when he announced the es-
tablishment of his pension fund sys-
| tenn for former Presidents makes It
certain that action of some sort may
be expected at the coming session OF
Congress
The clause which Mr.. Burleson will
insert in the legislative, executive, and
judicial appropriations bill, with a
view to obtaining the approval of
both branches Of Congress, reads as
follows
Hereafter, every ex-President of
the United States shall, during his
life, be held and regarded as a repre-
sentative-at-large of the people Of the
United States, and shall be entitled to
the privileges of the floor of the House
of Representatives with all the rights
of members of the House of RepreseE-
tatives save that of voting, and shat
receive for his services an annual eel
airy of $l7,500; provided that no obi
cation to serve on committees of lie
House shall be imposed on such repre-.
.itives"
Mr.. Burleson regards the Carneg' ,
pension plan with disfayor He evil
IDENTIFY prefers thu suggestion of VIII
liam Jennings Bryan that former PresI
dents should have a seat in the House
of Representatives. combining this
idea with the general scheme of Car
negie for renumerating ex-Presidents
He is opposed to straight pensions,
but believes that any man who has
served his country as President should
not be compelled TO engage in bust
ness or professional work which might
compromise the dignity of the nation
which he had served In the White
House.
Admitting also that Mr.. Carnegie's
remarkable offer of a pension of $685.
900 per annum to former Presidents
has brought the issue to a focus, the
Texas member of the House has care
fully worked out the plan which, he
says, will prevent the nation from
being put in the position of having
wealthy private citizen from taking
over one of the obligations of his gov
eminent.
by the plan that / have worked
out" said Mr.. Burleson, the expert
ence and wisdom with which our Pres
idents are supposed to be endowed
when they are elected to their high
Office by all the people, and which
presumably are increased and deepen
ed by their four or eight years of SER
vice in the White House, will continue
to be available for the benefit of the
nation.
Former residents will no longer be
obliged to return to the practice OF the
law or to seek means of livelihood in
business ventures, with danger of COM
promising their own dignity and that
Of the country. They viii be given an
honorary place in the service of the
people and provided with an income
on which they can live and maintain
their families in manner befitting the
former chief magistrate of a great
country.
AS member of the House Of Rep
resentatiyes, they will have the right
to take part in the debates and can
give their colleagues and the country
the benefit of the wide and intimate
knowledge of public affairs they have
acquired in the chief magistracy.
u think it will be a happy and dig.
nihed solution Of the problem OF what
to do with our former Presidents,
and ! am hopeful my colleagues on
the appropriations committee will som
sent to incorporate the plan in the