The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1912-11-29
MR.. TAFT and The
CARNEGIE FUND
President Has Said He Con-
SideTS His Salary Adequate.
HARD TIMES OF some EVS.
Other Countries Save Men Of High
Official Rank From Danger of Work
In old Age-Grant, In 5usiress, Had
the saddest Experience of Any of
Our Former Presidents.

In old Age-Grant, In Busiress, Had
the Saddest Experience Of Any of
Our Former Presidents.
The president of the United States
ing the four years of his office $4,000
a year. In addition, number of such
expenses as the upkeep of the White
House and the stables and garages are
paid for. and. of course, the salaries of
the staff Of executive Offices are also Il
national charge. President Taft went
on record only a few days before the
announcement of the Carnegie $4,000
pensions for eX-presidentS and their
widows as to the sufiiciency OF the
remuneration Of the president. cunsid
erlng his actual necessary expendi-
lures while I'm Office
Other countries have. however, con
sldered II Of Importance to secure mon
who have held high official rank from
the danger of spending their old age
with not sufficient to live upon and
from the temptation of undertaking oc-
cupations which might tend to bring
into disrepute the high offices they
have held. Thus In England every
cabinet minister who has been in Office
for two years and makes a declaration
that his private income Is not above a
certain figure is entitled to a pension
for life from the civil list. At the pres
ent moment two pensions Of $4,000 a
year and three Of $4,000 a year are
thus being paid.
Difficulties of Retirement.
In many cases It has happened that
eK-presidents Of the United States have
been possessed Of sufficient private
means to retire from all public activi-
ties and to end their days in comfort
and peace, like George Washington.
but in modern times, with the long life
in politics generally demanded OF any
man who aspireS to the White House
and the greater requirements Of social
life. this has become more and more
difficult.
Andrew Johnson. indeed, in 1863 re
tired into seclusion, and little was heard
OF him till he was called to the United
States senate in 1873 for the last few
months Of his life. Rutherford B.
Hayes, who alone Of all the presidents
had the reputation Of saving from his
salary, went back to Ohio and for
twelve years engaged In chicken rails
ing with considerable success. Ches-
ter A. Arthur lived only few months
after he had left office and was not
obliged to go into any business.
Grants Sad Experience.
The saddest fortune that befell any
eI-president was that Of General Ulys-
ses 8. Grant After he had retired and
had made his famous tour around the
world he settled down in New York
He was not a rich man, but had a COM
potency. Unfortunately he risked all he
possessed In the brokerage firm of
Grant &c Ward, Of which be and his
son were partners. BY the misman-
agement Of partner the entire assets
OF the firm were wiped out at one
stroke, and the ex-president and vet
eran soldier fouad himself forced in his
old age to face the world anew.
In his distress he went to William II.
Vanderbilt. Mr.. Vanderbilt gave him
a check for 100000 absolutely with
out security. This was swallowed up
in the wreck, and General Grant in Or
der to give some return for the money
took to the financier all his collection
OF swords Of honor, medals and tro-
phies. These Mr.. Vanderbilt after
ward returned to Mrs. Grant, and they
are now in the National museum at
Washington. As soon as he saw that
he was ruined the eK-president. with
indomitable pluck turned to the offers
which had often been made to him by
publishers for the writing Of his recol-
lectlons
He then set himself TO write his
memoirs. and the last year of his life,
when he was already fighting the can
Ger in his mouth which killed him,
was given up to the production Of the
work. Congress had indeed placed
him once moro on the retired list OF
the army, thus assuring him the pay
OF general, but he persevered with
his self allotted task and completed It
only four days before his death. In
this fight against overwhelming odds
tne veteran bOluler beCuTeu sulIhDle
provision for his family.
Two Returned to Law.
Both Benjamin Harrison and Grover
Cleveland were lawyers by profession
and turned TO the bar when they left
the White House. Mr.. Harrison was
appointed professor Of international
law in the Leland Stanford university,
In California, and also practiced ac-
lively. He was counsel for Venezue-
la in its arbitration with Great Brit
ain and was the representative OF the
United States at the first Hague con-
ference.
Mr.. Cleveland formed for a short
time q law partnership with Francis
Lynde Stetson and afterward settled