Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-07-16

Washington. July Washington,
today, was interested chiefly in devel-
opments following Secretary Bryan's
statement that he had to spend his
vacation on the lecture platform be-
cause he could not live on the secfe-
tary of states salary of $4,000 year.
The lobby investigation, the tariH
and the Mexican situation were for
gotten, temporarily at least, while eV-
erybody talked about the resolution
introduced by Senator Bristow, calling
on the President to Advise the Sen
ate what would be a proper salary TO
enable the present secretary of state
to live with comfort and to enable him
to give his time to the discharge of his
public duties
When the Bristow resolution was
read, amid Republican laughter, Dem
oeratic Leader Kern and other sena-
tors Immediately objected to its con-
sdera tion and after few brief eX-
changes, it went over. 1t was fully
discussed, however. in the Hobbies and
cloakrooms at both ends of the Cap
itol.
Later Secretary Bryan issued this
statement:
When Mr. Bryan's attention was
called to some criticisms that had
been published in regard to his lectur-
ing he replied as follows:
Il am glad to have the criticism
brought to my attention. | believe in
criticisms of public officials. Criticism
is helpful. If man makes a mistake
criticism enables him to correct; il
he is unjustly criticized the criticism
helps him.
Il have had my share of criticism
since / have been in public life, but 1t
has not prevented my doing what l
thought proper to do.
In devoting a part of my vacation
to lecturing, l am doing what / believe
to be proper and | have no fear what
ever that any unbiased person will
criticize me when he knows the facts.
For II years, the sources of my in
come have been writing and lecturing,
but each year I have made more pub
lie speeches, without compensation and
wnere / have paid my own travelling
expenses than l have where compensa-
ticn was received. My earning capac-
;ty mas been large and | have made
not only an income sufficient for my
immediate needs, but have saved, on
an average something more than s10.-
900 a year. In accepting the office which
/ row hold | gave UP the opportunity
to add TO my Accommodations, for | do
not expect to increase, during my term,
the amount l have laid aside-that is,
! am willing to forego whatever adgan-
tage I might derive from the acauir-
ing Of $4,000 for the privilege of sere-
ing the country in this office during
the coming four years. | will do more
If necessary. but l do not believe that
fair minded people will ask it of me.
Therefore. until l see some reason for
changing my purpose / expect to lee
ture enough to bring my income up to
my expenses, these lectures to be de-
livered during the time that other Off
Gals give to their vacations. In addi-
ton to supplementing my salary | hope
that my lectures do good-people who
attend them would not do SO if they
did not think they received their
moneys worth, but / would be glad to
pass my vacations resting instead of
lecturing if l can do so without eat
ing iii upon the amount that | have
laid away as protection against old
age"
Senator Bristow's resolution set out
that from 1889 to 1899 Thomas Jeffer-
son and Edmund Randolph held the
office of secretary of state at salaries
of $500 a year from 1899 to 1919 John
Marshall James Madison, James
Monroe and John Quincy Adams
served ut $4,000 from 1919 to 1853 Hen
ry Clay, Martin Van Buren,, Daniel
Webster, John Calhoun and James
Buchanan served at $4,000; from 1853
to 1911 William Fl. Seward, James G.
Blaine. Thomas F. Bayard, Walter
Q. Gresham, Richard Olney, John
Sherman, John Hay and Elihu Root
served for $4,000 and added:
During this long period of time no
one of these eminent statesmen was
compelled to neglect the duties of the
office because of the meagreness OF
salary.
Whereas. the Great Commoner'
now holding that high office, Hon.
William j. Bryan has stated in the
public press that the salary of $1,000
per month is not sufficient to enable
him to live with comfort and that
because of the meagreness of the
salary Of $4,000 per annum he is
compelled to neglect the duties of his
office and go upon the lecture plat
form in order to earn a living and:
Whereas there are now pending before
the department of state matters of the
highest Importance to the nation affect
ing the relations of our country with
Mexico. Japan, England and other for
eiSn countries that demand the most
earnest, careful and continuous attention
of the secretary of state there be it Re
solved: That the President be requested
If not incompatible with the public in
terests, to advise the Senate what would
be proper salary to enable the present
secretary of state to live with comfort
and to enable him to give his time to the
discharge of his public duties. for which
he is now being paid the sum of $1,000 pei
month; and be it further
Resolved That the President be re-
spectfully requested to give this subject
as prompt attention as his convenience
will permit in order that Congress may
take Immediate steps to relieve theiI
country from the great loss which 1t suf-
fers by being deprived of the services OF
the present secretary of state though II
is now paying for such services at the
IF 4tOnA nor month :"