The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-24

ONDON,August Special Up
to date no cabinet minister in this
A-4 country has threatened to 90 on the
lecture platform on the ground that his Of
fetal salary is inadequate TO his needs. al
though the Right Honorable David
IJovd George recently assured an inves-
tigating committee that he was poor
man on the $4,000 a year-7or over
twice as much as is paid to any member
of President wilson's official family
which he receives as chancellor of the
exchequer.
=. Minister'S of the crown over here are
in receipt of salaries and enjoy per
ouisites" which must make the mouths
of American ministers water if they
know about them. One OF them draws
an actual stipend of $4,000, or as much
as the presidency of the United states
was worth only a few years ago. while
another gets SS5,000 year and fees in
addition which more often than not
amunt to more than his official pay.
Three others live rent free, at the expense
of the public, and one of these latter. the
First Lord of the Admiralty. has at his
disposal besides a private yacht which
cost the British taxpayer something like
$4,000 a year to keep up.
!.
stead of being Secretary of State for
Uncle Sam, had Prime Minister As
auith's job, he would be drawing more
than three times his present salary, and
would also enjoy rent free, an uncom-
monty comfortable as we'll historic Of
ficial residence.
The Premiership of England. it Is
true, is an unpaid job, the only real per-
quisite in connection with it being its
holders privilege of occupying the fam
Gus mansion. No. 10 Downing street
now the goal of suffragettes and Scotch
bailieszwhich often has been described
and perhaps justly, as the most inter-
esting house in the world. Whoever
becomes premier when new admins
tration comes into being, however, sell
dom contents himself with the office,
but takes unto himself also the portfo-
lilo of some other minister of the crown,
usually. as in the case of Mr.. Asquith
or Mr. Balfour before him, that of First
Lord of the Treasury, which carries
with 1t the pearly emolument OF 5000 OF
''the best" as they would say over
here, meaning sovereigns, or, in our
more democratic currency, $4,000 a
year.
1t must be a lot of satisfaction to be
able to receiye ones guests in a man
sion that is absolutely uniqne--and
unique of course. No. 10 Downing street
is. Comparatively few persons in this
country know, by the way that the dngy
little street in which this, TO outward
appearance, dingy little house stands,
was built by and is named for an Amer
lean in the person of one George Down
ing. a rather shady graduate of Har-
ward who fourished in the time of
Charles H., but such is the fact As
for No TO- while far from being pal
ace, being renowned for its winding
passages and funny little rooms-in one
of which Nelson and Wellington met
for the first and only time and another
of which was Gladstone's favorite den
lit boasts of several superb apart
ments. One of these is the famous ban
ouetting hall that was built by William
Pitt, and others the historic old cab
met chamber-now used for clerical
work--with fine long windows looking
across the long garden terrace, the
First Lords reception room where the
cabinet now meets, and the dining hall,
a really magnificent room. famous for
its paintings and candelabra, wh'ch
holds more than SO lights.
Directly next door is No IL Downing
street, an infinitely less luxurious and
historic but eminently comfortable
house where, rent free again. lives the
chancellor of the exchequer. 1t Is rather
a striking coincidence by the way, that
Lloyd George, who like w. j. Bryan,
has come to be regarded as the tribune
and advocate of the plain reepul,
would. like his distinguished contempo-