Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1913-08-05
PETTY CRITICISM
OF W. ]. BRYAN
Office Of Secretary Of State
Filled by Millionaires
Under Old Regime
CONGRESSMEN UNPAID
Progressive Senators Forced
by Platform to Support
Tariff Revision

WASHINGTON, D. c., Aug. L.
(SpeciaD The Hon. VIM. j. Bryan,
secretary of state, receives $4,000
per annum for his services and it is
we'll known that that salary is in
adequate for the maintenance of a
secretary of state, in the style in
which he is supposed to live. Here
tofore when we had such secretaries
of state as Philander Knox under
Taft, Elihu Root under Roosevelt and
John Hay under Roosevelt and Nc.
Kinley, all three of whom were mil
lionaires, and multi.millionaires, they
usually spent two or three months
away from their post every year at
fashionable summer resorts, such as
Newport or Bar Harbor. Mr.. Bryan
considers that he is entitled to use
his thirty days vacation any way he
sees fit, and if he wants to lecture
before the Chautauqua and make $751;
600. extra it is no ones business but
his own. The country has given its
hearty approval of Bryan's acts in
doing as he pleased during his legal
vacation, which the Government gives
to every employee. This matter, how.
ever, has called the attention of the
country to the fact that every cab.
met officer should receive at least
$25, 900 per annum, and the speaker
Of the house and the vice president
of the U. s. should also receive $685..
900 per annum.
Congress Also Underpays
1t has been a noticeable fact that
in the last rs years able and patriotic
men have been scarce in the House
and Senate. This is due to the fact
that the pitiful little $500 which is
the annual Compensation for Sena-
tors and Representatives does not
command the best talent in the coun-
try. A great many people are advo-
eating increasing the salaries Of Con.
gressmen and Senators to $4,000 per
annum, which will induce men OF
brains and character to seek these
positions, whereas as the present
time they are largely filled by poll
ticians.
Bill to Reduce House ksembershlc
A bill has been introduced into the
house of Representatives to reduce
it's membership from 435 members to
300 members. This bill is receiving
strong support from the people in all
sections and it is very likely that II
will become an issue in many of the
districts next year. The house ol
Representatives is now SO large that
it is unwieldly and is no longer a rep
resentative body as few absolutely
dictate it's action. The membership
should be reduced and the salaries
doubled, and then we may have good
and able men in Congress.
OH UdNsU0 SVCooWoy
Voting on amendments to the tar
iff bill has begun and not only arc
the Democrats sticking we'll togeth
er but many of the progressive re-
publican Senators are voting with
them Senator Cummins of Iowa
Bristow of Kansas. LaFollette of Wis
consin, Works of California, Craw'
ford of South Dakota and Norris OF
Nebraska, all of whom are "progres'
sives," voted with the Democrats
last week. They would be in an awk
ward position II they had refused to
vote for a reduction Of the tariff, on
which issue they left the republican
fold.
Extending Parcel Post
Postmaster General Burleson Is ar
ranging to raise the limit Of II pounds
by parcel post act and to allow larger
and heavier packages to pass through
the mails, which will be a great bless
ing to the people. He Is also ex'
pecting to lower the rates which are
fifty per cent too high, as the eek
press companies" through their lob
byists had much to do in shaping the
bill when it was before the Senate
and it was the aim Of the express
companies to make the use of the par.
eel post as limited as possible. and
crooked lobbyists have always been
able to do business with the Senate
in the past. as Mulhall, the lobby
king, has shown in his recent testi
mony. Senator Bryon of Florida
(Dem.) and other Senators are at
tacking Burleson for improving and
extending parcel post. Senator Bry.
on should state, however, that he rep
| roconfc tho ovnrocc In he