Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-07-19

| lish standards of public service. His
| public acts. therefore, more than those
of any other man except the President,
are of influence in the fixing of stand
ards of public service and public poll
cy. ii the American people remain sill
| ent at this time and by their silence
give their inferential approval or assent
TO the policy MIR. Bryan hats announced,
/ that attitude of an official toward his
duties must be assumed to be per-
manent feature of our governmental
institutions.
| For my part, | feel impelled to voice
| Il protest. | am no respector of persons.
] see no reason why the head of De-
partment should be permitted to make
private gain by methods that are for
hidden to his subordinates, | see moth
| ing in his announced policy that IS
not equally available TO any .man or
woman in the government employ, and
certainly no one will question the as
sertoa that the general application of
! that policy would mean the absolute
ruin of public service.
1T has been ordered by another
member of the Cabinet that postmast-
ers shall not engage in any other bust
ness than that relating to their Offices
as postmasters. The same rule is APP
piled to other subordinate federal Of
flee holders. Why this discrimination
in favor of a high salaried officer
against the low salaried one?
MIR. Bryan says he is selling his time.
| energies and talents to private individ-
uals 5r organizations because his Of
fetal salary is net enough for him to
live upon. He is receiving $4,000 year.
| Ia the Government service there are
| thousands of employees who receive less
than one tenth of that sum and Who,
| in these days of high cost of living.
| find il difficult to live within their in
| come. Not enc of these thousands,
however is permitted TO abandon his
pest of duty and sell his time and ener-
| Sies and talents To others for the rea-
| son that Mr.. Bryan has given for his
| action. II Mr.. BrSans example shall
| be followed by public employees gen
| orally who can see the extent of INJURY
| to the public service?
| If We are to adopt the policy of
placing the dollar above public duty.
| then the door of opportunity should
not be opened to one citizen and closed
| to another. If there is to he discrim-
| nation, It should be in favor of the
| poorly paid man. but | see no rea-
| son why Il distinction should be made.
| AT a time when most unusual for
| eisn complications confront U.S. when
| the Japanese question is before US,
| when eur relations with the disturbed
| republic to the South of us are most
grave and fraught with mighty respon-
| sibilities; when treaties affecting our
| relations with various nations OF Eu-
rope are pending and awaiting the ac-
tien of this nation, when the ques-
| ten of Panama Canal tolls is pressing
| hard upon us, when the alleged claims
of Columbia are being urged: when
the Congress is dealing with the tariff
containing provisions which may effec,
our diplomatic relations with other
countries. indeed at this time above all
others the statement of Mr. Bryan
that lie proposed to desert his office
for the purpose of personal financial
gain comes as q shock TO all thought
full people.
This action is even more nexcusa-
BILE when it is known that the Seere-
tary has been in office but a few
months and from the nature of things
he cannot have become familiar with
all of the responsibilities of his grea,
position. The secretary of state
is regarded as the most I'M
portant of the cabinet, he should be
the first example of faithful intelligent
devotion TO duty.
| Il know of nothing more unfortunat Il
to the cause of public virtue and single
ness CT purpose for high ideals thar
this expressed determination of Mr.
Bryan, upheld by the reasons which ht
gives. When he entered into the i'm
piled contract with the government Il
serve as Secretary of State he knew
what the salary of that position was
He had fer years proclaimed the doc
trine of the simple lfe--of pure democ
racy. He knew that $1,000 per montl
was the compensation he would re
: ceiye from the government To ma
jority of people in public and privat,
life that compensation seems most ade
quate, and vet now he declares to the
country that it is insufficient to NEE
his expenses as Secretary of State.
His salary is the same as that re
ceived by the other cabinet officers ano
no one of them has complained tina
it is inadequate. How now are tn,
virtues of economy and simplicity IL
|
: their great advocate states that it i.
necessary for him to capitalize fol
| financial gain his great ability as
Chatauqua lecturer because he cannot
support himself and family upon ST., 00t
u year.
IF he had resigned as Secretary Civ.
ing as his reason the one he did give
viz. that he could not live on his salary
and by Inference that he owed a higher
duty to his desire for wealth than ht
did to public service there would have
been less reason for public complaint
hnt to hold his Office and draw the full
| salary for only part of the time he
rendered service is in my judgment i'm
, proper and inexcusa BILE.
MIR. Bryan was one of the highest
priced lecturers in the country before
he became Secretary of State. His SUI
4 perior ability as an orator plus the no.
toriety he secured as a several times
candidate for President gave him great
drawing powers at Chatauquas anC
he had a right to improve the opportu.
mites thus opened to him but no mar
has a right to exploit the public office
l ,;.I, :, &c. l,nI