Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-11-30
Pay Them More

HE resignation Of Il public official OF
demonstrated ability and unquestioned
value TO the government because of the in
adequacy Of his salary is a common oc-
currence Judges on the Federal bench have
reiinquishcd life-tenure positions for the sim
pie reason that they could not live decently
upon their income and could not with pro-
priety increase 1t by the processes open to
the average man woman. Members OF
the House and Senate some of them leaders
IN legislative councils. have found it difficult
10 maintain themselves with even reasonable
comfort in Washington at $500 year and
Cabinet officers in more instances than one
during the past few years have retired to
private life as matter of justice to fami-
lies dependent upon them.
The withdrawal of Mr.. McAdoo from the
present Cabinet for the sole reason that his
salary as Secretary Of the Treasury is insult
hclent TO provide for his family raises the
question whether or not the government
should not make more liberal allowance
for such officials. The country can i'll af-
ford to lose Mr.. McAdoo at such time as
this. He is complete master OF national
finance He has been a towering success
as Secretary Of the Treasury in a time of
great stress. He has guided the President
IN all his fiscal policies. and his advice has
been sound as his actions have been decisive
With the period of reconstruction upon the
country, the nation should have the benefit
Oh Mr.. McAdoos vast knowledge and his pro-
lound experience. Yet it must dispense with
Doth because at the end of six years in the
oaolnet the secretary is too poor in pocket
10 remain longer at his post He is not a
young man any more, and he feels under
me natural obligation OF returning to bust
ness IN order that he may employ the next
lew years in recouping his fortunes.
1t is q nOtOriOltS fact hat
III America are far from commensurate with
the ability demanded by the government of
It's higher officials. The Judiciary is perhaps
the most notable instance of this Federal
Judges are so manifestly underpaid that it
is wonder that the government is able TO
NIL acceptabiy the vacancies as they occur
on the bench. Only the devotion to their
profession of most members of the bar and
their realization that the bench must be oc-
cupied by superior men il the people are to
nave justice makes it at all possible to keen
the Judiciary on its present high plane
1t is always possible for the President
to command the services of men or large
means for executive positions. This has been
demonstrated for many years in the appoint
ment OF members of the American DIPLOMATIC
corps, but it is unfortunate that men of
lesser means, although they have signal oua]-
lhcations for public service, are barred from
appointment because of the niggardly fashion
III when the government compensates them
Soon or late Congress must deal with this
important question, and while it is canvass
ing it, that body might we'll consider the SAL
aries which it pays its own members There
may nave been time when the country
would nave resented an act Of Congress which
increased congressional salaries, but that
ume has passed, many thoughtful men are
led 10 believe