Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-11-15

SUCCESSFUL opponent ID d iAieiiic@A
of the Bayard family, one OF the
most distinguished families OF Del
aware, we may assume that his re-
marks have no bearing on the re-
suit of the senatorial election in
his home state. Senator Dupont
is n of the richest men in the
United States, and it is not sur
prising that his minds turns to
money as a solution Of the prob
lem of inferior men getting into
congress. His remedy would be
to either double the salaries OF
senator's and congressman or to cut
them in half. He argues that It
they were cut in half inferior men
would not seek the jobs, or it the
salaries were doubled the increased
compensation would tempt better
me to seek the offices.
We doubt if either of his RENE
dies would prove effective. At
$3.50 per year and %perquisites we
would still have plenty OF inferior
men seeking the place. AT $4,000
a year we might have a better class
of men willing to accept a nomln-
alton for congress, but we would
also increase the number of infer
ior men seeking the place. 1t is a
matter Of general knowledge that
many of our most brilliant men IN
public service have retired from
public life, solely because they
have been unable to save any thing
for their old age off their official
salaries and felt that their duty to
their families compelled them to
accept a position with a more gen.
o employer. Uncle Sam is a
stingy paymaster to his chief en-
ployes. The subordinate servants
of the government r fairly well
paid. but the head servants are
most insufficiently paid. Cabinet
officers, heads of departments and
members OF congress ought to be
better paid both as a matter OF JUS
tiec and policy whether it woule
improve the service or not. Con,
eress could well cut down the
number Of the house representa-
tives to half its present number
and double their salaries at the
same time. The decreased IN
bers of the lower house would ado
to its efficiency instead of detraet,
ing from it, and the cost to the
xpaye would not be increased
even if the salary was doubled. As
to the senate the constitution OF
the United States would have to be
amended before its numbers coule
be decreased, but n senator
could represent his state just a:
we'll as two. We have too many
cabinet officers now, and the tend
ency is to increase them rather
than to diminish them. They arr
not paid nearly enough at that, L
a lot of commissions and other OF
fices created largely for the pur
pose of allowing the ~administra
ton to find a place for lame ducks
as defeated congressman and othe'
politicians are called, were abol
ished we could afford to pay cabi
net officers better.
And by the way this administra
ton is at it's wits end to tind place
for its defeated members. Seldom
in the political history of the coun
try has any president had such
flock Of lame ducks to provid'
warm and soft nests for at the ex
n of the public treasury
) Their quacks in Washington ar
already beginning to deafen tn
ears of the president, and he ha
been obliged to tell them that Their
are more lame ducks than avallabl
offices. However the defeate
congressman do not go out OF OF
|, flee until March 4 next, and the
I have a chance to make new JOB
for themselves by new legislat1o
before that time. The prohibitio
t enforcement law provided a lot Q
Jobs for lame ducks in the past, an
!, Washington runors have it that
!, big increase in the appropriate
for prohibition inspectors and er
{ forcement officers is on the card'
/, with the purpose Of taking care Q
i a number Of these defeated cor
gressmen, and providing them wit
a meal ticket at the expense OF tn
taxpayers.
Hsoh Court RerrandS