Evening star., 1923-02-09

tirement law. Then he became head
Of business enterprise. for he is far
from approximation Because HIS
company deals in rubber supplies
such as the Army sometimes buys,
propaganda was set going to claim
that he was not entitled to the regu-
lar retirement pay. so long as his
company might have occasion to sell
supplies to the government. That is
why the House cut out the approprta-
tion to pay him, which the Senate
now insists should be restored.
F
An officers retirement pay is part
of the governments contract with all
officers, in both Army and Navy. To
repudiate that contract after a sol
dier has served forty years-and
served as brilliantly as did Gen. Har-
bord, in actual fighting and in po-
sitions of highest responsibility-is
incomprehensible from any stand
point of national honor. The plea
that he might make profit il his
rubber company should sell to the
government is puerile. How easy il
would be to meet such a contingency
by even establishing a rule never TO
buy from any company having In lis
employ a former defender Of the na
tion. That might bar out some $500,
900 companies, but the nation must
J and shall be saved. Reputation of
| financial obligations TO retired of
| ficers is besmirching the sanctity OF
| contracts. America cannot afford
| that record, regardless OF who wants
to stab Gen. Harbord's welfare. II
| IL America--not Harbord-on trial.
| Nobody ever ran for Vice President
| of the United States for the sake Of
the salary-$10,000 year. The po-
sition Is one of very great honor. for
| 1t is second only to the presidency.
and carries with it the necessity OF
maintaining the dignity of the ONCE,
whether the incumbent wants to
shine socially or live g. quiet life.
| He has no choice, provided he full
1 fills his obligations. His salary IS
so small that 1t melts away. no mat
ter how he tries to economic.
| When the republic was forminsN
there was much discussion as to
| whether even the senators should
| receive pay for their services, the
argument being that the honor was
SUFFICIENT compensation. The spirit
| of democracy resented the plan to
reserve senatorial honors only for
| the rich, and salaries were estab
| lished 1t is the spirit of the repub-
lie. therefore,. never to trade on
principle is found also in the law
| which forbids the government ac-
cepting free service of any kind.
though that provision is made
The salary of the Vice President.
though it is $4,000, violates thai
principle forbidding gratuitous sery-
ice. for he is obliged to spend IL all
to fulfill his ONCE obligations.
home for Vice Presidents while in'
office. II is not an overelaoorate
home, yet it's upkeep, in style which
will be required of Vice President,
in entertaining foreign dignitaries,
salary. Congress is aghast at the
thought of adding a moderate appro-
priation for the upkeep of the hon'
and may refuse the gift OF $500 900
mansion, because the coal and water
and other incidentals will cost, say.
$4,000 a year!
The nation has grown beyond Jef-
fersonian simplicity. The social funC-
tions put upon the White House have
proved disastrous burdens in more
than one case. Witness the present
effects of the strain upon the first
lady of the land. 1t may we'll bc
considered whether that strain may
not be shared. No possible danger
could ever arise of any lessening OF
the leadership of the White House.
| President Harding has already
struck a new trail in regard to the
vice presidency, by inviting Mr.. Cool
idge to sit in the councils of the cab
met not only as an undeTstudy OF the
| administration, but liaison with
Congress and as adviser-in- genera.
II will be no greater departure from
precedent. now, IL the Vice President
Is given a home. with maintenance
i. suitable to his position.