The Wilmington morning star., 1946-01-28
Fair Enough
By WEsTBROOK PEGLER
Copyright, 1916, BY King Features Syndi

Last April, as the agents Of many nations
assembled in San Francisco Mrs. Eleanor
Roosevelt expressed a not excessively demure
hope that the United States would be repre-
scented by at least one woman in the United
Nations Organization and this shy intimation
was interpreted as personal nomination of
herself to place on the public payroll
Recent developments have confirmed the
suspicion, for President Truman duly selected
her, the Senate confirmed the nomination
and this violent partisan politician, as abhor-
rent 10 millions Of American women as she
is admirable to other millions, wrote, ere
she sailed for London, that she felt deeply
honored' but prudently refrained from claim
ing any mandate to speak for American
womanhood. In fact, Mrs. Roosevelt did not
even claim to posses any qualifications for
the position and attributed her selection
largely to the fact that her late husband
laid the foundation of the U.N.O
Mrs. Rcosevelt's new position is political
job paying $4,000 a year, which is $4,000
more than the salary of senator or repre-
sentative, plus expenses at the rate OF $25
day and other perquisites and is in addition
to her pension of $1,000 year as the widow
of President Her income from the taxes
of the people thus is $4,000 a year, plus
the franking privilege for the large volume
of mail involved in her political and COM
mercial activities and her subsistence while
she is on the road. Being an inveterate
traveller. Mrs. Roosevelt dubtless will spend
much of her time on tour, drawing her exepnse
allowance.
Mrs. Roosevelt, Of course, has an Inherited
personal fortune and an income from her
Journalistic practice established as a by
product CT the presidency in the first frankly
commercial exploitation of the office by
PRESIDENTS wife in American history. She
also enjoys, for the rest Of her life the
income from one-half of the estate of her
late husband, millionaire by inheritance.
The widow of President Roosevelt enjoys
rather special privilege by comparison
with ove1 government pensioners and men,
bers of congress engaged for special duties
retired officer of the armed services who
is called back to help the government in some
administrative job, such as General Bradley's
post as head of the Veterans Administration
cannot draw his pension in addition to his
pay. The pension stops during such employ
ment And the Act Of Congress permitting
the appointment of Mrs. Roosevelt to a lob
paying $4,000, in addition to her pension of
$4,000, specifically states that mo member
OF the Senate or House of Representatives
or officer of the United States who is designat-
ed representative or alternate to the General
Assembly shall be entitled to receive such
compensation of $4,000 year.
The bill authorizing the $1,000 pension to
IMrs. roosevelt was introduced by Representa-
i've John Leslnskl, OF Michigan, a Democrat,
chairman OF the Committee on Invalid Pen
slons. 1t was referred to his committee and
ne presented favorable report supported
by letter from General Frank T. Hines.
then chief OF the Veterans Administration
VINO wrote that there were many precedents
but added: TT has not been the practice
OF the Veterans Administration to comment
on the Proprlety OF proposed legislation of
this type
Among the recipients of such IS, 900 pensions
are some WIDOWS who would seem to have been
in no need. Mrs Edith Boiling Wilson the
widow ct Woodrow, is commonly understood
70 De wealthy in her own right and Mrs.
Eoltn Z. Roosevelt, the widow of Theodore
hao not only an estate but prosperous sons
VINO, IN pinch, could have maintained their
notner as most sons, in case of need. feel
flllal obligation to do, regarding this duty
as privilege. Franklin D.. Roosevelts sons.
also' could have made it unnecessary for the
to support their mother.
A long roster of widows of presidents he.
ginning with Martha Washington, have re-
ceived the Thanking privilege but Mrs. Eleanor
roosevelt Is the first one to whom the grant
to more than a sentimental gesture
for the free carriage of a little
personal mail. Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt main
talns political and business office in New
Y ork and her frank is applicable to tons of
the political propaganda of the Political
Action Committee and the correspondence |
Incidental to the commercial business of rim. |
nlng a newspaper column and magazine
department. Legitimate journalists in the
same practice pay such postage themselves.
And this is not to forget the flip given bv
Mr. Truman to a syndicated column sold
numerically which had lost considerable
sales value.
Inc American taxpayer, including the war
wounded and all, have been much
more generous to the widow of millionaire
PRESIDENT herself well provided for thar
they will be to the destitute invalid widow
OF soldier lost in battle and mother of his
They have been incomparab1y more
generous than the late President himself
VINO LETT no pensions and beoueathed on1v
Sloo each to his old personal EMPLOYEES and
not more than $1,000 year to his invalid
secretary, Miss lie Hand, who died before
ne dld. And old retaners on the Roosevelt
oarony at Hyde Park offer no instance of
charitable treatment when they grew too old
70 work or of pay above the scale of stinginess
curing their working years.