Evening star., 1948-12-14
Hoover Supports
Pay Increase for
Top Executives
President Included:
Commission Head
Offers No Figures

Former President Hoover to-
day urged greater compensation
for the President and indorsed q
bill which calls for higher pay
for all top Government
He backed bipartisan bill now
being considered by a Senate Civil
Service Subcommittee which calls
for the pay raises, but did not pro-
pose any specific figures for the up-
per-bracket officials who would be
benefited by the measure.
The bill. designed to help the
Government keep skilled admins
traitors and attract young men and
women to Government service. also
was indorsed before the subcommit-
tee by Arthur S.. Flemming, former
member of the Civil Service Com
Robert Ramspeck, a for
mer chairman of the House Civil
Service Committee, and John Ste
venson, president of the Pennsyl-
vania Mutual Life Insurance Co.
About the proposals for better
financial treatment of the Presi-
dent, Mr.. Hoover told the subcom-
mittee he feels that the Nation
should take over the operation of
the White House, now a divided re.
sponsibility with the Nation paving
Tor the clerical and business ends Of
1t and the President having to oper-
ate it as household out Of his
salary.
SS52,000 for Executive Offices.
The President is paid $4,000 o
year. There is an appropriation in
the current budget of 1852 900 for
running the executive Offices of the
President and this includes $4,000
for official travel expenses. There
also is an item of $202, 900 for opera
ton of the Executive Mansion and
grounds. This is for upkeep, utili-
ties, staff and multitude Of other
expenses.
This sum also includes some mis-
cellaneous travel expenses. It does
not include food for the presidential
family and their private guests.
This item is borne by the President
from his salary. Mr.. Hoover put
the cost of actually living" in the
White House at $4,000 a year.
II this could be changed, Mr..
Hoover said, the people would be
glad to see. the Government nav
for the board and lodging of the
President"
The former President is chairman
CT the Commission on Reorganiza-
ton OF the Executive Branch Of the
Government and is making a de-
tailed study Of all aspects OF gov
fernmentai organization in conrec.
ton with the commissions work,
He has long been known to be In
terested in the general objectives Of
the bill before the Senate subcom.
mittee.
Income Tax Stressed.
AS the hearing began, he was
asked about presidential COM
pensation by Subcommittee Chair.
man Flanders, who remarked that
MIR. Hoover should be particularly
expert witness"
Presidents" Mr. Hoover replied,
like all you gentleman, are afiiicted
with the income tax which inter.
venes greatly to lesson their in
come"
He said he had felt that the Gov
ernment,s taking over the running
of the White House would provide
substantial relief"
The President himself must nav
some Of the costs of entertaining.
Mr.. Hoover said, pointing out that
ne must receive some guests he
should see, but Is unable to charge
the cost against the allowance.
Look into the effect of the in
come tax" he said, "and you will
find the President doesn't get much
If you double his salary"
Dwells on Pay for Executives.
He said he had checked Federal
and State income taxes on the
presidential salary of $4,000 and
that from that amount only $50, 900
would be left. If the salary is
doubled, as suggested yesterday by
Budget Director James e. Webb,
the President would have $4,000
left from $150,000.
Mr.. Hoover said the Vice President
has an added burden because he
must provide his own housing and
he suggested that a house be pro-
vided for him.
Senator Flanders asked whether
1t was expected that the Vice Pres
ident take some of the burden Of
entertaining off the shoulders Of
the President. Mr.. Hoover replied:
1T is relief to the President If
the Vice President takes on what
we refer to as the v. I. p. very
important person. business"
Mr.. Hoover went at length into
the principle of paying q large
number of top-rank Government
officials higher salaries, but he did