Year: 1872

I1o u9e OF tne lale W AT OF the NeDellcu OF Ino
abolition Of Slavery as helps in the administra-
tion Of municipal government.





MR. BANKS RESOLUTION.


The resolution which Mr. Banlls offered in the
House, on Monday, includes four distinct propo-
sitions


l. That the salary OF the President shall be
fixed at 10000 per anpum, commencing in
March, 1873.


2. That the term of the President aud Vice
President shall be SIX years instead Of four.


8. That the President shall bo ineligible for re-
election.


4. That the President and Vice President shall
be elected By the people at the same time the
Con gress1nen are elected.


The first OF these propositions requires no
Constitutional amendment, as the Constitution
leaves it to Congress to fix the compensation Of
the President, stipu1ating only that it ahau not
be increased nor diminished for the term which
the President is serving. Alr. Bauks'
resolution avoids this by fixing the date
Of the now compensation at the beginning
Of q new Presidential term. There has been
growing sentiment in the country favorable to
m increase Of the Presidents pay The argu-
fcient to provide for the necessary outlay in
maintaining the establishment OF the Chief
Executive, with it's incidental courtesies and
entertainments. At tho time when S25, 900 was
fixed as the annual compensation, that sum WAS
equivalent in what it would buy to the sum OF at
least $4,000 at the present time, and perhaps
e1O0,0 900. It is probable that the pride Of the
American people will indorsa the change of
salary which Mr. Banks hss proposed.


The other propositions are more serious, as
involving Constitutional amendments. However
much they may recommend themselves,
the dangers incident to the practice
Of amending the Constitution will go
far toward delaying their adoption. Tho
change in the length Of the Presidential
term from four years to Elk years is, in itself,
comparatively unimportant, and will become
more 80 if the principles Of Civil Service Re-
form shall ever be practically and uniformly en-
forced. There would bo no object in changing
the length OF the term unless it we're combined
with the ine1igibility OF the President for re-
election. In this case, there night be argu-
ments in favor Of it, such as diminiahing the
frequency Of elections, and giving more uni
form and steady policy to the Government in
reference to foreign affairs. There are obvious
reasons why it would be better to determine the
principle OF the ineligibility Of the President
for SO econd term Of Office. Experience has I'M
questionably taught that the temptations to use
the pa tronage and influence OF the Presidential
Office for securing o second term have been
irresistible at times The opportunities
for doing this are unbounded. On
der the present system, ne can
only rely upon the individual honor Of any Presi-
dent not to direct his administration with 3 view
to reelection, and even o reasonably honorable
nun, as the world goes, might deceive himself
in this respect. Mr. Greeley held that one Of
the chief elements Of Civil Service Reform YES
the one-term principle, as the only means to take
away the temptation to abuse the appointing
power.


The fourth proposition Of 11r. Banks resolu-
tion is more important in its bearings than all
tho others. If it meant simply that the day Of
voting for President should be the same as that
on which the people vote for Congressman, Con-
gress could, and perhaps should, make the
change. This alone would not require a
Constitutional amendment, as the duty Of fixing
the time for choosing Presidential Electors is
left to Congress by the Constitution.
But the resolution, as reported, seems
to indicate q change from the custom
Of choosing Electors who shall elect the Pres
ident to that Of tho direct popular vote. If this
is construed to mean that the popular ma ajority
in tie entire vote Of the United States shall
elect the President, there are grave objections
to it, Such course would so7er one of the last
links to the independence Of the States contem~
plated by our Federal system, and would tend to
increase the present dangers Of centra1ization.
It would also render election frauds more dan
gerous, and less subject to control than they
are now. A Apropostion to do away with the
Electoral College as superauity, and as subject
to serious abuses, but to retain tho practice of
e1ecting the President by 4 majority of the votes
of States, to be determined by q direct vote in
every State, would hare more points to recom-