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Waikato Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 2405, 8 December 1887, Page 2

During the debate on the Election of Governor Bill, Mr Tanner, member for Wnipawn, make, the. following extraordinary statements, as reported in Hansard. Referring to the corruptions in America, he said, “The President is really the Executive Minister of the country. He is the one who receives tenders, and, if a large work is to he done, the tenderers, when they send in their tenders, accompany them with a cheque. The President puts those cheques in his pocket, and, as a rule, gives the contract to the tenderer who gives him the largest cheque.” An honourable member here asked : Does the President send the other cheques hack ? Mr Tanner: “No, ho pockets them...The President’s salary is about £7,000 ; hut he is expected to make it, before he goes out of office, up to £25,000.” We wonder where this sapient legislator procured his information. It is surprising that no one in the House was sufficiently well informed to correct such crass ignorance, nor to protest against such an unwarrantable slander being levelled at the rulers of a friendly and kindred power, who number amongst them such men as Lincoln, Garfield, Grant, and Cleveland. The salary of the President is £IO,OOO a year with an official residence, White House, maintained by the State.