The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1875-09-01

learning, piety, and great practical ability
quibbling over IA dogmatic abstraction
which might have been settled in the time
OF CHARLEMAGNE, while questions really
affecting the moral and religious life Of the
world are daily pressing for Il solution.
The Law against Grants Abscnteeism.
A correspondent makes the following
inquiry in good faith, and Is entitled TO
full answer, that may serve 10 remove mis-
apprehensions like his in other minds;
busins. oi The Government TO BE- done Al Wsshnstonp
onS SraH'n Is i'esA out can n"a no IA" i0f"%S"s
The act of July lG $780, 4" for establishing
the temporary aud permanent seat Of the
Government OF the United States" pro-
vides as follows:
"sKc. l. That district Of territory. not exceeding
ten miles SQUIRE to be located A. here fier eir.ccd
ccpted for the permanent seat OF the Govcrnmeu VI
sEo D. AHd6s Il ,nacfed That on the sald nr.t Mon.
CAV pa December ID the wear one tnnu'and eight hun
drrd tue seal VI government Of the United states
sal By virtue u ~; act, be Transferred to the dis
Aud diir mes w. tched to the said seat Of govern
mcnt shali accordingly be removed thereto b. their re-
spccve holder. anl shall alter the said day to
be exercised elsewhere
This act was signed by WASHINGTON; and
his successor, JoHN ADAMS, inauguTuted
the Government in its new home on the
third Monday of November, 1900. where it
has remained ever since. II has been pre-
tended that the last section does not apply
TO the President; but II his Office in the
language of the law, Is not attached 10
the seat Of government" and therefore TO
be exercised there, aud MOI elsewhere,
II has no local hnbitation whatever. IL
the Executive is not to exercise his fuuc-
tions at the capital designated for that
purpose, and provided with residence
for his official use, where is he to exercise
themi
But there is still another statute which
emphasizes the legislation on this subject.
The act OF February 25 i7o0 Revised sta
tutes, page 039l, provides:
In case II the prevalence OF contagious or .epi.
may permit and direct the removal Of ans or All tue
pubic oncct sugh Other place or 'tces as re shall
lie business
Therefore the public business IL TO be
conducted only at Washington except in
the case stated cot the prevalence of II
been the uniform practice, and even GRANT
has conformed TO IT 10y a false prctence in
signing all commissions as at Washington,
and issuing orders rs from the Executive
Mansion" when he is VIGOROUSLY at Long
Branch, nnd has been absent from the cap
ital continuously since the 81 of June
last.
There Is no law absolutely requiring the
President 10 pass all his days and nights in
the White House or forbdding him any
reasonable recreation which is accorded 20
other public officers. A regulation in the
departments al Washington allows the
subord!nates ono month OF leave Of abb
sence during the year without loss of pay,
but their chiefs enlarge this privilege for
themselves, and make no deduction for the
excess of time belonging to the public
which is appropriated TO their personal
use
The complaint against GRANT is the gross
abuse and perversIOn Of his great trust 10y
prolonged absences and neglect of duty
demanding his personal attention at WASH
ngton. He has not only violated all pro-
ccdent and propriety in this bad example,
/ but by establishing residence at the sea-
/ side he has encouraged practice which
has dcmoralized the public service, and led
To the frauds, stealing, and corruption
which have become tie chief chaiacteris-
tics.
1t is estimated that during the last 1--WE
years the President has been absent from
the capital more than one-half the time,
or ut least two years ana Il half. He has
drawn every dime of his salary rs If he
had been actually present, has had his pay
doubled by personal importantly, and has
been voted perquistes which practically
increase his revenue ms much more He
deties public opinion, and treats the CAief
Magistracy ms n personal possession from
which the last dollar ought to be cXtorted
and not as the highest honor to he dealt
with by the tenant with the deepest re-
spect for It's commanding dignity.