Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-04-20
Who PAYS the R,IlY

That President Harrison in making his
present tour Of the country is prompted
primarily by desire to popularize and
improve his chances for denomination
and reelection is conceded by republicans
as well as democrats. His plan is at the
same time admitted to be good one,
but II is held that the manner of its exc.
cutlon will destroy the advantages it was
intended to secure. The thought of
these critics is expressed by Washing
ton correspondent, who writes:
General Harrison goes into the Alliance
strongholds of the south, across the mort>
gagged states of the west, and
into the railrosd-hating districts of the
coast in CONVEYANCE more splendid and
luxurious probably than any royal prince
ever occupied.
Five specially decorated cars in silver
and green, polished brass, crystal white.
and gold enamel, silken hangings. and
exquisite upholstery, lighted by cleo
tricity, and cooled by electric fans, are
TO bear the imperial presidential party
through twenty~four states ard terri-
tories. The expensive journey of 5000
miles in length will, it Is estimated, cost
somebody $35 900 to $4,000. Who paws
the bill? George W. Boyd, the assistant
general passenger agent OF the Pennsyl.
vanis road. organized the exculsio
and accompanies it. but the Pennsyl>
vanis company msnifestly does not pay
all the expenses. Charles W. Bishop, the
eastern passenger agent of the Chess-
peake & Ohio railroad, was first invited
TO make the arrangements, and be did be-
gin them. Mr.. Bishop says be received
communications from nearly every rail-
road company in the United States Offer
ing to transport General Harrison over
their lines free
The presumption is that the traction of
the presidential train, which is worth
about So mile, will be given free of
cost, and that service over SIS, 100 will be
accepted In the same spirit in which 1t is
offered. A Pullman car with attendance
costs $50 day ordinarily, but the infor-
nation came TO the your correspondent
last night from railroad man sufficiently
elevated to know what he is talking about
that George N. Pullman of Chicago ten
dered the president, free Of all expense,
the five cars specially dc corated" in the
Pullman shops at Wilmington, Del. This
may be Mr.. Pullmsn's method of showing
his appreciation at being allowed to name
the collector of the port of Chicago. 1t
is plain enough that General Harrison
goes to win the approval of the people in
a caravan that costs railroad corporations
very large sum of money
In this same wen of thought the Du-
buque Telegraph remarks:
In brief. not the president, but the rail-
road companies and sleeping ar magnstes
are defraying the expenses of the jaunt.
The chief magistrate has deliberately
PLACED himself under an obligation to
them, and they and the public as well are
warranted in assuming that if Legislation
affecting their interests should come be-
fore him for approval or rejection he
would not forget the obligation. The
country pays him $4,000 year to place
him beyond the necessity of accepting
favors from anybody and thus protect the
independence of his office, yet he does the
very thing the high salary is given to pre-,
vent him from doing, His critics are
right. The presidents trip. considering
the circumstances under which be is max
ing it, will not increase popular respect
for him.