Evening star., 1902-02-15
Government Officials Forbid
den by the Constitution.
APPLIES TO PRESIDENT
OF INTEREST AT THE COMING OF
PRINCE HENRY.
Would Call for Special Act of Con-
gress = Notable
Frecedents.
Written for The Evening Star.

Written for The Evening Star.
Very naturally it was embarrassing to
Prince Henry to discover that President
Roosevelt could not, as an individual, ac-
cept the splendid gift which his royal high
ness purchased for presentation at the
White House.
MANY of the laws which have limited the
conduct of our Presidents since the repub-
lie began are unwritten have been re
spected merely as precedents established,
wisely or through shallow sentiment, by
this or that incumbent Of the chief mag
istracy.
But the Constitution is clear and en-
phatic on this matter of gift-giv.nS and
gift-receivng between our public servants
and foreign officials. mo title Of nobility
shall be granted by the United States. And
no person holding any office of profit or
trust under them shall, without the consent
of the Congress, accept OF any present,
emoument, Office title Of amy kind what
soever from any king, prince or foreign
state" says the Constitution.
What the prince will do with the dla-
mond-studded boxes cups. cigarette cases,
compasses. cuff-iinks and scarf pms which
he has bought for our officials. or what
final disposition will be made of the hunt
ing gun with interchangeable shot and rifle
barrels which, twas alleged, he bought for
fTeSluenI Roosevelt IL d fiioil'li lAuCl uS-
bated at the capital during the past week.
1t is as great an impropriety, of course,
for the humbIest official selected for favor
by his highness to accept OF one of the
purchased gifts as for Mr.. Roosevelt him
self to receive one. Were Prince Henry to
tip the Presidents colored messenger for
whisking off his manly shoulders that
meniaI would need to have a special act
passed through Congress before he might.
legally and with propriety, accept even a
nickel.
Congress Might Allow It.
Congress might see fit to authorize the
President and other American officials to
accept the royal visitors gifts. Many Of
our scientists and naval officers have thus
been authorized to accept decorations con-
ferred by foreign governments.
There is an old statute which stipulates
that no officer, clerk or employe of our
government shall accept any gift or present
from any person in the government employ
receiving less salary. The penalty pre-
scribed is the discharge from office, both of
the giver and the receiver.
President Roosevelt would. therefore, be
liable to impeac chment were he to accept q
present even from one of his cabinet Off
GERS This statute has been violated on
several occasions Neutrality-suspicious. renem-
ber the display in the window Of local
furniture dealer Of handsome chair which.
according to the conspicuous label. was to
be presented to President Cleveland by Sec
retary Morton upon the occasion of a dim
ner given by the latter to his chief. During
Mr. Harrison's administration there was
uproar raised because it was alleged that
the President had accepted az gift from
Postmaster General Wanamaker and sew
eral other subscribers cottage at Cape
May n j. And the story goes that Mr.
Harrison, embarrassed by the courtesy
drew his personal check for $40 600 to pus
end to the clatter
The President may give presents to
VIII 10 N co
master General Payne may accept a gift
from Secretary Shaw, because both the
giver and the taker are of equally saIaricd
rank Prince Henry's diamond -bedecked
boxes and cups can be received by mem
bers of the press and other distinguished
private citiZezns with perfect propriety
And so 1T goes.
But there is no provision, constitutional
or statutory. against the receipt OF gifts
from distinguished foreigners by the fami-
lies of our Presidents or minor public sery-
ants. Hence Miss Roosevelt may with i'm
punity accept whatever bediamonded f1nery
the admiral prince may have bought for
her at the court jewelers..
The Way Out of It.
For the sake Of diplomacy, our Presidents
have been in the habit of accepting, not as
individuals. but ION behalf of the Ameri-
can people," whatever gifts have been
proffered by distinguished foreigners. This
has been the polite way out of it.
The most lavish generosity ever accepted
in this tactful fashion was that Of the
1maun of Muscat, showered upon Presi-
dent Van Buren,. This Arabian sultan sent
to the then chief magistrate a Persian car
pet, two Ara bian horses, one case of altar
Of roses, five demijohns of rosewater, a
package Of cashmere shawls. box of
pearls, q sword and 121 diamonds
None of these gorgeous presents appears
to have ever been retained by Mr.. Van Bu-
rem. The pearls and diamonds We're for a
long time stored. under seal, in the treasury
vaults. Some fifteen years ago the Van
Buren, family made an attempt to recover
them and thus was raised a controversy as
to what final disposition of them should be
made. It was determined to deposit them
Tor exhibition in the National Museum,
where they have since reposed. The total
weight Of the diamonds is 1882 carats.
They are of very good color, averaging first
and second water stones. Their Intrinsic
value Is about $500 at the present market
price. which means that they are very
small. The pearls number 14S and were in
tended to De strung as necklace. Two
large pear-shaped pearls in the collection
were added. apparently as pendants. The
entire string would be worth between six
and eight thousand dollars today.
The large Persian carpet sent with these
was valued at $4,000 In $40. It was hung
on the walls of the museum until found to
be losing it's shape. 1t now adorns the floor
OF the regents room In the Smithsonian
tower
Gifts to Other Presidents.
The patent office was for many years the
repository for gifts from foreign states or
potentates which conscientious Presidents
were unwilling to keep. When the Ma
tional Museum was opened at the time of
President Garfield's assumption Of office.
such relics were transferred there for ex-
hibiton.
Two long fint-lock guns. presented to
President Jefferson by the Emperor of Mo-
rocco. We're among these. These weapons
are smooth bore. The stock Of one is covered
with silver and coral; of the other with
gold A scimitar with gold-Inounted sheath
was received by the father of democracy
from the same source and at the same time
solid ivory cane presented TO President
John Quincy Adams is exhibited with these
relics in the hall of history
Spanish sword presented to President
Grant In 1873 by the Spanish republic re-
poses near by. This is a costly weapon,
with Toledo blade, steel guard ivory grip
and steel scabbard ornamented In gold and
enamel. Upon the blade is engraved: BEL |
mont Donaldson, Shiloh, Vicksburg, Mis-
sion Ridge Spottsylvania, Richmond. Let
us have peace!''
A pair Of buckskin gloves presented to
PRESIDENT Lincoln in 1865 by William Baker |
or New York is also exhibited in the mu-
scum