Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1902-02-07
LAWS FOR THE PRESIDENT.
They Are Very Strict. and He Alone Must
Obey Them.


They Are Very Strict. and He Alone Must
Obey Them.
There are a number of unwritten
laws which hedge about a President
and circumscribe his movements, says
the Philadelphia North American.
Not that the chief executive could
legally be required to observe them,
but that he does do SO from a defer
ence TO custom.
That the President must not leave
the country even for day is one of
these restrictions, imposed not by
statute. but by public opinion. This
was the reason why President Nc
Kinley on his trip south last May did
not cross the boundary line into
Mexico, although he very much de.
sired to see that country.
At Ell Paso, Tex. he received Presi
dent Diaz's personal representative.
From Ell Paso there extends into
Mexico the international bridge which
spands the Rio Grande. The Presi.
dent went to the very entrance to the
bridge that he might catch view OF
the Sierra Madre and have at least a
glimpse OF the country into which of.
fetal custom forbade him to enter.
President Harrison few years be.
fore went a little nearer the limit
Halt way across the bridge is the line
that separates the territory Of the two
countries, and President Harrison
availing himself of every inch of
privilege, walked on to the bridge and
up to the line, though he forebore to
set foot across it.
In compliance with the same senti-
ment that restrains President from
stepping onto foreign territory, he
may not enter any foreign embassy or
legation. In Washington the official
residence OF the representative of
another country is as much foreign
territory as if it were situated across
the ocean. The patch OF land thus
owned by another government is
exempt from taxation and immune
from our legal processes.
In the same way it is prohibited to
the President to 60 aboard q foreign
warshiP. This rule, it is explained.
has its origin in the precaution against
\ possible plot to abduct the chief
executive. President Arthur is said
to have once deiied this rule when he
accepted an invitation to luncheon
aboard foreign warship anchored at
Newport.
The etiquette of calls is in like
manner we'll defined for the President.
He may not make formal call attired
in ceremonial dress upon any one
excepta President elect, an ex.Presi-
dent. President Of foreign State or
q reigning monarch visiting this
country. All others are officially be.
meath his rank. This, Of conrse, does
not apply to informal calls, which the
chief executive. as any private citizen,
may make whenever he likes.
Not TO receive any but intimate
friends on Sunday is rule to which
tho earlier Presidents were glad to
adhere. Even not only the most
urgent reasons are excuses for inter-
rupting the Presidents rest on the
seventh day.
Another rule which is still respect.
ed forbids the holding OF State recep-
tions or dinners during Lent. It is .
relic Of England's religious influence,
and originated with Washington, who
was COMMUNICATE Of the Episcopal.
ian church. The precedent which he
established has since been adhered to
even by Presidents not Of that re.
ligious faith.
A President must never pay a first
call, except upon the arrival OF the
head of foreign State in Washington.
A crown prince even is beneath him
in rank and must make the first social !
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