Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1903-09-25
The PRESIDENTS cAR.FARE.

~ - Reported tHdl Inc ueiH0cTdIlc
congressman are preparing a very
formidable resolution which they viii
Introduce at the earliest opportunity.
calling upon the president to inform
them whether or not II Is SO that, on
his transcontinental trip, and other
frequent trips al well, he has, as re-
ported, travelled as the guest Of the
railroad companies and allowed them
to bear all expenses Incident to the
journeys. The implication OF the reso-
luton Is that II II Is trne that ne has
done this thing, he has committed ali
unpardonable sin for which he can
never be forgiven BY the democrats
How many OF the democratic con
gressnlen who are engaged In drawing
up these resolutions have moi their
v little book filled with ANNALS
IN their inside pockets, We wonder.
Let the democrat congressman who is
Without sin throw the first stone.
The president is the poorest paid
chief Of any country In the world, II
he Is to take such extensive trips ais
bis recent one which serve to bring
him In touch with great numbers of
his cotntrymen there should provision
be made for his expenses BY the gov.
eminent, Far better SO than that the
railroads should bear such expenses
X will be interesting to hear the pres
ident answer, however. TO the inquir-
Ing congressman,
In the meantime the following ex
tract from Harper's Weekly on the
subject viii be especially interesting
as coming from a periodical which Is
peculiarly fond n criticising the acts
Of the president, and occasionally pro
fesses TO see some good In him In on
der that its subsequent criticisms may
be the more effective:
1T is supposed that the president,
IN his recent extended journey
through the west. was the guest OF the
railroads over which he Travelled, and
paid nothing for the special train
which they furnished. He has been a
good deal criticised In consequence.
What are the rights Of this matter?
When the president travels, should he
travel as the guest Of the railroads.
or should he pay his W expenses?
IN many states legislators and state
officers are prohibited from receiving
passes from railroads. Is 1t not equal
" improper that the president should
travel free? Perhaps II is, but II 1t Is,
the matter should be regulated by
something more definite than mere
custom, and a provision for travelling
expenses should be made for presi
dents. Just as provision Is made for
tho maintenance OF the white house
and Its grounds. Extended president.
lal journeys are commonly made more
for political than administrative ends,
but, on the whole, It seems a good
thing for the country that the presi-
dent, from time to time, should visit
the states remote from the capital,
Washington Is close to the Atlantic
seaboard. The disadvantages Of It's
one-sided situation are modified when
the head of the government goes on
his travels and visits citizens too far
away to come to him. But, practical.
ly, the president cannot travel as al
private citizen may. II Is neither safe i
nor convenient for him to do so. Not
on his own account. but on ours he
must be guarded and looked after.
and special care must be taken 10
keep him from harm. He has to trav.
81 by special train. and take many
persons with him. II Ii not proper
that his salary should be charged with
tho heavy expenses Of such journeys.
nor should considerations OF thrift
avail 70 keep him at home. The rail
roads seem 10 be more than willing
to put their facilities at his disposal
II It is improper that he should travel
at their cost. then by all means let
the government provide a fund out OF
which such expenses should be de.
frayed. 1t Is not ~expedient that the
president should stay at home merely
TO save money"