Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-03
PRESIDENTS VACATIONS.
Jefferson and Monroe Hold the Record
for Absence From the Capital.
From the New York Sun.

From the New York Sun.
The Presidents have been accustomed to
spend more or less of their time away from
Washington. although once in the history
of the country the lower house of Congress
took 1t upon itself to criticise the Chiet Ex-
ecutive for his absence from Washington.
The criticism consisted in asking the Pres
ident what executive acts were performed
by Chief Executives while they were away
from the capital. The House that asked
the question was democratic. The Presl-
dent of whom the inquiry was made was
Grant. The act grew out of partisan feel
Ing. 1t was considered good politics by the
opposition at the time.
As matter of record presidential vaca-
tons began in the administration Of Wash
iEgton- Investigation shows that the IA
Their of his country in the eight years of
his Office took 1S1 days to himself. The
country at that time did not offer The same
inducements in the way of travel as now
1t is not mentioned anywhere. 50 far IS in
vestigation has extended, that Washington
suggested any deduction from his pay for
the time he was on his Jaunts.
Adams the first beat the traveiin.; record
of his predecessor. While he in Office
only one term he was away from the seat
of government altogether ono yelr and
twenty days, or more than one-fourth OF
the time for which he was CHOSEN. Jeffer-
son was good deal of an absentee. I'm
less the figures in his case are wrong he
was away from the capital 196 times N the
eight years of his administration.
Monroe. in whose term there was a sur
plus of good feeling in the country. was
away in the eight years he served nearly
one-third of the time. Jackson served two
terms and took more than a yeac and a
half out of his time.
While all the Presidents have taken va
cations, those who served IN the good old
times, when. according to some, the gov
eminent was nearer the people than In
vtonv n Ana1 IRA
knocking about than the Presidents since
the civil war
Lincoln, by reason of the war was forced
to remain in and about the capital more
closely than any other President. After
I-ncons death Johnson made his famous
swing around the circle, for which he was
censured by the country generally. as his
travels were Enthusiastically for political pur-
poses. Grant made several trips while ne
was President Hayes made few. Arthur
was the first President to go into the far
west. During part of his visit he. like
Roosevelt, disappeared for few days from
the correspondents when he went into the
depths OF Yellowstone Park. ,-.,.s..rE
In Cleyeland's first administrator he
went fishing to one of the inland lakes OF
Wisconsin. In his second adminstl alton
he made several brief trips, and hunted
ducks frequently. Harrison. who came be-
tween the two administrations OF Cleve-
land. made swing through the south, and
later made a rapid journey through Illinois,
Iowa, Kansas and Missouri. During that
trip he addressed the Grand Army of The
Republic of Illinois, laid the cornerstone of
a college building at Galesburg. dedicated
a corn palace in Iowa, attendel Grand
Army of the Republic review a. Topeka.
Kan. spoke in Kansas City the same night,
and visited st. Louis the daJ after.
AS is well known President Mckinley
was the first President to visit California.
His was the longest continuous presidential
journey in point of miles.
President Roosevelt is the greatest presi-
Dental sportsman in the history Of the
country.