Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-07-27
HARRISON HAD CRAMPS
And Called For Liquor-Had Forbid
 Reporters to Use IL.

Washington, D. C.. July 27.-A short time ago when President Roosevelt re- turned from his western trip and paid the expenses of himself and party. ne received many commendatory notices from the press, and when Secretary Bonaparte declined to accept railroad passes it was hailed in some quarters as new departure in official circles. Anent the compliments paid to Presi- dent Roosevelt it may be recalled that he is not the first president to pay ms railroad bills, and that Secretary Bona parte is not the first cabinet offlcer 10 refuse railroad courtesies. When Ben ja min Harrison was elected president, and was about to visit the capital 10 be inaugurated. the Pennsylvania rall- road rendered him a special tram and free transportation for himself and party. The party was to include him. self Mrs Harrison. his daughter and her husband. his son and his wife. Mir Miller. who was to become his attor- ney-general. his private secretary. ana two stenogra phers. Free transpof1a ton was offered for all these. MT Harrison accepted the special tram, but declined the free transportation and insisted on paying full rates for the whole party. Not only this, put the Pullman Co rendered a car 10 two newspaper men. and they invited some half dozen other correspondents to ride with them to Washington. Permission was asked of Mir Harrison to attacn this car to his special train, and It was granted only Oh condition that the newspaper men pay their transports, although each had pass from the road. A queer complication arose Re' duced rates for the round trip on ac- count of the inauguration had been made, but did not become effective until midnight of the day MT Harrison left Indianapolis. so 10 give the cor respondents the benefit of this reduced rate the railroad company placed an agent on the train with tickets, whlch he was not to sell or deliver until after the train reached Columbus, O.. which was about midnight.
 There was another little incident connected with this trip that IS well remembered by the newspaper men In granting his permission to accom- pany him the president-elect had eA- acted a promise that the newspaper men should not take any liquors With i them nor should the car in which they l travelled be stocked with liquors. The promise was readily given, and all ! went merrily until a little before day i light the next morning. when the presl- ] dents son came rushing into the news paper car calling for whlskey. his l father had been taken suddenly and violently ill with cramp collie. The l call was no sooner made than at least ] half a dozen well filled f1asks were ten 1 dered him. From that time the news paper men were permitted to enjoy their little nips without fear of obtec-
 ton from the president ! Since the adjournment of the last 1 session of congress there has been | much criticism of an attempt on the part of the house to allow members
 mileage for the regular session. ai, though the special session adjourned
 one minute and the regular opened the
 next. Much of this criticism has been iIl-natured and possibly without
 knowledge of the whole situation
 Taking everything into consideration
 the cost of living in Washington. ane the thousand and one demands made
 on congressman. the salary they re i ceive is ridiculously small, and while
 if may he true that the members onl!
 made one trip to attend both the spe
 cial and the regular session, yet ther'
 is hardly a representative that is no
 called upon 10 make from one 10 hal
 dozen trips each year to Washing
 ton, in the interest of the goyernmen or of his constituents. Every suct
 journey costs money. even though l
 be admitted the members travel on
 railroad pass A railroad pass doe
 not pay hotel bills. nor does it pay tn
 numberless other expenses incurred o
 such journeys. There is no provislo for defraying the expenses of a eon
 gressman in visiting Washington o government business. except whe coming to attend a session of cor
 greSs. and if the members had take ; the constructive mileage allowed D
 the law at the last session it woul , ! not have more than reimbursed ther . for the expenditures they are calle rpon to make during vacations.
 If an attempt was made to increas , the salary to one that would he ad'
 auata for the service rendered. an
 the ability demanded. a howl would
 up from all parts of the country. V
 those protesting would be forced |, fairness 10 admit that the present sa ! arv is totally inadequate. It is poss ble that 1T an increase in salary VI made and the mileage Perquisite cut y entirely. il would reduce the adver' 2 criticism to the minimum. yet thel I is Justification of the mileage law. q requires much longer and much he l. vier outlay for a member 10 journ'
 from Oregon 10 Washington than
 does from Maryland or Virginia, al |: the members should be placed on som
 thing of an equality and the mileai
 basis seems to be the one less open
 objection. So long as the public maj In demands on members of congress tb ly require them to pay many visits to | .n seat of government. the public oug <. to he reasonable enough to grant ad
 auate pay.