Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1905-04-27
PRESIDENTIAL VACATIONS.

Jefferson and Monroe Held the Record
for Absence From the Capital.
The Presidents have been accustor..
ed to spend more or less Of their time
away from Washington, although once
i'll the history of the country the low
er House of Congress took it upon IL
sell to criticisc the Chief Executive for
his absence from Washington. Tho
criticism consisted in asking The Prcsi-
dent what executive acts were per
fcrmctl by Chief Executives while they
were away from the. Capital
The House that asked The question
was Democratic. The President of
whom the inquiry was made was
Grant. The act grew out OF partisan
feeling. II was considered good poll
tics by the opposition at the time
AS a matter Of record, Presidential
vacations began in the administration
OF Washington. investigation shows
that the Father of His Country in The
eight years of his office took 1871 DAYS
To himself
The country at that time did not
offer the same inducements In .thc
way OF travel as now. /, II Is not men
toned anywhere. SO far MS invcstiga-
ton has extended, that Washington
suggested any deduction from his nay
during the time when he was on his
jauntS
Adams the first heat the travelling
record of his predecessor. While lie
was in Office, only one term, he was
away from the seat of government al
together one year and twenty days,
or more titan onefourth Of the time for
which he was chosen.
Jefferson was good deal Of an
absentee. Unless. the figures in his
case are wrong, he was away from the
capital 796 times In tho eight years of
his ADMINISTRATION.
Monroe, in whose term there was a
surplus Of good feeling in the country,
was away in the eight years he
served nearly one-third of the time.
Jackson served two terms anu took
more than n year and half out OF
his time
Lincoln, by reason of the war, was
forced to remain in and al.nur The
capital more closely than any other
President. After Lincoin's death,
johnson made his famous swing
around the circle. for which he was
ccnsured by the country generally, as
his travels were Enthusiastically for
political purposes.
Grant made several trips while he
was President; Hayes made a few
Arthur was the first President to 60
into the far West. During part of his
visit he. like Roosevelt, disappeared
for a few days from the correspond
ents when he went into the depths OF
Yellowstone Park.
In Cleyeland,s first administration
he went fishing to one of the inland
lakes of Wisconsin. In his second adj
ministration he made several brief
trips, ani hunted ducks frequently.
Harrison, who came between the adj
ministrations of Cleveland, made Il
swing through the South, and later
made a rapid Journey through ILL.
nois, Iowa, Kansas and Missouri.
During that trip he addressed the
Grand Army Of the Republic Of I'LL
noi5, laid the cornerstone of col,
lese building at GalesblTg, dedicated
q corn palace in Iowa. attended a
Grand Army of the Republic review
at Topeka, Kas., spoke In Kansas City
the same night, and visited st. Louis
the day after.
AS is well known, President Nc.
Ninley was the first, President to visit
California. His was the longest con.
tinucMs Presidential Journey In point
OF miles.
President Roosevelt is the greatest
presidential sportsman in the history
OF the country. The prescnt-is Ills sec
ond trip 10 the far West lii search of
game When lie returns he Will hayo
Travelled more milcs than any of his
predecessors Washington Post.
After the Biuocr Ganoe