New-York tribune., 1906-06-10
NO TRAVELLING FUND.
ITEM CUT OUT IN HOUSE.
Point of Order Fatal to 4ppop7-
alton for President.

Washington. June s.-when the item appropri-
afing $4,000 for the travelling expenses OF the
President was reached in the Sundry civil oli
which the House had under consideration to-day
Mr. Williams mississippi made point OF order
against il.
In explanation Of this course he said he re-
GREETED that there was Republican President IN
the White House. II there were Democratic
President he would make the objection with still
greater force. and then his motives could not be
tmpugned. He wanted ii understood that his OBJ
lection was general in character Discussing the
subject OF the salaries paid government officials
Mr. Williams said that in some respects. the sala-
raes OF the Cabinet officers were too low. He knew
.he Vice Presidents salary too low. was the
salary Of the Speaker Of the House He thought
the salary paid a member of Congress was also too
low and cited his case 10 show how many de-
rnands absolutely correct. were put upon him. He
said that 10 make campaign in his distrlct' where
Il was impossible 10 spend money except In legt-
tnlate way cost about Sl,000. including hotel bills
and railroad fares etc But, he said, this was not
all His expenses for speeches were large, prob
ably larger in his than in many others for he
had spent in one week upward Of $3.50 for speeches
This he said, showed clearly the demands made
on members.
Bur as for the President he believed his salary
was sufficient. Then touching another phase Of
the question. Mr. Williams thought there was too
much travelling about not only by the President
but by members Of Congress. While he could not
accept final the statement Of well known
hired man" he said that in some particulars 1t
was true.
He and you and / are the hired men of the
people and II seems 10 me that our business is in
Washington when Congress is in session
THE ITEM DEFENDED.
Waller !. Smith, Of Iowa. took a wholly different
view Of the item in question. He contended that
there was not a part Of the United States where
the President was not welcome. 1t his belief
that the President should travel ana that he
ought 10 be independent Of the railroads He point
ed out the educational advantages TO be gained by
travel the part Of the chief Executive. and how
the whole country would be benefited by the broad
ness Of thought thus acquired.
Mr. Sullivan, Of Massachusetts regretted that
he had 10 take issue with tie leader of the minor
ity, but he believed that tho item along the
highest lines Of wisdom and good taste. He did
believe the President should be put under OBJ
legations 10 the railroad companies. He said that
the Of living had vastly increased, that habits
were more expensive and that the development Of
railroads had made extensive travel necessary.
The President ought 10 tavel,' said Nj. Sulli-
van. the people demand it, and during the
&hsses OF Congress he ought TO visit every section
a., the country"
air Sullivan recapitulated the several items for
tts President-the Executive Mansion and the
tighite House grounds, amounting TO $2S3.8l0 not
81 extravagant sum- he said; only about
bird Of cent for every inhabitant of the country.
fTd ] would be glad 10 pay my third Of q cent
ur Gardner. Of Michigan. advocated not only
ole appropriation for travelling expenses. but
re offoials generally should be increassa. and
gtute that the salary OF the President after March
Il 1909. should be 10000 year, the salary Of the
Nice-President should be s25oo that the President
.Ister his retirement should receive an annual sal
Ary Of S25oo0 for life, and that any former Presi-
dent living at the time Of the passage of the act
taould also receive $1,000 year during the Of
Gis life.
MYSTERY ABOUT PRESIDENT"
Mr.. Williams thought there was too much mys-
rry surrounding the person of the President. He
selieved that If there were less cdncealTnent re-
garding the Presidents movements there would be
less desire on the part of madmen, anarchists
lnd fools 10 do him bodily harm. He told of the
5nceremonious way in which General Grant moved
about the streets Of Washington: how he used to
buy cigar al q vel known cigar store, patrOniZe
a well known cafe where steamed oysters were
served. and lived almost ike any private citizen
IL believed that if members OF Congress were
hedged about ike the President they, TOO. might
be marked men, and that II their freedom
10 come and go as they pleased that was their
strongest protection.
Mr. Fitzgerald, Of New York. also favored the
appropriations, believing that the times demanded
that the President should receive such a fund in
order 10 extend his knowledge OF The various parts
Of the United States
Representative sherley was in favor Of giving the
President a travelling fund he believed much OF
the political bitterness in American public life was
due 20 the lack OF understanding between the dlf-
iereni parts OF the country. He firmly believed
that If the from the North could travel South
and vice versa there would be forever an end OF
The bitterness which had times divided the house
more often due TO geographical causes than any
thing else. '
nc 9lso believed that The salaries Of many am
away with the condition affairs that prevented
the acceptance Of office by not OF large means
M Nilllamss point Of order against the SO 90
LOT tayelllng expenses for the President was sls-
Ialhed bE Nj Watson, Of Indiana. who in the
chair Mr SulZer offered his amendment as a sub-
sutute il also ruled out