The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-06-22
OBJECTION ID THE FUND FOR TRAVEL MCLaurin and McCumber See Tendency to Retinue BAILEY HAS SHARP WORD Says Present President Has Cost More and Is Worth Less Than Any
 President We Have
 Ever Had.
BAILEY HAS SHARP WORD

Washington. June 2i.-During a lull In the debate on the Panama canal bill to- day Senator Hale called up the sundry civil appropriation bill and Senator Mo- Laurin continued his speech begun last night Interpretation to the provision ap- propriating s25.00o to pay the travelling expenses of the President. his attendants and invited guests.
 He placed his objection to the appro- priation. on the ground that it makes a clear distinction, and said he was opposed to that principle. He objected not only to the Presidents gallavantlng oyer the country, but also to his using the public money to invite such representatives of the press as he might desire to have with him-such as would give out the kind of information that would suit him and con- ceal such as he did not want printed. If any newspaper men were to be invited, all should be, it had been claimed that but for the Presidents trip about the country the railroad rate bill would never have received the popular approval that had been given it, but MT McLaurin declared that this could not be the case.
 Bryan Advocated It Long Ago.
 The President is not alone, he said, in advocacy of the rate bill. Had not MT. Bryan. ''one of the greatest men ever pro- duced by the country been advocating this kind of legislation long before the Presidents message of 1904?
 MT. McLaurin dlsavowed any special reference to the political chief executive. saying that his remarks were about the office
 Senator Foraker suggested that as the President is the commander-in-chief of the army and navy, he has a right to use public vessels for public purposes, and Senator TiIlman said that the President s time is so completely occupied that he must be considered as attending to public business wherever he may be.
 Senator McCumber then took the floor in opposition to the amendment for the payment of the Presidents travelling ex- penses He entered into an argument to show that the proposed law would have the effect of abrogating the anti pass law.
 It amounted to saying that there is one law for the one who holds office, and another for those who do not. and none for those who hold the highest office.
 "cost More and Is Worth Less"
 Senator Hale called attention to the fact that the salary. of the President cannot be increased as to make the increase apply to the present executive and Senator Bailey suggested that an increase be provided, and that the n- crease be made applicable to the next incumbent He admitted that there might be need for present enlargement of the executive income, saying that he had heard that there had been an increase of $100,00O in expenses during the incum- bency of the present President
 'I do not know how that may be- he said. and what I have to say Is that if it Is true he has cost more, and is worth less than any President we have ever had
 MT. McCumber found in the provision a tendency toward European systems permitting retinue.
 He did not want to ape the old world g methods.
 Senator Hemenway said that the Presi- dent did not travel over the country be- cause he wanted to travel, but because the people of the country wanted him in various localities. He also said that it was right and proper that he should in- vite representatives of the newspapers to accompany him, and also that similar invitation should be extended to friends He did not regard the transportation an increase of the Presidents salary. The intention was to bring the President and the people together. The amendment was still under consideration when the Sem ate went into executive session.