The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-06-10
Thinks President Does Not Need
Travelling Expenses
SHOULD STAY IN WASHING TON
Point Of Order of the Minority Leader
Knocks Out important Item
From the sundry
Civil Bill.


propriating $4,000 for the travelling
penses of the President was reached in
the sundry civil bill, which the House
had under consideration today, Mr.. Will
lians of Mississippi made a point of or
der against 1t.
In explanation of this course he said
he regretted that there was a republican
President in the White House. If there
was democratic President in the White
House, he would make the objection with
still greater force, and then his motives
could not be impugned. He wanted 1t un-
derstood that his objection was general
In character. Discussing the subject of the
salaries paid government officials Mr..
Williams was of the opinion that In some
respects the salaries of the cabinet OIL
flcers were too low He knew the vice
presidents salary was too low, as was
the salary of the speaker of the House.
He thought the salary paid a member Oh
Congress was also too low, and cited
his own case to show how many de-
mands. absolutely correct, were put upon
him.
Think Salary Sufficient.
But as for the President, he believed
another phase of the question. Mr.. Will
liams thought there was too much travel
ing about, not only by the President put
by members of Congress. While ne couio
not accept as final the statement OF
ell-known American that the Presloeht
was the peoples hired man, he said tnat
in some particulars 1t was true. with
limitation.
"TIe and YOU and are the hired men OF
the peopie. and 1t seems TO me that our
business is in washington when Congress
is in session"
walter I. Smith of Iowa contended that
there was not section Of the United
states where the President was not vel
come and it was his belief that the
President should travel, and he ought 10
he INDEPENDENT of the railroads.
| Mr.. Sullivan of MASSACHUSETTS, pelIeVsu
that the item in question was aiohs .no
hIphest lines of wisdom and good taste.
re did not believe the President snoulo
he nut under obligation to the raiiroao
comnany He said that the cost Oh nVlns
had vastly increased; that habits were
more expensive and that the deVelop-
ment of the railroads had made expensive
travel necessary
Sullivan Causes Laughter.
Mr.. Sullivan capitulated the seVerai
items for the President, the executive
mansion and the Wnlte r1ouse ei
amounting to $2S3.31O
.SJot an extravagant sum-" he con-
cluded. "only about one-tnird Oh zen.
for every inhabitant OF the country anu
I would gladly pay my third OF d oent,
which caused a hearty burst OF iaush-
ter. a.,o.a+ad NOT i
onIy the appropriation for travelling ex-
nenses hut agreed with Mr. Willlams tnat
the salaries of public officials generaiiy
should be increased, and with MT. ouiNei
of New York, who urged as supstitute
that the salary Of the President aIter
MARCH 4. 1908, should be 100000 per annu,ii'
the salary of the Vice President snouio 10
s25 900 and that the President aiter ms
retirement shall receive an annual salary
~ COX ono for the remainder of his lie, ana
that any former President living at tne
time of the passage OF the act snah aiso
receive s25. 900 per annum during the re-
mainder of his life.
Too Much Mystery About President.
Mr.. Williams of Mississippi thought tnat
there was too much mystery SURROUNDING
the postion of the President. he peNeVeu
that II there was less concealment regaru-
ing the Presidents movements, enere
,ro,,ld he a less desire on the part or MAD
dan+ bodily harm, He told of the uncere-
nonous way in which General Grant
moved about the streets or washington;
how he used to buy cigar at wen
lxnown cigar store, patronize well known
cafe where steamed oysters are serVeo'
and lived a life almost like that OF the
private citizen.
He believed If members OF Congress
were bounded about like the President,
that they, too, might be marked men,
but 1t was their freedom to come ana go
as they pleased, that was their strongest
protection.
SherIey Favors Travelling Fund.
Representative Sherry of Kentucky was
in favor of giving the President traV-
elling fund. He believed much OF the
misunderstanding that grows up ana
which makes nearly all the political bit
terness that exists in American political
life is due to the lack of understanding
between the different sections of the coun-
trv. He firmly believed that If the men
from the north could travel south, and
,oice versa. that we would see forever an
o,a of the ,,itterness which has at times
diyided the house oftener due to geograph-
ical causes. rather than anything else.
He also believed that ambassadors
should be supplied with legations and that
in many instances their salaries should De
increased.
Mr.. Williams point of order against the
order for travelling expenses Tor the
President was sustained by Mr. WATSON oi
Indiana, who was In the chair
Mr. Sulzer of New York onered MS
amendment as a substitute which was also
ruled out.
Chancellor Fulton Is Retired.