Daily Arizona silver belt., 1907-06-19
PRESIDENTIAL TRAVEL
Conditions Greatly Altered Since Mc-
 Kinley's Trip to the Pacific Coast

A comparison of the last extensive trip taken by President Mckinley with the journey of President Roosevelt to Indianapolis, Lansing, and return, fur nished striking example of the altered conditions of presidential travel When President Mckinley went to the Pacific Ncoast in the spring of 1901 he left Wash. ington in the most luxurious train that probably had ever been organized
 It consisted of eight cars, including compartment cars, club cars, dining ear, and one baggage car. The train was so heavy that it excited comment in the far western country, where so much luxury on wheels was decided novelty. In some places the train was forced to run slowly on account of un- certain roadbeds, and sometimes three engines were needed. The train ran on special schedule from the moment it
 left Washington, and was. in charge of two well known and experienced rail road men, who gave their entire time to making things pleasant for the guests.
 No limit was placed on the number of guests President Mckinley might invite Neodly every member of the cabinet was with him, and nose of them were accompanied by their wives and other members of the family. Two com partment cars were devoted to the ex- elusive use of the cabinet. The presi- dent picked up personal friends at diff ferent places on the journey, and on one or two occasions it was necessary to attach an additional baggage ear.
 Everything that a rich man could expect at his home or club.was provided for the guests. Cigars and wines with out limit were at hand at all hours of the day and night. The meals were in keeping with the general extravaganee that prevailed. The chef outdid him self in preparing what amounted to daily banquets. New menus were print ed for each day. In fact, there was So much comfort and luxury on the train that members of the party were reluc- tant to leave it and go to hotels at places where a stop of day or two was to be made. Whenever there was an excuse for doing so the guests ate and slept in their cars.
 One of the railroad men who aided in managing the Mckinley trip to the Pacific coast said that its cost was upward of $75,000. It was originally intended that the tour should last seven weeks, but owing to the unfortunate illness of Mrs. Mckinley at San Fran. cisco it was cut short at the end of thirty days.
 Neither the president nor any of his guests was called upon to pay a penny toward the cost of this sumptuous ex- petition. The railroads footed all the expenses. It was supposed that the greater part of the cost was defrayed by large eastern railroad company. It was probably helped out by other roads extending the free use of track age and free train crews for their res pective sections. The same road fur nished the wines, cigars and other deli eacies that went toward making the trip a grand success.
 A liberal estimate of the expenses of | President Roosevelt s trip to Indianap- oils and Lansing places it in the neigh | borhood of HOO. II may be few dollars more, but the chances are that it was less.
 1t was the first extended trip Presi. | dent Roosevelt has taken by rail since the rate law went into effect, and with | it the $25,O0O appropriation for defray ing the cost of railway trips by the chief executive. The president char tered a private ear for this journey, just as any individual would do. He paid the cost of eighteen regular fares at s40.49 each, in order to have the exclusive privilege of private ear. At no time in the trip did his party embrace the number of persons for whom fares had been paid
 The president paid the $50 a day charged by the Pullman company for the use of its ear. An allowance of $50 is made for food supplies and other ineidentals, which make the total expenses of the trip $l,O76.s2. This, of course, will come out of the $25 900 ap- propriation.-Brooklyn Eagle.