The Washington herald., 1910-09-29
FOOD. DRINK, AND TAAvEL.
ROOseveIfs Trip TO Yellowstone
Cost Railroad Big sum.

Cost Railroad Big sum.
Frora the New YORK Evening Post
AS far back as the administration OF
Abraham Lincoln. the Pennsylvania Rail
road began to furnish transportation or
special trains free Of charge TO Presi-
dents. II has doubtless often been a
good advertisement - Mr.. Roosevelt's
railroad bills are said to be charged as
advertising.
At first. the Presidents travelled very
little. Gradually. however. the services
Of the Pennsylvania were required rather
than accepted, and it became the custom
to turn 10 the Pennsylvania TO arrange
Presidential tours. whether for what
might be called offlcial trips, for occa-
sions OF ceremony, or for swinging
around the circle"
Never. however, did any President ask
so many favors as Mr.. Roosevelt or run
up such bills for no other President
ever Travelled so much or IN such king
ly state. with a corps OF newspaper men
10 advertise him. sten0grapheFs, seeFe-
taries. and personal friends Even when
he went 10 Cleveland to attend the we'd
ding Of the daughter Of MS enemy, Sen
ator Hanna, he went IN a special train
al the expense OF the Pennsylvania Rail-
road. and the same thing happened when
he moved 10 Oyster Bay for the surg
mer or went on to Oyster Bay to VOTE
The stockholders OF the Pennsylvania.
The most costly excursion was the
trip 10 the Pacinc Coast undertaken in
April, 1903 II our Information is cor
rect this trip cost sf7610. This train
was sixty-six days on the road, Ar.
Roosevelt spending a vacation Of ten
days in the Yellowstone PARK, During
that time. the special train which was
arranged for by Nj Loeb personally.
and was stocked by the Pennsylvania
Railroad with the best viands. the cost
Hest wines and cigars, remained a. Car
diner. the entrance 10 the park. with the
reporters and clerks on board. The
Pennsylvania representative on tfs
train locked up the wines sn5 cigars on
Mr.. Rooseyelt's departure FOR the PARK.
/ but in response 70 urgent kilograms
from Mr.. Roosevelts chief underIng,
the cases were unlocked and TIE nszz-
paper men and clerks faxed until the
Presidents return as they had during BIZ
presence-on the tat Of the Iaad ~ ths
expense OF the Pennsylvania stocknolc-
ers Mr.. Roosevelt proceeded theme -
the Yosemite and was hailed everyE1ere
on the Pacific Coast as the champion
Of the people against the Interests zae
[ large corporations
The expense Of this trip was considered
more than the Pennsylvania expeetsc
II We are correctly Informed. e rzcs
some inquiry with a view % obtaining
/ recompense, since Il had 70 pay the
Northern Pacific and other railroads a.
/ well as the Pullman Company. and also
4 the merchants who delivered TIE food
and drink. But IT speedily abandoned It's
efforts 10 obtain reimbursement.
From the Philadelphia North American.
From the time railroads passed the ex-
perim,ntaI stage and became the reci-
pients OF land grants and other public
bounty, their managers always were over
glad 70 provide special cars and special
trains without cost for any President or
tour Il was good passenger business.
for crowds Travelled from far and wide to
see the President Il was valuable adVer-
Using FOR the road and was so regarded
There was such lack OF understanding
Of the proper relationship Of the govern
ment 10 the railroads that no impropri-
ETY. was seen in the extension and &C
ceptance Of such "courtesies" Lincoln
rode free. Grant and Mckinley prac-
ticaly covered the continent without the
payment OF a penny. Roosevelt started
out by doing pretty much the same as
Lincoln. Grant. and Mckinley. whose
estates have hot yet been sued by Jealous
Pennsylvania stockholders for long
overdue accounts"
The truth. known 10 and suppressed by
every one Of these uncandid editorial
critics, is that Theodore Roosevelt was
the President who first saw the error
OF the countrys chief magistrate accept
ing complimentary transportation, and
In order 10 abolish the old. wrong Gus
tom. pressed through Congress the law
setting aside S-50o0 a year from which
must be betrayed all the travelling ex-
I penses Of a President.
Very cheap and crude peanut politics.
/ indeed. to attempt at this late date TO
put the blame for an ancient wrong upon
the man who abolished IT, But j; is in
I harmony with the entire puerle cam
paign TO discredit Mr. Roosevelt.