Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-10-05

merly. 1t is said that during the Grant
administration the executive force used
to play croquet during the dull hours of
the day and only upon the arrival of the
mail would be summoned to the executive
Offices
The constant stream of callers and the
vast amount of routine business make the
heaviest demands upon the time of the
PRESIDENT. During the first three or four
weeks of his administration he may have
to shake hands with from $1,000 to 75,VvJ
people. Unless he learns to grip the
hand of his visitor before the visitor
grips his. he is sure to have a badly
swollen arm. The President may trans
act the business of his office at any place
he may elect. and there is nothing to pre-
vent his spending the major portion of
bis time elsewhere than in Washington.
Congress once asked President Grant to
advise 1t as to what part of his duties
were performed outside of the District OF
Columbia. He replied in a polite. but
none of Congress business. Never since
then has this right been questioned. There
is nothing in the Constitution which pro-
hibits the President from going beyond
the borders of the United States, but Mr..
Cleveland was the first President to do
so. On a fishing trip he went beyond the
three-mile limit in the Atlantic ocean.
Aside from the great power accru1ng to
the President through his right to ap-
point all of the administrative officers of
the government, and to supervise the ex-
penditure of the billions of dollars ap-
propriated by Congress, and beyond the
possesses the power which. prior to the
admission of Arizona and New Mexico
amounted to the legislative influence of
fourteen senator's and sixty-f1ve repre-
sentatives, this many votes being re-
quired in addition to a majority to over
ride his veto.
The only method by which the President
can be thwarted in his purpose by Con-
gress. SC. long as he keeps within his
constitutional powers, is by its refusal to
appropriate the money he needs for car
rying out his plans. AS commander-in-
chief Of the army he has the right to
handle 1t as he sees fit. But Congress
controls the appropriations for the sup
port Of the army. and it provides that
this money shall be available only when
the army is handled In specific way.
This same check upon the President is
used in other instances.
The person Of the President Is inviolable
during his term Of Office. Theoretically
he cannot be arrested or restrained by
any official, even should he commit muir
der The only remedy against him while
President is the cumbersome proceedings
Of Impeachment Even in these proceed
ings he cannot - compelled to answer,
to attend or to do any other thing which
In the slightest degree might interfere
with his personal liberty. This Is upon
the theory that such restraint would re-
strict either the negative or the positive
powers of his office. and enable other in
dividuals to circumvent the supreme
authority of the Constitution In prac-
rested and otherwise restrained. Gen
Grant was once arrested by negro
policeman for fast driving. He commend
ed the officer for doing his duty. put up
$40 collateral and forfeited 1t In the Police
Court next day.
AS far as the courts are concerned the
President may also do as he pleases.
Interested parties have sought to restrain
him from doing certain things by injunc-
other things by mandamus. but the courts
have uniformly refused to take any action
hampering the discretionary power of the
President. Congress and the President
President seldom do. In one instance
Chief Justice Marshall handed down an
opinion with reference to an Indian tribe
which did not suit President Jackson,
who declared: John Marshall has made
his decision. now let him enforce it,
While many people complain that the
President is a poorly paid and poorly
housed chief executive, considering the
size and Importance of the American ma
ton, nevertheless he manages to live in
style which would be pleasing to the aver
age American citizen. The annual appro-
priation for the upkeep of the White
House amounts to approximately $50, 900.
A fine conservatory is maintained for his
benefit and it is estimated that the 5000
or more plants used to decorate the
White House at a single reception would
cost at least $500 If bought in the open
market. single set Of China used at
the big state dinners may cost as much
as 5000. When the supplies for one of
these big dinners are bought. only the
best things in the market get into the
White House market basket, and only
the choicest morsels of these are served
large roast of lamb is provided for
each five people at the dinner, so that
only the moist select bits reach the table
TomOrf0w-The AMERICAN GOV.
ERNMENT.
III-The. Department of State.