Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1912-11-07
WILL KEEP
FRANKING
PRIVILEGE
She NOW HAS NO PENSION
Capital Suspended By Mrs.
CIGVeIaRd's Engagement

Washington, Nov. 6.-The opinion
prevails here that Mrs. Frances Fol-
som Cleveland, the widow of Grover
Cleveland, late president of the United
States, will not lose her mail franking
privilege, emitting her to send letters
through the mails free of postage,
through her forthcoming marriage to
Thomas Joseph Preston, professor of
archaeology and history of art at
Wells College, Aurora, N. Y. This
privilege was granted to Mrs. Cleve-
land under a special act of congress
on February l, 1909. This law pro-
vides that all mail matter sent by Mrs.
Cleveland under her written autograph
signature and by Mary Lord Harrison.
widow of Benjamin Harrison be con-
veyed free of postage during the nat
ural life of each, respectively. 1t is
believed here that only the repeal or
amerdment of this law can deprive
Mrs. Cleveland of this privilege.
The general supposition that Mrs.
Cleveland enjoys a special pension
from the national government, under
special act of congress, is erroneous.
Bills providing for pensions for Mrs.
Cleveland and Mrs. Harrison have been
introduced in congress during the past
few years, but were never favorably
reported. Early in 1911 Senator Root
introduced a bill providing for the
payment of a pension to Mrs. CleVe-
land. This bill was referred to the
Senate committee on pensions, which
never reported it, and is still pending
before that committee. 1t is said that
Mrs. Cleveland was not desirous OF
being pensioned, and that this is one
reason why the bill was not pressed.
The news of Mrs. Cleveland's intend
ed marriage surprised her Washington
friends greatly. Even those closest 10
thu late presidents widow disclaim all
knowledge of her romance, while none
of her friends in this city have ever
met Professor Preston.
Mrs. Cleveland has visited Washing
ton only once since leaving the White
House. and then only for "a hours,
when she came to the funeral of a
e,,so hn how
ever kept up a correspondence with
number of families prominent in the
last Democratic administration. Her
young daughters were during the past
summer the guests of Washington
friends at Nantucket, where Mrs.
Cleveland has also been an occasional
visitor. Chief Justice White, of the
supreme court, and Mrs. White, as
wcll as the family of the late Chief
Justice Fuller, are close personal
friends of Mrs. Cleveland.
It was during her husbands sec
ond term, from 1898 to 1897, that
Mrs. Cleveland established the reputa-
ton she still enjoys, as not only one
of the most popular mistresses the
White House has ever known, but one
of the wisest in dispensing the hospi-
taIity of the mansion.
A small circle of intimate friends
gathered about the executive house TO
enjoy genuine hospitality which was
never exploited and never abused.
The state functions followed a pre-
scribed program, in which the young
wife of Mr.. Cleveland took her place,
but never dictated their scope or
plan. The public receptions Of that
time were the most representative in
White House history.
Mrs. Cleveland rarely made per-
sonal call during her life in the White
House, but took part in many charita-
BILE and philanthropic meetings, and
with the president regularly attended
the annual charity ball, custom re-
vived Jy President and Mrs. Taft.
, President Taft states that on re-