Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1919-07-23
PRESIDENTS TOUR
WILL COST MUCH
SPEAKING TRIP MAY BE SHORT
ENED BECAUSE OF HEAVY
TRAVELLING EXPENSES.
$4,000 FUND NOT ENOUGH
Formerly Our Chief Executives Al
ways Accepted Transportation From
the Railways, but That Was Chang
ed by Colonel Roosevelt.
BY EDWARD 3. CLARK.

BY EDWARD 9. CLARK.
| Washington.-President Wilson is to
stump the country in behalf Of the
covenant Of the League Of Nations.
1t has not yet been definitely decided.
but the understanding is that some
senatorial opponents of the league will
take the field In an attempt to offset
the presidents arguments.
1t has been lntimated that It will be
Impossible for the president to make
az long and as wide journey as he
might wish because Of the necessary
expense which attaches to travel Of
this kind
There is at the disposal of the pres
ident Of the United States each year
$4,000 10 be used for travelling ex-
| penses. This amount becomes avail
able on July Of each succeeding year,
but It is not sufficient to cover the
travelling expenses of 6 president who
wishes to talk to the people. or to
travel on other official errands within
the borders Of the United States.
All presidents have found II neces-
sary-and their decision In the matter
apparently has been concurred in by
the people-to take with them official
parties, mainly composed Of cabinet
| officers.
Will Use Up the Entire Fund.
At times 1t has been necessary to
charter a special train for the presl-
dental party. but always 1t has been
necessary to have a special car. Ev-
cry president who travels must take
with him secret service men, stenog-
raphers and typewriters. 1t always
has cost good deal to travel and In
these days 1t costs more. The forth
coming trip of the president of the
| United States will use up every cent
Of the appropriation for such purposes
and If the Journey goes to the limit
which the president presumably would
! like to fix, he will be compelled to pay
considerable sum out Of his own
| pocket to make the ends meet.
In the days up to the time that
! Theodore Roosevelt left the White
House the presidents Of the United
States were compelled either TO ac-
cept the courtesy of the railroads or
10 pay for their official trips out of
their pockets. There always has been
demand from the people that the
presidents of the United States occa-
slonally should meet them in their
homes. Every president since rail-
roads became a fact has felt that he
must meet this demand. The result
was that many Of them used up a
considerable part of their salaries in
the payment of bills 10 railroads and
TO hotels.
II came TO be recognized as proper.
through sheer force of circumstances.
that presidents Of the United States
should allow railroad companies to
furnish them with transportation This
went against the grain of all the pres
idonts. but virtually every one of them
felt compelled to accept at least trans
pOrtation from the railroads. The
other expenses OF the trip they met
out OF their personal purses.
Changed by Colonel Roosevelt.
When Theodore Roosevelt was pres
ident he came to the conclusion that
| the situation had become impossible.
When he went on hunting trips to the
! West, although he was to fulfil official
engagements going and coming. he al
ways paid all the expenses, but he was
| compelled Mt times to accept the hos
| pitality of the railroads Thinking
that this state of affairs shoud end
he wrote communication TO congress
urging that an appropriation be made
to cover the legitimate travelling ex-
penses of the president Of the United
States and his official advisers travel
ing with tIm when he was on business
connected with the public welfare.
In order that there might he no crit
iclsm Of his request from the point of
view of those who would say that he
was trying to make the people pay
| his personal bills. President Roosevelt
asked that the appropriation for trav-
| cling expenses for the chief magis-
| trate should not be made available
until after he left office. So II was
| that President Taft became the first
beneficiary of the appropriation of
| $500 a year for travelling expenses.
Notabies Coming to America.
The guiding men In the member
| ship of the League of Nations prob
ably will hold a meeting in Washing
ton some time next October. No def
mite arrangement 10 this effect has
been made. but the understanding
IS that the second autumn month will
witness a gathering Of world notables
in our national capital.
Whether or not the chleftains of the
league are to assemble here. It is GER
tain that Washington before long will
be visited by some of the great men
and women of earth, among them be-
ing the king and queen of Belgium.
Cardinal MERCER. and the prince of
wales-for his conduct on the field
| OF battle certainly entities this young
/ prince. as II entities MI others who
who have shown high courage. to be
| ciaSsed among the great ones.
Washington already is preparing 20
welcome royalty and royalty's repre-
| sentatiYeS. AS soon as definite infor-