The Dermott news., 1919-07-17
PRESIDENTS TOUR
 WILL COST MUCH
SPEAKING TRIP MAY BE SHORT FINED BECAUSE OF HEAVY
 TRAVELLING EXPENSES.
s25,0OO FUND NOT ENOUGH
Formerly Our Chief Executives AL ways Accepted Transportation From the Railways, but That Was Chang cd by Colonel Roosevelt.
By EDWARD B. CLARK.

Washington. President Wilson is to stump the country in behalf of the covenant of the League of Nations l. 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.
 Ii has been intmated that tt will be Impossible for the president to make as bong and as wide journey as he might wish because of the necessary expense which attaches to travel of thts kind
 There is at the disposal of the pres ident of the United States each year S25.00d 10 he used for travelling ex- peuses. This amount becomes avail able on July of each succeeding year, hut il is not sufficient 10 cover the trGveling expenses Of a president who wishes to tnlk to the people. or to travel on other official errandS within the borders of the United States.
 All presidents have found 1t neees- sary-and their decision in the matter apparently has been cencHrred in by the people-to take with them official parties, mainly composed of cabinet officers
 Will Use Up the Entire Fund.
 At times if has been necessary to charter special train for the presi dential party, but always 1t has been necessary to have special ear. Ev cry president who travels must lake with him secret service men. stenog- rarhcrs and typewritcrs. II 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 Ike 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- 'fTl Niit 'oui VI Allt laiAl PatlS bi to pay for their official trips out of their pockets There always has been a demand from the people that the presidents of the United States occa- sionally should meet them in their homes. Every president since rail- roads became fact has felt that he must meet this demand. The result was that many of them used up considerable part of their salaries In the payment of bills 10 railroads and to hotels
 IL Cnme 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 thnt the situation had become Impossible When he went on hunting trips to the West although he was 10 fulill official engagements going and coming. he al- VHys paid all the expenses but hc was compelled at times ta accept the hos nltullty of the railroads Thinking tlat thiS state ef affairs should end hc wrote communication to congress urging thnt an appropriation be made te cover the legitimate travelling ex- penScS of the president of the United States and his official advisers travel inc with him when he was on business connected with the public welfare
 In order that there might he m crit icism of his request from the point ot view of those who would say that he vas trying to make the people pay his personal bills. President Roosevelt esked that the appropriation for trav. cling expenses for the chief magis- trate should not be made available until after he left office So it was that President Taft became the first beneficiary of the appropriation of s25.ooo year for travelling expenses
 Notahl-e Coming 10 America
 The guiding men in the member ship ot iitt Lca-ue uf Nations prob- ably will hold meeting in Washing ton some time next October. No def mite arrangement to this effect has been made, but the understanding Is that the second autumn month will witness gathering of world notables in our national capital.
 Whether or not the chieftains of the league are tn assemble here, 1t is cer- 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 Mercier, and the prince of Wales-for his conduct on the field of battle certainly entities this young prince as II entities all others who who have shown high courage. to be