The Colorado statesman., 1919-07-19
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 q. CLARK.

|
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 VIII
take the field in an attempt to offset
the presidents arguments.
1t has been intimated that Ii will be
impossible for the president to make
as long and as wide a 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
iGent of the United States each year
$4,000 to be used for travelling ex-
penses. This amount becomes avail
able on July 1 of each succeeding year,
but it is not sufficient to cover the
travelling expenses of a 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 it 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 it has been necessary to
charter a special train for the presi-
Dental party, but always it has been
necessary to have special car. Ev-
cry president who travels must take
with him secret service men, stenog-
raphcrs 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
rocket 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
a 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
| considerable part of their salaries In
the payment of bills to railroads and
| to hotels.
1t came to be recognized as proper.
| ., nf nj c.tat
| 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 fulfill official
engagements going and coming, he al
ways paid all the expenses, but he was
compelled at times to accept the hos
| pltallIV OF lue TbllTOuuS. Thinking
that this state of affairs should end
he wrote a communication to congress
urging that an appropriation be made
| 10 cover the legitimate travelling ex
penses of the president of the United
States and his official advisers travel
| ing with him when he was on business
connected with the public welfare.
In order that there might be no crit
icism 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 it was
that President Taft became the first
beneficiary of the appropriation of
$4,000 n year for travelling expenses.
Notabes Coming 10 America.
The guiding men in the member
ship of the League of 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 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 Mercier, and the prince of
WaleS-for his conduct on the field
of battle certainly entities this young
prince, as 1t entities all others who
who have shown high courage. to be