The spectator., 1919-07-22
PRESIDENTS TOUR
 WILL COST MUCH
SPEAKING TRIP MAY BE SHORT FINED BECAUSE OF HEAVY
 TRAVELLING EXPENSES.
s25,000 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.

!
 shington.-President Wilson is to stump the country in behalf of the covenant of tile League of Nations. It 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.
 It hus been intimated that it will be impossible for the president to make as 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 iGent of the United States each year S25,OOO to 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 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 1t neces- sary-and their decision in the matter apparently has been concurred in by parties. mainly composed of cabinet officers.
 Win Use Up the Entire Fund.
 At times it has been necessary to charter a special train for the presi- dential party. but always it has been fn iol Ex. cry president who travels must take with him secret service men. stenog- raphers and typewriters. It 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 a 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 to 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- 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 to railroads and 10 hotels.
 It 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 gain of all the pres idents. 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
  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 that this state of affairs should end he wrote a communication to congress urging that an appropriation he made to cover the legitimate travelling ex- penses of the president of the Unitedl 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 vas trying to make the people pay his personal bills. President Roosevelt asked that the appropriation for trnv. cling expenses for the chief magis- trate should not be made available until after he left office. So 1t was that President Taft became the first beneficiary of the appropriation of $25.0O0 year for travelling expenses.
 Noteh'"e Corning to America.
 The guiding men in the member ship of ihe League of Nations prob ably will hold meeting In Washing. ton some time next October. No defl- nite arrangement to this effect has been made. hut 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. 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 Mercler, and the prince of wales--for his conduct on the field # battle certainly entities this young prince. as lt entities all others who .vho hnva showp h!vh snurooo xo ha