Evening star., 1952-10-06
Cost Of Truman Tour
Could Be Determined
Only With Subpoenas
BY Ernest B. Vaccoro
Associated Press Stcff VVri,.r

StUSSt Us VoCC0I0
Asseeiatsd Press Staff Writer
ABOARD TRUMAN TRAIN.
Oct. Show much Is President
Truman's S.500-mile 24-State cam
paign tour for Adlai Stevenson
costing the Government and/or
the taxpayers?
That query was relayed to this
correspondent aboard the 16.car
special train carrying the Presi-
dent on his whistle-stop coast
forecast tour.
An editor Of q newspaper
wanted to know.
The answer Is beyond the de-
termination Of a reporter without
the power to subpoena witnesses
and compel their testimony and
time in which to record 1t.
Official and Political.
The answer would involve .
decision as to exactly where q
political action starts and an off,
cial action begins.
1t would require a complete rec
ord not only Of the salaries Of
every one aboard the "give 'em
hell" presidential special, but Of
many others along the route it
travels.
The Democratic National Com
Nlittee has announced it is picking
up the check for this 15-day speak
ing tour BY Mr.. Truman with an
estimated figure Of something
under $25. 900.
That apparently covers the rail-
road transportation, meals, hotel
and other such expenses Of the
President, his speech writer's,
stenographers. secretaries. clerks
and others.
Secret Service Separate.
It does not cover the expenses
Of the Secret Service men.
The law requires that they bel
with the President at all times,
wherever he is and whatever hisI
mission, and no invitation Is in-I
volved insofar as the NationalI
Committee is concerned.
About 18 Secret Service men,
on duty in shifts, are on the
Truman train.
Whoever happens to be Presi-
dent at the time gets the ad-
vantage Of the Secret Service
protection in a campaign year.
No political party could raise
enough money to provide the
services that fall by law to aI
President.
Because they must assure his
protection at all times, they send
out agents in advance to go every
step Of the route he must travel.
That Requires Records.
How much Is this service cost
ing, in terms Of salary. Putnam
accommodations and per diem upI
to a maximum Of SO a day?
That would require a lot Of
Treasury experts with figures onl
the salaries Of each and every
man on the White House detail
and the record Of how many field
off1ce Secret Service men are
brought into play.
There are others, who are re-
auired to be with the President at|
all times, wherever he is, and
whatever he is doing. Like the
Army Signal Corps officers whol
have an elaborate communications
system Of radio telephone and ra-
dio teletype which keeps the Presi-
dent in touch with the White
House and all world capitals at all
times.
How much do their salaries andI
expenses amount to? That would
require q first-hand statement|
from each just as it would in the
case Of the Secret Service men.
Oficial Business. Too.
Truman aides point out that
MIR. Truman didn't request the
Secret Service to come along onI
the trip, that the Army Signal
Corps men have to be available atI
all times, and that no matter how
deeply the President involves him.
self in politics, there is. always
official business to be transacted
when he is on the road.
AS for the salaries of the Pres
ident and his staff while they are
away on political missions. these
aides point out that the salaries
Of campaigning Governors, SEN
&tors and Representatives go onI
during campaigns. rs do those
Of their secretaries, clerks and
other aides.
They ask, would you deduct
two weeks Of the Presidents SAL
ary under the circumstances"
Mr.. Truman gets 500. 900 sal
Ary plus a non-taxable $50, 1000
personal allowance.
Charles S. Murphy, special
counsel and chief speech writer,
draws $4,000: Secretary Matthew
J. Connolly. $4,000; Administra-
tive Assistants Davis Stowe and
Davis Lloyd, on the train, and
Donald Dawson. on the road, $15.-
900 each.
There are others aboard like
Assistant Presidential Press Secre-
tarieS Irving Perlmeter and Roger
Tubby, Richard Neustadt and
Kenneth Hechler, aides to Mr..
Murphy. and Maj. Gen. wallace
H. Graham, the Presidents ply
nician.
Military Aides Missing.
Missing from the strictly politi-
cal venture are Mai. Gen. Harry
Vaughan, Army aide; Rear Ad-
miral Robert L. Dennison, naval
aide, and Maj. Gen. Robert B.
Landry. Armv aide.