Evening star., 1955-11-06
PRESIDENCY
Eisenhower StroIIs
Through HospitoI Halls.
Chuts With Officials

+ ,
President Eisenhower got out Of
bed last Friday. walked slowly 70
an elevator about SO feet away, rode
from the eighth to the third floor.
walked on some 200 feet TO an
x-ray room had X-ray. then
strolled back to the elevator and
then to his room. The rest Of the
day he wandered about the room.
walked out on the balcony and
talked. sitting in an easy chair.
with several visitors.
It was not a strenuous day. but
it did demonstrate that the Presi-
dent is no longer bed-ridden. that
he can get about as much as he
desires so long as he does not rush
and does not climb stairs. The
x-rays taken on Friday confirmed
that this moderate pace Of normal
living was not injurious to his
heart.
The next. and final. test to be
cleared before he can leave the
hospital viii be stair climbing. Any
man OF the Presidents age 1861
tends to pun a little and quicken
his heartbeat when he climbs .
flight OF stairs. So doctors this
week viii first permit him only .
few gingerly steps upward. Then,
If all goes smoothly, he will try .
leisurely ascent Of a full flight Of
stairs.
When he makes 1t. 1t win be
graduation day. For he will then
be well enough to climb the long
stairs up to the presidential plane
and fly to Washington planned
stopoyer on his way to his Gettys-
burg farm. A spokesman for the
President said last week the trip
home might be made this coming
Friday.
While the President was recover
ing at a good pace, his cabinet ofii-
GERS continued their pilgrimage to
Denver. The trips seemed 10 have
three purposes: To wish the popu-
lar President q speedy recovery: to
maintain the picture Of a President
still at the reins OF government:
and to secure good platform from
which to make policy announce
ments.
The stream Of visitors has given
the President more contact with
his chief administrative officers
than he had during any OF his
usual work-play vacations.
Summerfield on Post
Postmaster General Arthur e.
Summerfield's visit last week was
typical. He spent 80 minutes with
President Eisenhower. After the
talk he announced to newsnen that
the President had approved q re-
quest to Congress for an increase
in postal rates.
No one believed that the trip was
necessary just to get an okay on
the rate boost. The President had
asked for a similar rate increase
for the past three years, Admin
istration bills calling for rate in
creases still are hanging IRE in
Congress and will be pushed again
In the coming session. Meanwhile
nothing can be done--but q little
lobbying Congress comes
back in January.
But the prominence given last
weeks announcement in Denver
will make Mr.. Summerfield's public
education job somewhat easier.
And he needs all the help he can
get to cut the Post Ofiiceis annual
deficit ts6f9 million in the first
fiscal year under President Eisen-
hover, 1899 million in the next and
$3i3 million in fiscal $50. He wants
to raise rates across the board, in
cluding boosts to cents for nrst-
class mail and Z cents for airmail.
Mitchell on Labor
The Presidents second important
visitor was Secretary Of Labor
James p. Mitchell. Apparently no
business was discussed;
the Secretary Just wanted TO keep
Mr.. Eisenhower informed on the
economy and labor peace.
When newsmen asked II the
President wanted another strong
tight for amendment Of the Taft
Hartley Act in the coming year.
Mr.. Mitchell indicated he had not
even brought the subject up. In
fact, he apparently had forgotten
that a package Of IL amendments
still were before Congress and that
Il was the official policy Of the adj
to fight for their pas
sage. He could not recall to re-
porters what all the amendments
we're. II
Very frankly" he said, II don't
seel that any action Is going to be
AIKEN by Congress this year."