# United States Statutes at Large/Volume 1/4th Congress/1st Session/Chapter 4

Chap. Ⅳ.—An Act for allowing compensation to the members of the Senate and of Representatives of the United States, and to certain officers of both Houses.
Allowance to Senators.Section 1. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That at every session of Congress, and at every meeting of the Senate in the recess of Congress, from and after the third day of March in the present year, each Senator shall be entitled to receive six dollars for every day he shall attend the Senate; and shall also be allowed, at the commencement and end of every such session and meeting, six dollars for every twenty miles of the estimated distance, by the most usual road, from his place of residence to the seat of Congress: And in case any member of ​the Senate shall be detained by sickness, on his journey to or from any such session or meeting, or, after his arrival, shall be unable to attend the Senate, he shall he entitled to the same daily allowance: Proviso.Provided always, that no Senator shall be allowed a sum exceeding the rate of six dollars per day, from the end of one such session or meeting, to the time of his taking a seat in another.
Allowance to Representatives.Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That at each session of Congress, each Representative shall be entitled to receive six dollars for every day he shall attend the House of Representatives; and shall be allowed, at the commencement and end of each session, six dollars for every twenty miles of the estimated distance, by the most usual road, from his place of residence to the seat of Congress: And in case any Representative shall be detained by sickness, on his journey to or from the session of Congress, or, after his arrival, shall be unable to attend the House of Representatives, he shall be entitled to the daily allowance aforesaid; and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall be entitled to receive, in addition to his compensation as a Representative, six dollars for every day he shall attend the House: Proviso. 1812, ch. 127.Provided always, That no Representative shall be allowed a sum exceeding the rate of six dollars per day, from the end of one such session or meeting, to the time of his taking a seat in another.
Allowance to the chaplains; to the Secretary of the Senate and the Clerk of the House of Representatives.Sec. 3. And be it further enacted, That there shall be allowed to each chaplain of Congress at the rate of five hundred dollars per annum, during the session of Congress; to the Secretary of the Senate, and Clerk of the House of Representatives, fifteen hundred dollars per annum, each, to commence from the time of their respective appointments; and also a further allowance of two dollars per day to each, during the session of that branch, for which he officiates. And the said Secretary and Clerk shall each be allowed (when the President of the Senate, or Speaker shall deem it necessary) to employ one principal Clerk,To Clerks; 1802, ch. 35. who shall be paid three dollars per day, and two engrossing Clerks, who shall be paid two dollars per day, each, during the session, with the like compensations to such Clerks, respectively, while they shall be necessarily employed in the recess.
to the Serjeant-at-arms.Sec. 4. And be it further enacted, That there shall be allowed to the Sergeant-at-arms, the sum of four dollars per day, during every session of Congress, and while employed on the business of the House.
How the said compensations shall be certified, &c.Sec. 5. And be it further enacted, That the said compensation, which shall be due to the members and officers of the Senate, shall be certified by the President; and that which shall be due to the members and officers of the House of Representatives, shall be certified by the Speaker; and the same shall be passed as public accounts, and paid out of the public treasury.
Approved, March 10, 1796.