# United States Statutes at Large/Volume 3/15th Congress/1st Session/Chapter 5

Chap. V.—An Act allowing compensation to the members of the Senate, members of the House of Representatives of the United States, and to the delegates of the territories, and repealing all other laws on that subject.
Eight dollars a day and eight dollars for every twenty miles’ travel, to each senator, &c.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 every meeting of the Senate in the recess of Congress, after the third day of March, in the year one thousand eight hundred and seventeen, each senator shall be entitled to receive eight dollars for every day he has attended, or shall attend, the Senate, and shall also be allowed eight dollars for every twenty miles of estimated distance, by the most usual road used from his place of residence to the seat of Congress, at the commencement and end of every such session and meeting; and that all sums for travel already performed, to be due and payable at the time of passing this act.In case of sickness. Eight dollars a day additional for the President of the Senate pro tempore. Proviso; limitation of per diem. Proviso; as to the pay of senators for past travelling. And in case any member of the Senate has been, is, or shall be detained by sickness on his journey to or from such session or meeting, or, after his arrival, has been, is, or shall be, unable to attend the Senate, he shall be entitled to the same daily allowance. And the president of the Senate pro tempore, when the Vice President has been, or shall be, absent, or when his office shall be vacant, shall, during the period of his services, receive, in addition to his compensation as a member of the Senate, eight dollars for every day he has attended or shall attend the Senate: Provided always, That no senator shall be allowed a sum exceeding the rate of eight dollars a day, from the end of one such session, or meeting to the time of his taking his seat in another: Provided also, That no senator shall receive more for going to, and returning from, the meeting of the Senate on the fourth day of March last, than if this act had not been passed.
Eight dollars a day, and eight dollars for every twenty miles’ travel, to each representative and delegate. In case of sickness. Speaker entitled to eight dollars a day additional. Proviso; limitation of per diem.Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That at every session of Congress after the said third day of March, one thousand eight hundred and seventeen, each representative and delegate shall be entitled to receive eight dollars for every day he has attended, or shall attend, the House of Representatives, and shall also be allowed eight dollars for every twenty miles of the estimated distance by the most usual road, from his place of residence to the seat of Congress, at the commencement and end of every such session and meeting; and that all sums for travel already performed, to be due and payable at the time of passing this act. And in case any representative or delegate has been, is, or shall be, detained by sickness, on his journey to or from the session of Congress, or, after his arrival, has been, is, or shall be, unable to attend the House of Representatives, he shall be entitled to the same daily allowance. And the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall be entitled to receive, in addition to his compensation as a representative, eight dollars for every day he has attended, or shall attend the house: Provided always, That no representative or delegate shall be allowed a sum exceeding the rate of eight dollars a day, from the end of one session to the time of his taking his seat in another.
Sec. 3. And be it further enacted, That the said compensation, which ​Compensation to be certified by the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House.shall be due to the members of the Senate, shall be certified by the President thereof, and that which shall be due to the representatives and delegates, shall be certified by the Speaker; and the same shall be passed as public accounts, and paid out of the public treasury.
All acts and parts of acts repealed.Sec. 4. And be it further enacted, That all acts and parts of acts, on the subject of compensation to members of the Senate and of the House of Representatives, and delegates of the territories, be, and the same are hereby, repealed from and after the third day of March last.
Approved, January 22, 1818.