The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1830-01-07

40 hdIu ne, 10 lcll us, WIN lnc ioC'S DN'"'S
our eyes, that the decision OF each member
in his own case will be an infallbIe test.
For the same reaaon, we might leave The
phoie subject Of compensation open. But,
said Mr.. w. we propose TO take from The
member the privilege Of fixing, at his own
will and pleasure, the extent Of his compen-
sation. fthe House should require from
the Committee q statement OF facts they
would discharge that duty vigorously as ia
as they could. They would ascertain what
were the nctual distance Of tho post Offices
near which members reside and report the
sums which each had received for mileage.
But they had not conceived this necessary.
They wished 10 make no implication Of
individuals. but simply to provide for carry
ing into effect the intention Of the act OF /
1873.
Mr.. Burgess said that, in the remarks
which he had made, he did not intend any
reflection upon the committee which rcpor-
ted this bill, nor did he wish unnecessarily
to increase, their labors. But he did think
that, on a question Of this nature, II might
have been well deemed cXpedient for the
committee to lay before this House The
grounds on which thoy had proposed TINS
bill But, it seemed, that there had been
some mistakes in the charges OF compensa-
ton. Now, Mr. b. supposed that no gen
tlcman had, under his privilege, ,,akon more
compensation for his mileage than no thot
hlmsolfto be Justly entitled to; and he pre-
sumed that there was no member OF this
House or Of the Senate who was not wiling
to have the fullest inquiry made into that
matter After some observations as 10 re
Iative distances Of land or water rontcs.
Mr.. b said TINT this was question which
must always be left TO the honor Cf the
House, who had always as much knowledge
on the subject as the Postmaster General
possibly could have; and, he thought, that,
without being obliged TO get that officers
certificate, every member of Congress was
entitled to his pay. TWAS sufficient, ifany
doubt existed on the subject, to restrict the
compensation to the land route. He was
willing to vote for bill to obvlate mistakes,
he could not deliberately vote for a bill i'm
plying that any member Of Congress would
deliberately take more pay than he was en-.
titled to.
After some amendments, the bill was re!
ported TO the House.
TucSday Dec ~.
The resolution offered by Mr.. Hunt on
the subject Of the distribution Of the pro-
ceeds Of the public lands. was again taken
up, and discussed until the expiration Of
the hour sot apart for the consideration
Of resolutions, when tho discussion was ar
rested before any question was taken.
The House then, after passing the bills or
dcred to be engrossed on tho preceding
Iv, ,vsunod the unfinished hus;nses nf
Monday, being the bill to establish a rule
for the computation Of the mileage Of mem
beI,, upon which some discussion took
place; but before any question was taken,
tho House adjourned.
HednesdGy Dec. 80.
The bill for the establishment of o uni
form system ofmileage, was taken up and
debated unit! the close of the sitting. M.
merous amendments TO it were submitted,
among which, was one by Mr.. Chiffon, to
reduce the per diem compensation Of the
members to 6 dollars and a similar reduc.
tion in the sum allowed for every twenty
miles travelled by them in coming to and
returning from the scat of Government II
was, however, rejected, and the bill order
cd to be ongrossed for a third reading.
Thursday Dec. 81,
Mr. Hunts resolution for distributing
y. 5 lands among tho States was discuss
ed, without any result. The use Of the H.
brary was granted 10 Heads of the Depart
ments and Ex Presidents.
The rest Of tho dav was spent on the
contested election Of Pryor Lea, n member
from Tennessee. Thos. d. Arnold, who
who claims tho seat appeared in tho House
The Committee of Elections report that
The seat is contested on the ground, that
perjury. bribery, md a total violation ofthe
laws of Tennessee, were resortcd to by the
friends of mr.. Lea. They enter into n dc
tail of the testimony before them, from
which il appears that the Sherffwho kept
the votes, swore that he would sec that
Arnold did not get majority in his county
The committee. however, report against
Arnold, and discussion arose on motion
to have all the evidence printed. which fin.
ally prevailed, and the house adjourned.
The lntclligenccr says,
eve have seldom seen moro interest
excited on any question in the House, ow.
ING to the peculiar acrimony which seems
to have attended this election in Tennessee.
and has followed it to lis trial in the House
of Representatives. The House has rro.
ccded as vet no farther in the investigation
, of tho subject than to order the printing of
thc evidence in relation to It,"
The House adjourned till Monday.
The Presidents mansion was 10 have