Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1834-09-05

These are but specimens Of an extensive practice =
Each OF the individuals named many of the oil er
members from the West and Souhw est, from 1918 for
ward were allowed each session OF Congress from one
SIX nuh"ien miles more than they entitled 10 by
law Mr. Speaker Clay, who approved the accounts of
The Others himself ovestepped the law by 326 miles and
II could not be expected that others would conDe them
The same practice extended into the Senate The mill.
age oil The distant members overcharged in the same
degree.
a. But this abuse was greatly aggravated by Mr. Claw
in 1924 and 1925. 1t will be remembered thai Mr. Cay
aver being some years IN private life agaa took his seat
as member OF the House OF Representatives and was
Reelected Speaker in December, 1928 He was nen
candidate Tor the Presidency, were also Ressr Cra
@ford and Adams, and Gen. Jackson Thor. o. ct
oly oil an election by the People; and the struogIe of
Mr. Clay and his friends bring linn into The r. If
as one oil the three highest candidAtes-I was under
Uese circumstances that Mr. Clay became the presidn
officer oil the House and of the me on whom he relied in
certain contingency, TO make him President of Tie IT
Id'e, III ,na' eoly, were six men on whom depended
me votes oil tour States: Messrs. John Scott of Missouri
Christopher Rankin, OF Mississippi; Daniel p Cooke oi
Illinois aud W. H. Brent, II. H. Gurey, and E. Lyines-
Mr. Scott, Of Missouri, had been member for sever
tesslons, and had charged, have seen 3g2 miles
FAC" session more 'h'n The actual distance travelled by
Speaker, and he had received payment But Mr. CIov
undertook TO reopen h account, make additional AL
Iowances oil most extraordinary character AT the close
OF tie session in May, 1924 addition Of 500 miles a
made TO his charge for that year making tho disanco
charged iooo mes, instead Of 1l00 aiding 500 TO
nus ""VeHnng allowance. lie was then allowed Tor 500
mules short twice, in travelling 10 Washington b ,oo
Ter amounting 10 400 dollars more. He was then al
Io''eh ouO miles short "seUen times in returning home
"6y todfeT, amounting to 400 dollars Ills ad,Hional
and arfearage mileage, going back seueu ,,eor, and
amounting 200 dollars was allowed and ~ 10, S Sn"
Clay on the 24h May, 1924 MIR Scott contn1oJ 10
charge thereafter 1000 miles during his continuance in
Congress, OF 300 going and returning.
Mr. Rankin had been IN Congress during fbe sesop If
1922, and 1928 'Dd had charged 400 miles
count ior this session also up at 400. Inn, on
closing u, there added short 76i miles amounting 70
Oli dollars 20 cents, aud then e credited with sbort
mileage Tor the Two preceding sessions 764 uca each
amounting TO 1929 dollars 40 GEMS These sum in he
aggregate 1888 dollars go cents were allowcJ ar, Ia
hy Mr.. Clay on the 26lb NIaV 1904 d. W. ,rn P1o
ing the last OF the session Mr. Rankin continued here
alter charge 2l6i miles 1928 each session. going and
returning ee ~
The charges for travelling from New Orleans and vic
my ndu hucWs'ed somewhat in previous years, but 90
~, appear ever 10 have exceeded 1862 miles prior to 1924
Mr. CIhy however, put Mr.. Breht at 2fIl, Mr. Curev
az nav and Mr. Livingston al 2197 Being ell nc " mem.
oeIs mere was no opportunity to allow them srresrsges
and Tho Speaker with giving hem travel f
900 TO SEQ miles each than had ever before been
charged. ''"
Mr. Cooke was understood TO be friendly 70 Mr. Al.
aIns. NO arrcafsges allowed him al, Ibis session
but his clsf1s presented at the next His charge
as we hays seen, had long been Tor 1000 miles Upon
closing his account at the session OF 1921 g. Mr. Clsv al
70" cd MN afrearages Of mileage for that aud the two
preceding Congresses, going hack sir yeaTs GO miles
amounting 10 1908 dollars. This done on The 81 dav
OF maTch, 1870 Tie LAST day Of Mr. Clsy's official x
ence as speaker end The day before M r. I'D m =
ration a. President Mr. Cooke continued 10 rbs5ge
mileage thereafter a The rate OF 1000 oile y, . joo -,
and returning, at each session Of Congress
The only preience have ever heard ged for those
sEfsotdnsfy proceedings IT, that Mr. Clay took il i'm ha
head ha he blend, MI Scott, who had the vote oil slate
70 give nigh, lawfully cbsfge mileage by Tie meandegs
o. ne rivers he chose TO navigate 10 the character Of
meVet o. Congress The law IN 20 many words declares
iha' u shail be "by me most usual nom" Mr. Clay
mao before been Speaker under this law and had con-
tFned The ofd"TOod," 10 mean r0od MIR p r. Bar.
bouf had been Speaker, aud seems 10 have hog
OF converting river into road lie had settled The sc
counts OF messrs Scott Rankin, snd Cook upon lie pre-
cedents established BY Mr. Clay himself and they were
closed. But NJ Gays absence from Congress or his
meo and peculiar attitude At tho tine seems to have lei
W ne" hght upon bs und fsiaDdng lie ouy discovers
that he and Mr. Barbour AMI the whole world had beeo
wrong IN snpposng that river road but also Tia,
nc d aught TO open long closed by his prede
cessor according 20 the plain letter and universal under
standing Of The law, and make allowances upon new
principle Retrospective seven years.
We DO no. charge Mr. Clay with corrupt motive nor
shah We stop TO inquire what tie motive was We Give
fOn reIeiling So claw aceount al tho t.e.n 1910. IN ~