Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1835-01-24
'Twcmty-third Congresses. Scs.
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES,.

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which the resolution fixing The compensation dun, Tho
kecess of Members acting the Committee iuyesti.
Ing the affairs of tho Post Office was akcn nm f co,s;
dcration. " ~ '
Mr.. Nj. proceeded by saying, he would take this oc
CASTOR to remark that in consultation Will, several
gentlemen of the House. il had been surgcsle AS N,
ter ojusticc to this committee to allow them in addition
10 what was proposed, their usual mileage for TRAVELLING
expenses and to that suggestion Mr. NJ would yield by
modhcauon OF his amendment, if any gentleman
wished to propose it. lie would do SO for this reason
That when gentleman called away on public bust
ness their affairs at home necessarily suffer; and
ne was wiilmg upon principle, that they should be paid
tle same as IN extra session of Congress- Th, reso
inuon as amended by him, would give each cf these
gentlemen about $3.50, which many Of them per,nps
would be disposed TO consider as AN nadcoat common
sation but whether it would be deemed sufficient y the
House. he prepared 10 saw He rcneoted Lc
would submit the amendment and if any gentleman +; II
disposed to modify it, by allowing the usual TRAVELLING
expenses ofmembers Mr.. Nj. would accept the modica
ton. -
MIR. Williams, of North Carolina was wiling 70 grant
lhe members OF this Committee fun adequate and Just
eompensaion Tor there could be question that their
unues had been many and arduous but he was at loss
10 perceive how this could be done the manner popos
ed, coniormablc to the laws present in force The
laws regulating the pay members had not bcen rcneo
ed, and until they wcie he could moi perceive how fhey
could construcyely allow this committee the xtra nav
OF mileage: These gentlemen had not performed the
Journey twice they to this city but once and he
thought neither reasonable nor proper that they shond
oe Twice PAID That they should be paid eight dollars
per dcm he Thought just, but not double mileage.
mr.. Slilet would inform the gentleman from North Ca
roina that he knew of the members of the commit
tee who did return home. lie to this city spent
considerable time here, and returned 10 his family so
mat one at least, by the gcntlemans own principle
would be entitled 20 his allowance of MILEAGE
Nr miller said he could necessity whatever for
the passage of this resolution The law had fixed tbe
compensation OF members, and it was alleged that this
committee met ON the first of September Well that
was hotning more than prolongaon of the session. or
iu anticipation OF the meeting of Congress Their du
ties were precisely similar those tcy would have had
TO perform during the session. and nothing more; and he
could sec no necessity for giving them moro Than The
law liked, viz eight dollars day. This could be given
them without the resolution proposed
hr. Mann OF New York, begged TO make a single re-
mark IN reference to what had fallen from the gentleman
from North Carolina whose opinions on such subjects
ne was bound to treat with respect Mr. NJ had drawn
THIS resolution, giving the members of t,e COMMITTEES
cight dollars day for the time they were aciuqLy en-
gagged and he only said that had been suygesed TO
nun by several gentlemen to give them the mileage and
he had said that if such modification were prouosed c
would acceptit. That, having been cnpaqcd DURING tho
vacation, their necessary business at home must have
peen neglected and this offered for the extra
pay though 1T was not embraced in his amendment The
gentleman from North Carolina said we could not do
THIS without changing the law. MIR. NJ knew the law
was peIePiory ON this subject hut he had supposed it
competent LOT the House to appropriate its own contin
gent fund, and If was upon that principle he relied
as TO hc remark of the honorable member from Penn
syNahla ("lT. Ahlier) that these gentlemen would be
ehuted TO their pay of eight dollars day. as a matter of
rghl' without resolution, Mr.. NJ had supposed it ne
tue out OF the ordinary course and beyond the power
OF the Committee upon the contingent expences of the
House; and he understood that that COMMITTEES had
ed to audit these accounts.
Now for the resolution as drawn up by hmself--it
would give the members of this Committee pay for sixty
nine days; Their session commencing in this city the
rs or second of September exclusive the time spent
in9Veing, amounting, in round numbers, about five
hundred and fifty dollars The original resolution en-
braced the whole period tnc from the adjournment of
the last session of Congress, the Both June.
MI M said ne understood the practice had been
ted heretofore that Committees engaged in business
and by order of the House. should be paid their
travelling expenses Such wes the last session
IN regard to the Committee appointed investigate the
affairs OF the Bank the United States who were paid
their milcage between the seat of government and the
city ci Philadelphia, and no more; their wages as mem
pefs OF Congress went on; but they paid all their others
except travelling expenses In conclusion, he would re-
mark that notwithstanding the objections OF the rcntc
man from North Carolina, (AIr Williams the House
eonid appropriate much of it's contingent fund as
1t thought proper. Mr.. M. would observe that he was
by no means particularly disposed to give those gentle
men an extraordinary unusual conversation but
he was disposed to treat them with libeIality.
the amendment:
"And that those whe to Washington ON said bu.
Fncss and returned home before the commencement of
inc present session OF Congress, be allowed their extra
travel and and their per diem allowance while attendn
ON said committee, and no more"
MI Harper OF pennsylvania, said he was opposed TO
both amendments because he considered them unfair
unequal and unjust in their operations The reason as
signed 10y one gentleman for allowing this compen-
saon was, that the usual daily pay was insufficient
That might be true. They have doubtless attended
mere atan extra expense and neglected their business
buthe did not think this offered satisfactory reason for
double mileage Besides it should he remembered that
some OF these gentlemen resided at comparatively
sa distance from Tins city and others very remote
distance, and therefore, paying them in the way pro-
posed would be drawing great distinco in he cases
ana be no criterion. One would receive very ifte
and another great amount 1t was well known that of
the compensation received by members of Congress-
none was so ample as that Of mileage Some received
no less than $4,000 mileage in coming to and returning
from Washington, while that of others did not auount
70 hundred dollars This was the ground Of his ol;ec-
uoI 10 the ilrst amendment wish regard TO the second
1t seems that or more members of the com,
Hee took occasion to return home attend 30 their
private affairs, and it proposed not only TO nav eo
their s. day during their ABSENCE but also their milo.
age for going and returning. This would be rewardng
!he not Tor attending TO their public duties for 90
ing home to attend 10 their private concerns and alan
donng Tie former II additional compensation be ne
cessay any where il ought be bestowed rather upon
went away
Mr. Crockett said he should oppose both amendments
Tor he thought The usual pay Of s. day ample II was
onsense to talk about its being sacrifice to come there
LOT II II was they would so many raeling o bc
members of Congress. lie considered 81 day sun.
eeht remuneration Tor any man. let bis business be what
Mr. Fillmore opposed the claim for extra rlcagc and
SAID was nothing than pFotraced session ar an
ANTICIPATION OF the session. far the Committee were
Concerned, and he willing to give them what tte
law allowed, but no NOR.
Mr. Mann wished 20 offer a few words of exuIsns,;,
Inc gentleman from Virginia, seemed 60 suppose that
MI NJ amendment proposed to pay the committee for
a Tie time OF therecess--ths was not the caa opo
proposed 10 rive them s. day for the time they were
actually engaged IN the performance ofthoir duly re
had said that If that should be considered uodeonof
and any gentleman moved addition he would not on
pose ", but would accept it n modification. One ri
Mr. Nj colleagues proposed TO give them something f.,
gong nome 70 attend to-heir elections, for we mi ghi
as well call things by their right names
WI. Fillmore. IL DruDoard 20 mai loo ID,