The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-07-14
IN SENATE.
MILEAGE OF MEMBER
FRIDAY, July 10, 1910

MILEAGE or MEMBERS CONGRESS-
The Senate motion of Mr. CLAY, of Kentucky
resumed the consideration of the bill from the House
to establish uniform rule OF computing the mileage Of
members Of Congress The question being on Mr.
NoRyEILs motion of postponing the bill indefinitely
Mr. CLAY, of Kentucky, spoke at large in favor of
the bill II was passed he said, by the nearly unani-
nous vote ofthe other House and ten years ago SINH
lar bill was passed by the other House and defeated
by the Senate.
lie alluded to the unpleasantncss of touching any
abuses of this kind, from the great number of indy
duals interested in them, from whom difficult TO
escape anima1version. But as always, Mr. c. would
now proceed to perform his duty, regardless of him
SELF but sincerely DESTROYS not to njure unnecessarily
the feelings of any member, and he trusted his re-
marks would be listened TO in the spirit Of cour-
tesy with which he designed to make them
The time Of his retreat from public life not very
distant, and, before retiring, he wished point out
three or four abuses which he would in part, do at
this tiae One related to the ranking privilege of
which there were abuses in every way, which Mr.. c.
specified and pointed to certain remedies
Another great that now under consi,lcra-
ton Mr.. G. proceeded to show that the law respect
ing mileage had been rendered very greatly uncertain
and unequal particularly by rail roads and steamboats,
lie insisted that il, by that law was designed
topay both the travelling expenses and the per diem Of
member, that object would be than attained by
tins bill. MIR. Z. read document showing great inc
quality IN the mileage of individual members,
OF which was that of two members living within ten
whose mileage, Tor whcn tllcy
spcctlveIy received 81 per twenty miles, differed from
each other by two hundred and fifty five miles The
other cases were mostly very strong and striking Mr.
G. also read and commented upon the report Of the
committee of the other House the subject, in
firmaon of his views.
lie closed by abiding to the extraordinary increase
in the expenditures of the government. During the
administration Of Washington Adams, and the first
term Of Jefferson the whole civil list did not exceed
Sti0000O yearly. Now, the Treasury department
alone has nearly reached that sum and the expenses
of Congress, including stationery, printing fuel &c.
even went beyond it. And reforms by Congress, he
insisted ought 10 begin with themselves.
After few remarks from Messrs. CALHOUN and
WRIGHT for the postponemcnt of tho bill, and from
Mr. DAVIS against the posponcmcnt
Mr.. SMITH, Of Indiana, said, as he should vote
against the indefinite postponemcnt Of the bill he de-
sired to place his its ground In the vote
he should give he did not wish 10 be understood
hitting hmsco vote for the bill passed the House
That bill fixes the mileage of members upon direct
air line this, he thought, would be found unequal and
unjust, IL line never travelled and impossible
10 he travelled Again it would be unjust To members
who had to travel circuous route TO their places
of residence. He therefore, woutd vote against the
indefinite posponcment in the hope that the bill would
be amended TO make il acceptable. Tic held that
the true rule to pay members for the distance he
would he compelled TO travel so as TO conveniently to
arrive at the seat Of Government and not the route his
pleasure convenience might dictate He thought
the law should be to make the allowance upon the
nearest mail or post route. This would make the law
d finite enough He admitted that the la as il stood
was liable 10 he and was misconsrucd, operating un-
equally and unjusy .bcwcen different members lie
concurrcd with the member from South Carolina Mr.
CALHouS) that the object of the law giving mileage
not altogether 10 pay members for their expenses
in travelling was in part compensation to distant
members for the Inconvenience and sacrifice they were
compelled TO make in being far removed from their
homes while those nearer TO the seat of Government
could frequently visit their families during the session