New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1848-12-22

pensstion Of Members Of the present Congress for
travelling 70 and from Washington by reason Of
their attendance at the last Session has been Do
tanned and pre- pared for The Tribune not without
considerable delay and difficulty The schedule Of
the House was open to us, and no objection made
70 it's use but the Secretary OF the Senate refused
10 permit transcript Of the Mileage OF that Illus
trious body TO be taken, even on the requisltion Of
Member Of the House, and we were constrained
to apply to the Secretary Of the Treasury, certify
ing that it was wanted as the basis OF action In
the House and then our reporter was tossed
about from bureau to buceau Of the Treasury Build
ings for some time before he could obtain sight
OF the document in question. But we have 1t at
last.
In the following tables, we have copied from
the records the name Of each Member OF Congress
at the last Session the number Of Miles charged by
him as the distance travelled in coming TO Con-
gress with the amount Of Mileage therefor. the
amount charged for coming and going inclusive 10
which we have appended the number Of miles
which each Member respectively actually lives
from Washington by the nearest post-route, as set
down In the last Official list Of Post Offices with
their several distances from Washington and the
last column of figures gives the amount which each
Member has received for Mileage moro than he
would have received had he travelled by the near
est post-route, and charged accordingly
Let no man jump at the conclusion that this ex-
cess has been charged and received contrary TO
law The fact is otherwise. The members are
all honorable men--if any irreverent infdel should
doubt it, we can silence him by referring to the
l,o,, In, he and Nyo
presume each has charged just what the law
allows him. That law expressly says that each
shall receive eight dollars for every twenty miles
Travelled in coming to and returning from Congress
by the usually travelled route ; and of course if
the route usually travelled from California TO w ash
lngton is around Cape Horror the Members
from that embryo State shall choose to think 1t is
they will each be entitled to charge some $4,000
Mileage per session accordingly. We assume
that each has charged precisely what the law
allows him. and thereupon we press home the
question: ought net THAT LAW 10 be amended
1t is for the sake of urging this question that we
have chosen to take the risk OF giving offence 10
some friend in Congress, who may fancy himself
exhibited at disadvantage by this publication
This is very far from intention 1t is not in
the character OF receivers Of the money but in
that of masters of the law that we ask the atten-
ton of Members to this expose. Congress can
correct it at once ii disposed to do so We are
blaming no man for accepting such compensation
for hs services as the law allows him but we IN
sist that the law should not continue to allow such
charges rs these. Is not the distinction clear
one
Let us briefly illustrate the existing necessity
for Mileage Reform bill
When the compression OF Congress was fixed
twenty miles travel was Just about equivalent TO
days work the average rate of travel through
the country not exceeding forty miles per day and
the cost being about ten cents per mile. all things
included AT present. the average rate of travel
IS at least one hundred miles per day aud the
rage cost hardly more than five cents per mule.
Twenty dollars per hundred miles travel now IS
fully equal to twenty dollars for fifty miles travel
then. Yet Congress has steadily refused to reduce
the Mileage bills with that intent having repeat
eddy passed the House but as uniformly been
killed in the Senate.
Thirty odd years ago the Member som Cincin-
natl, Ohio. charged 500 miles as the distance from
;ha, city TO Washington. or sioo per Session,
rding In stages and on horseback all the wsy-s
tedious. laboricus Journey. His successor in the
present Congress rides IN steamboats, and cars
nearly the entire distance, sleeps hike top, lives
Ike lord, makes the Journey IN about half the
time and at less than hsf the cost and charges 40
miles or S232 40 more than his predecessor. Strict
~ according to law. mind you. but what sort OF
law
Twenty years ago the Member from North.
Eassem Ohio charged SAL miles in his distance to
Washington. coming hither on horseback sad
ceNins ss7s so Tor the Session. His successor IN
ths present Congress can come here much quicker
and certainly as cheap, but he charges $50 miles
aad receives $3.50 for mileage IL is but jUss to
add thai he lives iorty miles farther away
Two Wing Members OF the present House tai
ed OF reelection aud wall be succeeded next Win.
ter by Loco-Focos because they charged long
mileage. Here is public misfortune sustained
because OF the injustice OF the present law
A Member iron Alabama hives up one branch of
principal river IN that State, " hile the road 10
Washington lies directly across to the other branch
2nd 50 eastward. he charges mileage down one
iorA 10 the ether sgd up that 10 toe great road
Aforesaid. and 50 makes over 500 miles instead OF
about 100. All regular Of course.
the louisiana Nenbers charges from bis residence
dow a the Red River to the Mississippi. down the
Mississippi TO Neworleans thence 6acS aP faat
sase M,sses,PPi by the mouth Of Red River 10
the Ohio, aud SO up TO Wheeling, ana BY Bsu
more 70 Washington. Should not this be corrected
We are about tc have new assortment
States and Territories, scattered ali the wsy 10
sunset and the Sandwich Islands Is it no. high
time that the Mileage were settled on a basis Of
Justice and economy Can Members who pocket
these roundabout allowances be expected to scru-
tinze carefully the bills and expenditures sub
nit,od 10 themi Can discussing officers who
know that Members Of Congress receive snch |
Mileage and refuse to correct it, be expected 10
consuus strictly a. against themselves and exam.
inc sharply n against their friends They can |