New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1848-12-29


there was nothing on which 70 base II esitimately.
they were driven to tax their powers Of invention.
Mr. VIsToS, anxious to get on with the regular
business, tried repeatedly to have this discussion
pronounced out OF order laid on the table &c. bat
the House overruled him, and it went on.
Mr. GREES Of No made short but very peru.
nent and sensible speech repelling the efforts sde
by several to throw the whole responsibility Of the
Mileage accounts on the Mileage Committee He
said that Committee required each Member to
make out statement Of his own Mileage and, in
default Of bis doing so, they did their best. But
generally Members said, live 50 many miles
beyond st. Louis, or Cincinnati, or New Orleans,
or Albany, and the Committee make out their
Mileage accordingly This was the substance Of
his explanation as understood il,
Finally, after all the rest bad sand their say, and
the House had refused 70 override this business or
lay il on the table Mr.. GREELEY was allowed 70
put IN word. He thanked the gentlemen who
had spoken for their aid in calling the attention Of
the Country 70 the abuses prscticed under the
present law providing for the computation Of Mile
age By the usual travelled route which Is often
twice and sometimes nearly thrice as long as the
most direct Post Route Whatever imputations
might BE- showered on him personally, there could
be little doubt that these abuses would now be
| corrected In reply 70 various inquiries and
charges he stated that the Editorial portion Of the
article in question had been written BY himself
the transcripts OF the Mileage schedules Of the
Senate and House respectively had been made tor
him By an ex Clerk in the Post Ofice Department
who. also on bis behalf, had copied from the last
published Post Office Route Book, the actual dis
lance BIZ the nearest Post Route from the resi-
dence OF each Member respectively % this City.
and added thereto computation Of the excess OF
Mileage received By each Member over the amount
he would have received had he charged By the
nearest Mail Route as set down in the Post
Office book All this was done without inter
ference by any one the Clerk copying, colating
and computing precisely according to the official
lists To have gone behind these would have been
alike hazardous and impractcable to have SIN
ged out few Members accounts for publication
would have been equally Objectionable There
was bat one practicable and Just course-to give
every mans account exactly as II stood. with the
difference that would be made By charging accord
ing 10 the nearest Mail Route, whether that differ
ence were cents or dollars or thousands. This
orevtalled every charge OF pretence Of par
TALLY OF craftsmanship and if there were any
wrong done errors excepted, Of coursel the fault
was IN the public records
Mr. T. BUTLER KIy0 of ia. interposed state
meut that he had never had anything to do with
the computation Of his Mileage-he had always
refused 10 bave-bu, loft it entirely 10 the Com
nittee. and had taken just what they gave him
NJ. GREELKY.--Yes. Sir, and thus we have re-
peatedy had the possibility shirked ON 20 the
Committee, and by them back again, and finally II
settles nowhere.
Mr.. KiVG.-DOes the gentleman charge me with
shirkingy demand an explicit answer.
Mr. GREELEY.--No Sir. I do not Idonot pretend
t. Tx the blame anywhere, except on the law.
make no imputation on the gentleman from Geor-
eia scr any other but do say that there have
some $50 or 100000 gone out of the Treasury,
which. in my judgment, would have been saved
had the law been as 1t should be, and properly
enforced.
Mr. Speaker have now stated the facts with
regard to their publication. and have answered
the various inquiries addressed 20 me with regard
70 It. fhave only TO add that shall vote for the
inquiry proposed. and for everything calculated 70
call attention 20 the abuses OF Mileage, which
must be followed by their correction. To the per
sonsl imputations cast upon me in the course OF
this discussion make no reply. They will neither
harm me nor benefit my accusers. All ask IL
that this Congress should lay judgment TO the
line and righteousness to the plummet with re-
gard TO this business Of Mileage, and II that IS
done 4 ahall he ctutept
The Resolutions Of Inquiry moved by Mr.
Turner were Their adopted and the House, at
ate hour adjourned.
NoTf.-Mr Sswyers complaint wss not mai ms ros
distance had been underrsei his Nj cage account
overssed-bolh being exactly according the Ofhcsl re-
cordsbut that NJ SoencVi disparity IL underssieo and
In lhs Ind by Tecurng the books, hs 1. right Mr.
srhencks posrogts distance rssy 46 miles instead Of
II. printed IN The Tnbune17 being the distance from
Washington 10 Dayton Illinois, which Is next under Mr.
schenck's foa Office Dayton, Ohio In The P o book
Whoever win turn to page 50 Of Table Of Post Ohces
edition Of ls4S (he last which gives the distances from
Wsshingion) will exactly whs caused this bunder, ami
renderedst almost inevitable This marks Mr. scheuck
ecumhendt1s Ep SIC miles bat don't subirscts rod from
Mr.. Sswyer's
The oiscrep sncy me secount OF Mr. Franklin CLARK Of
Maine ought he s5l instead OF only - 60 printed
In our table