Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1848-12-29

have served upon the committee on mileage, ex-
planned what had been the practice in calcula-
ling the mileage of members, and stated thai
the information upon which they had acted had
been derived not from the members. but from
tho Post Office Department, from the Post Oihce
Schedule Guide Books, &c. No Difficult had
hitherto been made in reference TO this mode OF
calculating, and there was any fault ANY where,
il was not attributable 10 lhe members.
Mr.. Turner Of Illinois, one ui the members
IMPLICATED most seriously bY the accusation III
the Trsnne, spoke al considerable length. AID
wi h much severity, upon the Course OF that paper
in lhls matter and pronounced The whole attcir
tissue OF misrepresentation anc talsehood.
AT the conclusion OF his remarks. Mr.. Turner
offered a series Ct resolutions, Instroctihg me
mmillee on Mileage 10 inquire and report
FIST, whether during the present Congress, any
sreaie r mileage than usual has been received by
any member; and, il 81, By whom, how and IN
what manner il has been computed; in what
manner and by whom alowet2 Secondly, who
ther the publication IN The New 1oik Tribune,
under the name and authority OF Horace Gree.
lev member OF this House. does no amount 10
an allegation Of fraud asai 81 most OF he MEM
bers OF this House, and, il so whether The charge
be rue or false !? Thirdly, authorizing The COM
MIR. Turner moved the previous question.
Mr. Thompson moved 10 lay the resolutions
on the table, but this motion was negatives, by
yeas and nays-S 10 l2s
MIR. Greeey addressed The House al some
le0glh, in explanation OF The article in The TT
bune, The mode in which the Information had
been obtained, and the motives which had in
duced the publication. There being no impuIa-
ton OF illegal charges by the members made IN
the article The argument was, that The law
ought NOT TO be So construed as To allow mileage
for any greater distance Than the shortest mail
route, &c.
Mr.. Turner inquired whether lie MI. Greeley
was the author Of the arti T..
Mr.. Greeley replied that the compiler OF The Ia
bes published was formerly clerk in The Post
Office Department but now employed here Tor
the Tribune, and that they had been prepared by
his MIR. G'sl directions. The accompanying
remarks were his own. lie had taken The near
es for lhr members residences, and calculated
he homes, distances by lhe shortest post routes
from thence 10 The capitol al Washington. Ihf
differences were not stated 10 arise from deVia-
lion from the legal route, but IRON what would
be the legal route if the shortest was adopted.
Mr.. King. OF Georgia, said that he had always
refused 10 give any distance, but had left that TO
the COMMITTEE on mileage.
Mr.. Greeley made some remarks net uislihcsiy
heard, in regard TO The unwilngness OF members
10 make statements and The disposition 10 shrink
from responsibilities in The matter.
Mir. King wished 10 know i! that remark was
intended 10 apply 10 him?
Mr. Greeley said that il was intended TO apply
10 no member.
Mr.. King, (yery sero!y)-why did you use il
then2
Mr.. Greeley proceeded 10 explain, and % state
The object he had in view in the publication. =
The information which he had published had
been Obtained from the pUst-oltice books.
Mr.. Turner.-Did You not know The faci mar
The ru,-otiice itself did no, now use these book,}
Mr. Sawyer remarked that great injustice had
been done him b. his publication. lie had been
accu>e.l OF charging icr 300 miles iuiher than
his colleagues. Why was thls2
Mr. Greeley said that his particular case had
moi been taken inIo consideration a; all. Whal
he desired was that the true and equitable foute
Should be fixed by law, or that The law should be
fairly construed
Mr.. Houston, OF Delaware, rose and niece a
few rcmaks in regard 70 his own case The nsu-
al roule was that invariably travelled by him
The FIST resolution was hen adopted without
division-,he second by yeas and nays lOo 10 43,
aud The third [the power 10 send for persons and
paper>l was rejected. Adjourned.