Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1849-01-16


charged no one, in The article published, or here
with receiving more than the law allowed him
il was OF The law that he complained. And nj
desired TO ask Of every gentleman present, whetn
er any one had been charged with receiving more
than he actually had received
Mr.. Turner (Mr. Greeley giving wayD sait
that he had been charged in the article with re
ceving 1898 excess OF mileage over what HI
would be entitled to by the nearest post loute.-
Ii was also stated that by the nearest post rout
the distance was 500 miles. Now, that statement
he repeated, was unequalihedly false. lfthe gen
tleman had desired TO speak the truth in that pub
LEGATION, and taken an air line from his Mr.. rs
residence 10 Washington as The basis OF his cal
culalon, he would have found the distance b,
that line 10 be over 800 miles; and yet he resided
more than 800 miles west and 200 miles north O
that line.
Mr.. Barralson Mr.. Greeley still giving way
said hat the conclusions were drawn from book
not used al The Department. He had relerre,
his own case 10 The Postmaster General, aud tina
officer had stated the distance by the nearest pos
route 10 be as he had been allowed. There was
therefore, great injustice in charging him with re
ceivins q excess OF Sl60.
Mr.. Greeley proceeded 10 defend his estimates
and TO insist that they had been based on III,
routes travelled and the nearest pos, routes.
Mr.. Barrow, (Mr. Greeley again giving way,
SAID that The sum SET down in the article was SO
more than he had actually received This Nigh
be a typographical error, and he should not have
taken any part in The debate had members moi
been challenged 10 point Out errors.
Mr.. Greeley proceeded
Mr.. Brown OF Mississippi (Mr. Greeley again
yielding The floor read from the article in the
Tribune the pau which alleges that the facts are
derived from the last official list" Now, he
said the gentlemen from New York had known,
for the last three weeks, that il was not The last
official list, and yet he still persisted that the
statement is correct. He read from the last posi-
Office account published in 1916, four years laler,
in which his own distance is put down al pre-
cisely that ioc which he now receives mileage
Mr.. Greeley insisted that that was circutcus
roule.
Mr. Brown-No, il is the nearest posl-route, as
stated by The ates. official list.
Mr. Greeley proceeded 10 notice The remarks
heretofore made about his sitting here and edi:-
ing his paper al the rate OF So day, drawn
from The public treasury, &c. He was disposed
10 do his iu share of The public business, and
these remarks, therefore, were out OF place. Re-
forms were always The "beggars" business, and
always unpopular with those whom they affected.
Mr. Mckay here interrupted Mr.. Greeley
as members had been challenged TO point out
errors and was proceeding TO read from the
article in The Tribune, when Mr. G. declined
yielding the floor again, and the Chairman de-
clded that Mr.. Mckay could only make his cx-
PLANTATION with Mr. Gs consent, who was emit.
tied 10 the floor. MIR. g., however, finally
yielded. Mr.. Mckay, afer reading, said that
the gentleman was not mistaken as 10 his post
office, but he had neglected TO state that he re-
sided some miles beyond, and had no allowance
therefor.
Mr.. Greeley said it was impossible to avoid
errors Of this kind. How could he have known
that the gentleman resided beyond'
MIR. Shenck mir. Greeley again yielding the
loor) said that he understood the gentleman TO
disclaim any charge of fraud, or disrespect 10
members, but merely TO state that he des ired
change Of the law.
He then read from the article in tho Tribune
the taIicised word "honorablo,'' several times
applied to members therein, and inquired VINE
Their the expression was intended 10 be iron cal ?
and if SO, how it could be consistent with his
declarations on this 1oor'
Mr. Greeley did not mean il as snecr al;
any but such members who might be liable to
the imputalion implied. All were pronounced
TO be honora,ls, because they acted within tie
letter Of the law.
Mr.. Schenck-Dd The gentleman then mean
10 be understood as saying that everything was
honorable which was LAWFUL?
Mr.. Greeley-Not exactly that. He did not
think il would be quite honorable Tor the gentle
man, when il appeared by his nearest post route
his distance was 500 miles by good travelled
road, it would be quite right 10 charge round by
the way Of Boston.
Mr.. Schenck-Docs the gentleman mean TO
say that II is dihonsra5le in member TO receive
the mileage which the law may award him.
Mr.. Greeley thought it might not be quite Just.
Mr.. Schenck said that lie was not his con-
science keeper. He (Mr. S had uniformly ad-
vocaIed change in The law, and compensation
by The nearest post routes, and he should CONT
nue. 10 do so; but he did moi feel himself called
upon TO dcnouncc or snrer al members hecanse
they take what the law allows them.
Without concluding, the committee rose, and
ON motion OF Mr. Vinton resolution was adop.
ted In close The debate in one hour alter again
going into committee. Adjourned.