Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1849-12-20
F10 ON The Herald.
Constructive E7ilcagc---J -JOEnsOn---
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tive to the legality of Mileage OF Members OF Con
oress 1t Will be recollected that Mr.. Whllt'esey
refused to pay the sum, charged under tue
head of Mileage. to Members OF The Senate, when
had been authorized by Mr. Dickens, Secretary
of the senate The question was referred to The
Attorney General and lie has decided that Mile
age is regular and legal, and must be paid, aud
that Mr.. Whiitlesey's opinion goes Tor nothng
Considering the small remuneration which SEN
ators receive for their labors we'll as Tor trav-
cling backward and forward, the pcklngs IN The
shape of Mileage are but small affair IN Inc way
of economy, 10 great, and rich country such as
this This small business. however, was mighty
matter to Greeley and like narrowImlnded poll
,icians who grudge the soap used in washing their
hands and faces. Mr.. Whulesev, a small minded
economist, is very properly rebuked by the more
manly judgment of the Attorney-General Let
the money be paid
~ We venture to say that the above asser-
tons will be found entirely erroneous, and that
the Attorney General, in overriding Mr.. Whttle-
sey's decision against the payment of Construc
tive Mileage, has simply decided that the certf-
cate of the President of the Senate (not Mr. Fill
more, but ID X. Atcheson, President pro tetn) to
the correctness of the Double Mileage was con
clusice and binding on the Secretary of the SEN
ate, leaving that functonary no course but to pay
over the money. Ofcourse, il such were the true
construction, the Secretary must be exculpated;
for it would be manifestly wrong to have him o.
bged on the one hand 10 respect and obey the
Presidents certificate, and on the other to bring
him in delaulier TO the Treasury because of his
obedience. We feel very that Mr.. Reverdy
Johnson has not decided that the Constructive
Mileage was originally right and lawful, but sim
ply that the Senate's Secretary. with the P.esi-
dents order before him, could not llelp paying it,
Such was the opinion rendered by Attorney Gen
era Legare in the :irst solitary case Of Conslruc
tive Mileage eight years ago.
The Herald dare not lei its readers see that the
Mileage in question was charged by some thirty
six Members of the present Senate for journeys
they never perforned--some Of them taking from
$4,000 to $4,000 each for an imaginary pilgrim
age to their homes and back again TO Washington
between the morning of Sunday March 4th (wheh
the last Senate closed its labors) and that of Mon
day March 5th, when the present Senate assem-
bled. By means of this Constructive Mileage,
part Of the Senators received, for the last Session
Of Congress, including the few days they remained
after the 4th of March, from $4,000 to $4,000 each
while others received less than 81 900. Now
either the former received great deal too much
or the latter far too little. One way the other
there should be a change, and ii cannot be made
too soon.
Constructive Mileage FOR Congress is novelty.
The first solitary case Of its allowance occurred
in ls4l, and that was the case ola Senator just
transferred from the House. In l845, Mr.. Dallas
made the first decision granting it to Senator's
holding over from regular session, and attending
an Extra Session held directly thereafter. Then
great many refused 20 take it, and were applau-
ded for doing by journals all sides; one took
it with protest that he did not consider it legal
but some who then refused it have since taken il,
and the legalrepresentatves ofo,hers have claimed
it. This last time all but three went in for it.
Now let it be established that Constructive Mile
age is proper and legal, and there are hundreds
who in person or by helts win claim it for past
Extra Sessions, reaching back through period
Of half a century. And then The Herald and It's |
cronies, which now justify the change, will abuse
the Wing Administration for its extravaganza in !
expending much money!
The amount of money distracted from the Trea |
sury by this Constructive Mileage may seem un-
important. but the principle is not so. II men !
whom the People have paid $4,000 each for a !
journey 10 and from Washington that never cost
them $500 are to be justified in helping them
selves to an additional $4,000 each for journey
never made, who can nationally hope for Retrench |
ment, Economy and Reform in the National Ex- |
pendtures Who does not see that the whole |
action of Congress must be tainted by such mis-
appropriations
Mr.. Whittesey, we infer, is to be overruled,
and the Constructive Mileage retained by the SEN |
ators who pocketed it. We deeply regret this, but
il is manifesty no fault Of the faithful and fear
less officer who endeayered to recover it for the /
Treasury. We hear that the Senate propose to |
reject his nomination as Controller because of his
decision. Well, if they see fit to provoke further
discussion Of the whole matter, certainly shall |
not complain. The people, we are canfident, will |
rot permit faithful public servant to be crushed
merely because Of his fidelity. If they do, it were
better at once to abolish all Controllers and Aud
itors, letting every man who chooses drive a cart |
and oxen through the Treasury and load up at
discretion IN. Y. Tribune
Honesty of OfficeslOlders.
The Tribunes Washington correspondent has |
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