New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1849-01-12
The SECOND
MILEAGE DEBATE IN CONGRESS

n addition 70 what We have published from oul
owl Correspondents and Reports from Congress. ",
eou6ense Tor Tks Tri5Ere the following from the Wa,a
tAstos G,o5s:
The following item being under consideration
VI
aFo- c-.-.,.s. a. Nag. o's-.,,-r. x.ns.. ss,a. s.
/ of Eerr-.s-t.tsss. A. D-.-.li-s s-,..-,c'
Mr. ExBaEE moved 70 smsad It BY adding there
70 the bloNing
F-,.iss I,s .-..E, = s,ass e 20 s.a,.. q Co
ter P-,s oi ss.s-c. p t-s Cry Cd
| zsto-
Mr. srFrEgvs moved 20 amend the amendment
By striking OFT the word shortest and inserting TIE
| word 81 usual
Ma. GRsEtEY ssid e few words very imper-
fecily heard by the reporter Ia explanation Of what
he conserved 10 Be the ooectonsoe operation q. he
] amendment Of Mr. STrFHENs-ilustrsting Tat ooiec
non By reference 20 certain mall routes, and TIER
eretb in comparison VITA the shortest routes Mem.
bers from Eastern Vermont he sad, used 70 come %
/ Troy sud thence down % New-Nors. Now they ven,
round By the way Of Boston 20 Nevf0rk, which was
SONS one hundred and dily niles farther.
/ Mr.. SrEPHEss thought that the correct princi-
pie and that ~ which al the difficulties attending ihis
/ subject u mileage could De removed was. that the
Member should BE- allowed mileage b. the route over
which the mail was actually carried
| Mr.. GAYLE very inc.stlnctly heard was under
/ stood 20 suggest l. the gentleman who moved this
| amendment N STEPHENS, thst be presuued there
were many menbe r. OF this House who DID not come
10 tots city any mall route 81 81 to whose place Of
residence there Wa. perhsps no mail route What
would the gentleman say II the meube from Oregon
/ Certainly there mail route thitoer And bow
would his mileage be computed, under TIE gentleman
amendment
| The question still being on Mr.. STEPHENs's amend.
/ ment b the ameninentOf Mr.. EaBREE-
Mr.. HOUsTON II De-. saId ire did not sec the ne
cessity for any chsnge the existing law. The aw,
as IL now stood provided that mileage should be
Capitol and the residence Of tho member NOW Il com
pensation 70 be- allowed tor travelling expenses IN
doubleday il should be computed upon the route usual
y Travelled BY the public who lad occasion % yist the
Capitol from the respective residence Of members Of
Congress.
Mr.. TUCK said he was compelled TO differ from
the views which bad been expressed by the gentleman
from Del AR HousroS This uaiter OF the huita-
lion OF mileage Of members Of Congress was one 20
which the people Bad turned their attention. They
saw and members knew that u was MISTER IN "nich
they (he membcrsl were particularly and per'onalj
interested and they called upon by the unms'
taxable voice of the people OF this country - correct
great ey IN regard 10 the expenditure OF the puoc
money they were called upon 70 correct An evil In
matter wherein their own pockets we're concern a.
ed What were the facts OF the case That "nie
the facilities Of travel had been greatly Increased with
Ia the last twenty i've years upon most 81 the great
OF the country while the time ana tue a9or oi
travel had been reduced In the same proportion TIE
people Of the country charged much more Tor The
expenses OF Members Of Congress coming 70 inc seat
Of Government When this compensation OF eight
dollars for every twenty miles travel bad been nSed
years ago the difficulties Of travelling we're very great
the toll and labor OF coming to no Capitol were Sc
we're. and attended With great expense but while the
facilities bad increased many iold the cnsfge nad ia
creased proportionstoiy.
Mr. WENrwORrH interposed, desiring The re-
marked 10 say iust one word and tine n0or oeing
yielded said that the gentleman from Ne" hampshire
had spoken about the unmistakabe voice VI the people
10 favor of the reduction Of mileage. Now he lNr w
bad heard nothing from the people on this subject Out
be could refer TO The scton OF their representatives
and be wished ~ call attention 10 what bad taken ace
few days since when this House, By very large ma
orty had repealed measure Of reform Ia relation 10
mileage (yiz tina, OF messengers bringing the electoral
and had put the matter back where II used 70 BE-
That was esideuce the very reverse oil whst the gene
man had stated.
Mr. Tuck (resumingl said he did not consider the
expressions which oiteu csme from this House as the
best evidence, In many cases, OF public opinion and
he would Instance the excitement which had sken place
In thi. House some days since at the introduction OF an
article written By the gentleman from Ne" iofA MI
GREELEY A. a notable example wherein Representa-
tves had expressed sentiments which were not cOscur
red In any extent by toe people. lie himself hsd not
seen a single newspaper OF the country which did not
approve OF the course which the gentleman IRON Ne"
York had taken and he believed there was no Instance
where the Editor Of paper had spoken out the genu
ne sentiments 81 the people and made any expression
of In regard 10 the effort OF tue gentemsn
from n - limit this nlgshaao.e taxation Oi Mileage
for no matter whether the taxation was made by
Committee Ut this House By the individual Members
themselves IL was his OR. TO opinion an unjust
table Construction Of the law 10 change the mode OF
computing the Mileage from the OLD direct routes as IL
was formerly computed and tax travel upon the new
Indirect ard circutous routes. Now, while they were
here, from time time making large drafts pom the
Treasury for books and publications At the expense OF
the Government, 70 be distributed among tneir con
.ttuents or to be taken 10 their homes for the use OF
themselves and neghbors. be thought when the people
had directed their attention 10 system OF THIS sOrt by
which over $4,000 mad been annually taken rom tne
Treasury the Representatives Of the people should pey
proper attention TO the voice CT those who sent them
here. go
he was heartily in favor OF adopting proposition
which should cOnnne the mileage 10 the nearest mall
route between the Seat OF Government and the reel
ience Of each Member Some gentlemen 20" came
here by routes short A. the nearest ina'Ious' pc
tween their residences and this city and received pay
on those routes With them therefore, the amendment
would make but little difference But there were ota'
ers who Travelled two three days on one OF tnese e
cutous routes ard who took from the treasury nuN.
dreds Of collsrs for each days rde vas toi- I4hl
II this amount was 20 be taken from the fuOno AIes'
ury et them have the msniiness 10 come Ooidy sh1
take the spoils without any eeuiVocAuoh OF anJ A'u
from equiVocal Law. He DID not IN tnese remarks
intend any impuistion upon any Member Of congress
Mr.. SAWYER the floor having been yielded tor
explanatory said, the gentleman was oolecung 70
the amounts Of mileage paid 10 Members OF Congress
he would ike 10 know whether ne Mr. approved
Of the publication made in the Nep-l0f ITi'se ana
considered IL correcti II be did he would Inform the
having charged pretty considerable sum 20 Huch
and before the gentleman set himself up 10 IeDuAs
others for these charges he would suggest mat
would be well 10 clear himself Of the charge asAinsi
him
Mr.. Tuck replied that he did not take II upon
himself TO rebuke any gentleman in this House oui
leas, OF all would De rebuke any member Who acins
10 the capacity OF member, of newspaper eGitor
had published 20 the country the amount Of money
which each Member Of Congress took from tne lfes-
sury He would ask the gentleman nom ONO u Ee
was willing TO receive from the Treasury any sum OF
money for any purpose whatever, and then condemn
Member for making IL knownf
Mr. SAwTER replied that he condemned false
publications, certainly Tae article was Ease In every
particular there were than hundred iAse state
fneu;s in L. a. be held himself ready 70 prove on The
a00r u this House.
Mr. Tuck said it was the FIRST time he had heard
il CHARGED that tie article contained fssehoods Inc
gentleman from New-Nofk ike any other gentleman,
might hsve made a mistake although he OR T. was
mol called upon speak for any other member he BE-
leved II there were any mistakes 10 the article, tire
gentleman Who wrote would Dc most anxious 70 cor
rect them.
Ma. SAWYER said ask the gentleman from
New Hampshire then u bis account a. set forth
10 that article was correct and II L was correct how
II was that il made him overcharge his mileage and re
ceiva the amount overehsrgedi
Mr. Tuck lresumingl said the gentleman made
inouire, In relation 10 how much he (Nr t. was rep
resented as having overcharged. Now. De could