New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1849-01-06
Reform In Congre..-The Back Track.

Correspondence Of ne Tribune.
WAsHiSeToN. Thursday. Jan {
This day has witnessed the consummstion IN
the House Of what seems 10 me a most inIq1itous
II not fraudulent waste Of the Public Money TO
subserye personal and unworthy ends-a vote
which. though the sum il Immediately draws from
the Treasury may be but ten or fifteen thousand
dollars. will in It's natural Influences and oonss-
quences. take from the bard hands Of Labor ard
squander upon the fayorites Of Power many MI
lions. Let me give its history
At the former session Of this present Congress,
the able Committee Of Ways and Means headed
By Mr. NIsTos Of Ohio reported that the compen-
sation hitherto allowed 70 the Messengers appoint
ed BY the Electoral Colleges OF the several States
70 bear their respective Votes for President and
Vice President 70 Washington, was too high, in
view Of the extraordinary expediting and cheap
ening Of travel since that compensation was set
tied and proposed reduction 10 Is cents per mile
aga cents each way This retrenchment was
opposed. discussed. considered and finally adopted
by decided vote thus becoming part OF the
sw Of the land under and IN full view Of which
the post Of Messenger was eagerly sought IN every
state by number OF anxious competitors. There
has been no shadow Of g case IN - hlch the Insult
f,iency Of the Mileage mas interposed an obstacle
to the procurement Of capable and responsible
men 70 discharge the duty And, so far from any
murmuring at the inadequscy Of the compensation.
at meeting of the Messengers called by public
notice in the newspapes Of the City, at time
when most Of tLsm were IN the City, memorial
was adopted applauding the reduction. pronounc'
If nd urr Con
gress 10 persevere in the good work Of Retrench-
ment and Reform.
Thus stood matters when the Congressional
Mileage Expose through The Tribune made 1t ap-
pearance stirring mp bit Of sensation II was
now apparent that the Mileage OF Congress would
have TO be reformed that Of the Messengers
restored or the People would want to know why
Butthe retrenchment of Congressional Mileage was
exceedingly distastefu to many, aud the most eN'
pedieut alternative was the restoration OF that
Of the Messengers. Accordingly, JOINT Resolu-
ton was promptly submitted 70 the Senate dou-
bling the Mileage OF Messengers and It went
through that exalted body very quickly aud
easily | had not noticed that 1t had been def
ntiyey acted on at all until It made us appearance
IA the House to-day, and was driven through with
indecent rapidty well betting It's character. No
Committee was allowed 10 examine II, no oppor-
tuuity was Afforded to discuss II, but by whip
aud spur, Previous Question and brute force oi
numbers 10 was rushed through the necessary
stages. and sent 10 the President Tor his sanction.
The details Of this proceeding Will be given IN
another letter, and exhort every friend Of frugal
and pure government to scrutlnlze carefully the
"a
for future reference
Now let Us look one moment at the justice and
reasonabeness OF this double-payment Tor services
already rendered for well known and contend
ample compensation The Messenger from MAINE,
for instance, brings the vote Of his state 's3 miles
from Augusta BY the shortest Mail Route. and
need not be more than eight days absent from his
businessat an expense certainly not exceeding
SEQ in all The reduced compensation under the
act Of last Winter was sl4s IS. paying his ex
penses and giving him ell per day over Is not
that enough
The Messenger from ALABAMA travels els miles
estimating by the shortest Post Routes and may
have TO be absent from his business at the outside
eighteen days at an expense of 500. His allow
ance under the Retrenchment was s2Oi 50, or
sl0i so above his necessary expenses There
was no lack OF aspirants for the post at that rate
believe his is the hardest case OF any.
The Messenger from ARKANSAS travels l,oo5
miles by the shortest Mail route and receives
$500 25 for the job He finds good and cheap
Steamboats, and Railroads all the way, and may
certainly be at home within three weeks after
starting, with half the money IN his pocket Yet
Congress votes him 5000 IS more than he was
eager 10 take the job for.
Il assume throughout that the distance travelled
is estimated by the shortest Mail Route II the
Congressional circles are charged by the emolu-
| ments are in each case much greater
Yet Congress preoipitately votes to double the
stipulated compensation Of all these Messengers,
aud of their successors hereafter. The purpose
Of this vote cannot be mistaken. 1t is bold de
hance 70 the demand for Reduction OF Congress
sional Mileage. 1t says to every demand for Re
trenchment Shut up or We will be more ex-
travagsnt and reckless than should have been
had YOU never spoken - commend the whole
subject to the sober reflection Of the People. They
hvve chance 70 consider and discuss It which
cannot be cut OF by the Previous Question.