The Middlebury galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1848-1850, 1849-01-23
THE MILEAGE DEBATE
RePoricd for The Tribune.
HousE or REPRESENTATIVES,, Jan, H..

House or REPRESENTATIVES,, Jan, ] i.
Mr.. VrxAnIr, Of y. c, having concluded
Mr. GREELEY of y. Y, (whe had been
three days struggling for the lioor) obtained it,
and proceeded TO say:
Mr.. CHAIEMAN-The gentleman from,
North Carolina Mr.. V. submits PROPOSE
ton looking to very thorough and sweeping
Mileage Reform. yet makes speech agains
such Reform, and more particularly against
his own proposition. 1t applies with far great
CT force to that than the proposition Of the
gentleman from Indiana, Mr.. EmbreG. The
latter would sti. leave TO the Members from
distant States \ decided advantage in the mat.
ter of Mileage, which the gentleman from
North Carolina argues that thcy should have,
Will, his own proposition would take it entire
ly away nm at a loss whether to support
the views embodied in the gcntleman's speech,
And oppose his amendment, or support his a.
Inenlnent in opposition to his speech. l am
not sure that shall not vote for his PROPOSE
ton, but then there Is very much force in the
opposing considerations presented in his speech
Ii is very true, sir, that gentlemen from dis
liant States have TO endure prGtrar.ed separ-
alton from their families, Tor bring them here
at great expensc) and to forego all supervision
of their personal interests and business TO s
degree not required of Members who live near
this Metropolis. And am not sure that the
system Of Mileage, amended as is proposed by
:he gentleman from Indiana, is not the faircsi
apd most equal system that could be devised
That would leave TO the rsmoter Member:
$1,000 10 $500 each, Tcr session more com
pen'ation than we from this neighborhood re.
ceivc-morc than twice as much as we have
at each short Session like the present. Thai
would be generous TO the Members from dis
.ancc, and wish to be 50. appreciate the
force of the suggestions Of the gentleman as
10 the blessings OF this Union and the impor-
lance Of strengthening its bonds, and Will do
Whatever is Just and fit TO confirm the attach
ment of the remocr sections TO the Union and
to this location OF its Metropolis.
But. Mr.. Chairman. object to the present
Mileage system as grossly unfair and unjust.
Il gives part of the Members of the House
twice and thrice ~ much compensation As 9th
crs. over and above The travelling expenses to
which they are sever;llv subjected. his can
not BE- denied but it is palliated-and how !:
BY assertions that Members of Congress are
poorly paid. Sir, ,in not concur in this as
sumption; but if it be Just, bring forward a
frank and manly proposition for an increase OF
our pay; but don't make lis alleged insufficient
CIV an excuse for giving some Members only
twenty dollars and others over two thousand
in the shape of unne, e>sary Mileage.
But. Mr.. Chairman, ! have been arraigncd
on this floor, and a><ailcd with the grossest cp-
ithcts and imputations with regard to my pub
lication nj the Mileage Received BY the Mem
bcrs Of this House, tie Miles Travel which
they we're paid. and the excess of such pay
ment respectively beyond what would have
been payable and paid had the law required
the Mileage to be charged by the shortest
PostRoute from the residence of each Mem
her respectively 10 this City. as I contend il
shonld be-. and is the proposition before us
Judge Emb'ec'- Prcscribcs that ii shall be
hereafter. For this have been reviled and
ceialiei beyond measure on this Goor, without
n ch1ncc todeftnd myself; but have the floor
II, last, and / viii now bring this matter to a
iocus. This Hall As resourded with vague
charges Of numerous and gross mistakes in my
Mileage exhibt-morc than hundred the
gentleman from Ohio Mr.. Sawyerl asserted
and Members have not hesitated to charge
me with deliberate Justification. ! have al
ready stated that did not transcribe these
statements from the yarions books in which
thcr are givcn-I have To tune for such Ia
hpr as thai-bu, directed 1t to be done, ard