The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-01-31

gentleman such as II received from all would have
been satisfactory 10 the committee.
Mr.. SWEETSER again took the floor, and addressed '
the House in relation TO the difficulties IN the path OF the
Committee on Mileage in properly assessing the distance
g De allowed to each member whicn ne described in
Mr. ROOT spoke at considerable length in opposition
TO the original resolution and to show that members
from distance who received so much more in mileage
than those residing the seat OF government not
owing to their greater sacrifices and more constant at
,snons upon the sngs Of TIE HOUSE better paid than
with far less trouble and were not compelled 10 abandon
all other business, as were all from distance.
sE soS c 1siusfq
at some length. The subject was annually made, very
matter OF much small excitement; cite he was
Mileage in reporting this resolution The language Of the
preamble he conceived to be exceedingly improper re-
sSns FITCH che s0 shs s 81 IL on Mile
age) dsclamed any such purpose on the part Of the
Mr. BROWN, Of Mississippi. went on to show that,
though not intended, the preamble could not fail to
convey an imPutaion upon the integrity OF the members
OF the House.
tween Messrs BROWN. FITCH, and JACOB THOMP- |
MI FITCH said he should not attemp. an answer at
any length to the gentleman from Mississippi. Most Of
his remarks made under msconception OF the pre-
amble to the resolution. That preamble, as ne lMr
FTcH) had already remarked, stated facts in reference
TO the answers OF members, lie could state n0lhng "a
to the OF the gentleman from Mississippi; il very
probably was sufficiently definite But some Of the an
swers land the preamble if it does not read "sone,"
should DO sol were indefinite By some, two o. more
routes given, and the mOst usually travelled
not designated although the distance BY those routes
differed much The imputaton then, that the committee
reflected upon members in the preamble is unwaTante
and unjustifabe. repeat again. under the law a. ~
now exists, although il is wrong in principle and UNJUST
in operation. entertain little doubt OF the proper duty Of
the committee. The language o. the law z explicit
road" No latitude is left the committee. Yet even
der this explicit law. doubts to its construction are
Se he
oluton was directed to be reported tor their action
the House sees proper 70 adopt It, the construction
thereby upon the a% w y nf
form, can operate only this Housethe other end Of
the Capitol will still draw mileage under the old con-
committee as was ws he noducon Of bill o. oni res
ing upon both ends Of the Capitol Such bill may very
without instructions to that effect The committee well
knew, however, that such bill resolution could be
passed in time to be operative during this session The
object OF the resolution was 10 ascertain whether the
House was willing 10 50 construe the law as that mile
age should now be allowed only BY the nearest mail
Ioule-a construction which would operate Justly
whether the language the most usually travelled road
will justify Permit me to suggest to my colleague MI
GoRMANl that he insert 'road instead OF route in his
: .
! Mr. GORMAN asked what is the difference
ME4FITCH. Much, where the language Of the law '
purports to be literally quoted.
Mr. GORMAN. asked if heresolution was not reported
by the committee to avoid the responsibility Of fixing
mileage!
Mr. GORMAN. Did not the chairman oil the commit I
Mr.. FITCH. No. sir; no such thing. My colleague
has fallen into an error as great as that INTO which the
state VIII tall my hav nfh
members if ii is Unsuitable in me to drag the comparatively
private proceedings Of the committee into the House
Mr. FITCH The gentleman from Ohio. fMr. SWEET.
SER. member Of the committee, desired the committee
the responsibility Of constituting the law in the
Sy he we're UNWILLING to
then stated, and which will repeat The law had
never been construed. We were new members, and
u TSs
law contended, would not warrant such consruc
ton; and consequently the attempt to act under such
ha large
OF the members had already drawn their mileage govern
ed in doing by the allowance made at previous sessions
men had exceeded the sum to which iSsy would Be en-
titled, in some instances onehalf Neither the COM
mtiee the House had any power to compel resttu
galy be sought il willIbe from you Mr. Speak
er, who have given them the authority upon which they
have drawn their money large pecunary responsibility
would thus be piled upon large 10 DC wen DoTnc
and which the committee not disposed to force upon
you. Moreover, the House would then present the '
singular and anomalous spectacle OF one part OF its mem
bes obtaining mileage under one law, and the other part
under another for the mail route construction will be
tanamount to new law; stated, therefore, to my
colleague not that this resolution introduced 10 AVOID
the responsibility OF reporting but OF acting or refusing
to act under such construction Of the law The commit.
tee did not deem themselves Give members) law-makng
power They could only act others had acted under
this law or recommend its change, ask the opinion
the House relative entirely construction They
preferred the latter The resolution as II stands does not
meet my appreciation prefer striking az the root OF the
evil for evil the present law assuredys prefer
therefore, joint resolution BILL limiting the mileage to
what Justly should be, and strongly framed that its
intent s6a admit of no doubt Members elected under
the present law are not Justly chageabe with wrong do
ing in obtaining the mileage il allows II ia the law
which is ia fault Let that be amended This dis
tncty stated last year by the Committee Mileage, Of
which my friend from Missouri, behind me- [Mr GREES,
was member, and who, think, drew up and presented
to the House report upon this subject voted against
laying the resolution upon the table shall continue TO
vote against any effort TO destroy IT, for desire TO see
action the subject, and hope the resolution may
be amended as to become joint one binding upon
both national legislative bodies and correct abuses in
with this matter existing in both.
Mr.. BURT desired 10 offer the following amend.
men which was read BY the Clerk for the information Of
The House:
Strike ont all ster the word "Rssorsd" and insert.
That the Committee Mileage be instructed 10 repora
bill regulate aud equazs tue mileage bes OF this
House and to reduce the same, IL In heir opinion DC
100 great"
n A. al.